Illinois Legislature

An Illinois House of Representatives task force will judge Capitol artifacts against the values and morals of the state, the House speaker said Monday in an accounting that began with last summer’s removal of a Stephen A. Douglas statue following the revelation that the legendary Illinois senator owned slaves.

Two former Illinois state lawmakers who argued that a freeze on raises violated the state Constitution can collect back pay, a judge said.

Officials are analyzing over 500 sculptures across Chicago and determining what should be done with some controversial statues. NBC 5’s Christian Farr reports

Illinois lawmakers will begin their spring session working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An overhaul of Illinois’ approach to public safety is absorbing critics’ rebukes that it would make streets less safe, overburden police and drive dedicated professionals away from law enforcement careers.

It’s been quite a whirlwind for the new Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch, as he’s received more than one thousand text messages from all over the country as well-wishers congratulate the state legislature’s first-ever Black Speaker. NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern reports.

Efforts to identify cuts that can be made to Illinois’ budget will continue despite the postponement of the General Assembly’s veto session, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.

Leaders of the Illinois General Assembly announced Tuesday the postponement of the Legislature’s veto session due to the surge of COVID-19 in the state.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Wednesday an Illinois budget heavily reliant on federal assistance because of revenue lost to COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and social interaction.

The state of Illinois reported more than 650 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, the lowest single-day increase in cases since the end of March. Still Gov. J.B. Pritzker remains cautious about loosening some restrictions. NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern reports.

Three members of the Illinois Legislature are asking for an “emergency legislative session” to address criminal justice reform and the issues at the center of demonstrations and unrest in Chicago and across the state. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that in a letter to House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President Don Harmon, Reps. Kam Buckner, Curtis Tarver and Lamont Robinson, all...

Three more former Minneapolis police officers were charged Wednesday in the fatal arrest of George Floyd less than a week after another ex-officer was arrested on murder and manslaughter charges. NBC 5’s Phil Rogers reports.

May 13 briefing: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a strong message for residents “who believe we need to reopen faster.”

The Illinois General Assembly will return to Springfield for three days next week to take up a spring session workload long delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

A proposed bill would tighten medical exemptions for vaccines in Illinois and allow kids to get vaccinated without a parent’s permission at age 14.

The Illinois General Assembly convenes next week, ushering in the Prairie State’s third century with historic numbers of Democrats running the show and pent-up demand for action.

Illinois Democrats hoping to clamp down on gun violence face the clock, an uncertain roll call and thousands of gun-rights advocates.

Illinois Democrats hoping to clamp down on gun violence face the clock, an uncertain roll call and thousands of gun-rights advocates.