* Tribune…

A bill filed last week would authorize autonomous vehicle pilot programs in a handful of Illinois counties, including Cook, before opening the door to statewide legalization of self-driving cars in three years.

The proposal from state Rep. Kam Buckner, a Democrat from Chicago, comes as self-driving car company Waymo has been trying to make inroads in Illinois. The company operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta and Miami and has announced plans to expand to a plethora of other cities worldwide. […]

“We can’t afford to get caught flat-footed,” [Rep. Buckner] said, acknowledging that the filing of the bill is no guarantee it gets passed this year. “It’s about creating a thoughtful framework that balances innovation with safety, accountability, labor protections and the legitimate concerns of folks in the litigation space as well.” […]

Buckner’s proposed legislation would allow self-driving car pilot programs in Cook County, Sangamon County — where the county seat is Springfield, the state’s capital — and Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties, which are in southwestern Illinois outside St. Louis.

* WCIA…

An Illinois lawmaker wants to make sure the state and businesses aren’t missing out on extra revenue from a growing entertainment betting industry.

A new bill, SB 2667, introduced by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz would open up sportsbooks to bets on shows like the Grammy’s or the Academy Awards. […]

She said open wagering on entertainment also encourages people to turn awards season into social outings. This could open up new opportunities for neighborhood bars and restaurants.

“There are a lot of people who are a lot more interested in movies, musicals and theater than they are in sports. So this sort of opens it up, a crack, to something a little different. And I think it would fly. I know that people in my community have Oscar parties,” Feigenholtz said.

* Gambling Insider…

State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. has refiled his Internet Gaming Act for the 2026 session, reviving an online casino (iGaming) proposal that is substantively identical to the version that stalled last year. It carries over the same 25% tax rate, three-skin limit, licensing structure, responsible-gaming mandates, and workforce protections that stalled in committee last year.

In past sessions, the push has also included a Senate companion from Sen. Cristina Castro, suggesting a parallel bill is likely to surface again in 2026.

The renewed effort seeks to authorize regulated online slots, table games, poker, and live-dealer casino products statewide under oversight from the Illinois Gaming Board. It could create one of the largest iGaming markets in the U.S. if approved, given Illinois’ already robust sports betting revenue. […]

House Bill 4797 creates the Internet Gaming Act. It defines “internet games” as online versions or “substantial equivalents” of casino-style gambling. That includes slot-style games, table games, poker, and live-dealer simulcasts.

Internet gaming would only be legal if conducted by licensed operators in compliance with Gaming Board rules.

* Sen. Robert Peters…

Artificial intelligence has been a source of consumers’ data and privacy concerns for over a decade, but in recent years, a new branch has started to stem from these concerns, as reports indicate stores may be using AI-gathered personal data to charge customers more for goods and services. To protect Illinoisans from this practice – known as surveillance-based discrimination – State Senator Robert Peters has introduced legislation that would block the use of modern technology to set personalized prices or wages. […]

Surveillance pricing and wage data includes personal information such as browsing history or behavioral patterns, and companies typically collect and analyze the data using AI and algorithms to charge personal prices for customers or set personal wage rates for gig workers – like Uber drivers. Peters’ measure aims to limit the use of surveillance data in the state, preventing companies from prioritizing maximum profits at the expense of individual privacy and dignity.

In July 2024, the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation seeking information from companies that utilize surveillance-based pricing. In the findings, the FTC reported retailers use consumer behaviors – such as mouse movement on a webpage or the types of items added to online shopping carts – as well as demographic information and geolocation, to modify consumer pricing. Peters’ legislation would curb surveillance-based price and wage practices in Illinois, ensuring companies cannot manipulate costs of goods for consumers or pay for workers across the state. […]

Senate Bill 2255 awaits a hearing in the Senate Executive Committee.

* Center Square…

Illinois lawmakers are pushing an amendment to ban restrictions or interference with a federal discount drug program.

Speaking at a rally in Chicago on Sunday, state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, said access to affordable medication is a lifeline, not a luxury. […]

The Elgin Democrat said Senate Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 2371 would prevent manufacturers from imposing limits that make it harder for providers to deliver discounted medication. […]

The measure has bipartisan support. Co-sponsors include state Sens. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, and Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg.

Both the Illinois Senate and the House Executive Committee passed the measure unanimously. HB 2371 needs a concurrence vote in the House to be passed and then sent to the governor.

* SB2804 from Sen Michael Halpin…

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, a video streaming service that serves consumers residing in the State shall not transmit the audio of commercial advertisements louder than the video content the advertisements accompany, consistent with the regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission under the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act for television broadcast stations, cable operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors.

* More…

* Sen. Graciela Guzmán | Illinois families can’t keep paying the bill for climate change damages: The Climate Superfund proposal would change that. Major fossil fuel producers would contribute to a state fund based on how much pollution they produced in the past. Those dollars would go directly to work that communities can see and use, including stronger stormwater systems, a more reliable power grid, cooling in schools and public buildings, and protection for infrastructure along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Because the contributions are tied to past production, not current sales, they cannot simply be tacked onto families’ utility bills. Energy prices are set in global markets, not by what one state decides to do.

* Axios | Illinois considers glitter ban over microplastics concerns: “Microplastics in personal care products are manufactured at a size that easily enters our waterways and our environment,” state Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet (D-Chicago), the author of the bill, said in a statement. DuBuclet used to be a commissioner for Chicago’s water department. […] The bill would prohibit the sale of glitter-based personal care products like makeup and hair products, but would not regulate glitter sold for celebrations.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois lawmakers introduce bill to expand voter registration for high schoolers: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., is a trailblazer, pioneer and icon who fights for voter rights and democracy, and a new bill seeks to honor his legacy in a unique way. House Bill 4339 is known as the Jesse Jackson, Sr., Young Voter Empowerment Law, and if passed it would require Illinois high schools to provide students with opportunities to register to vote. Participation on the part of students is voluntary, and the bill explicitly prevents partisan organizations from getting involved, making it a neutral and student-centered experience.