It’s just a bill
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Tribune…
With enrollment plunging at many of Illinois’ regional universities, state leaders are again pressing a sweeping overhaul of higher education funding — one that would steer more money to smaller campuses despite firm opposition from the state’s flagship system, the University of Illinois.
The proposal, years in the making, stalled in the General Assembly last year. Now lawmakers hope a revised version could gain traction this spring and direct more support to universities that serve larger shares of low- and moderate-income students, even as Gov. JB Pritzker cautioned last week that a final agreement remains far from certain. […]
The concept has won support from every public university system in the state except the University of Illinois, whose leaders have argued the proposed formula fails to account for fiscal nuances among universities, especially large institutions like U. of I. […]
If passed, the bill would instruct the Board of Higher Education to determine who qualifies as underserved every three years by identifying demographic, geographic and income gaps in “enrollment, retention, or completion” compared to the average.
* HB5024, filed by House Speaker Chris Welch, has been assigned to the Executive committee. Michael McLean…
Legislation has been filed in Illinois by the speaker of the house to ban detention centers around a lot of common land uses
www.ilga.gov/Legislation/…
— Michael McLean (@mclean.bsky.social) 2026-02-22T21:52:21.532Z
* Center Square…
A bipartisan effort is underway to eliminate the option of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines in Illinois.
Carbon sequestration advocates say the process of storing carbon dioxide could benefit the environment and provide future energy options. Getting the industrial byproduct to storage locations requires pipelines. […]
“We just want to pass a simple bill. No eminent domain. Just like South Dakota, just like Iowa was trying to pass. Just like Minnesota. And that’s all we want,” [property rights advocate Kathleen Campbell] said.
With bipartisan support, Illinois Senate Bill 2842 has been assigned to the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee.
* Sen. Graciela Guzmán…
Together with advocates, colleagues and constituents, State Senator Graciela Guzmán spoke about the importance of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Illinois to keep costs of essential medications down for working families and her plans to champion legislation establishing this board during spring legislative session. […]
A Prescription Drug Affordability Board is an independent board responsible for assessing which prescription drugs present affordability challenges to a state’s health care system. Senate Bill 66 would establish a Health Care Availability and Access Board in Illinois, which would be required to conduct cost reviews of specific prescription drugs to determine which are high-cost drugs and inaccessible to patients, as well as to impose maximum payment limits on purchases or payment plans on prescription drugs in the state. This will ensure prescriptions are not too expensive for working Illinoisans to afford them.
“Research shows we are able to keep costs down—we just need the courage to stand up to the large corporations interested in lining their wallets with working people’s money,” said Guzmán. “It is long past time to hold them accountable and deliver on our promises for everyday Illinoisans, and this measure is the first step.”
Senate Bill 66 awaits assignment to a legislative committee.
* Home for Good…
The Home for Good Coalition will host a press conference Wednesday to unveil legislation to create safer, stronger communities by improving housing and support services for people returning from prison to prevent homelessness, while increasing public safety and saving taxpayers money.
WHO:
Ahmadou Dramé, Director, Illinois Justice Project
Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove
Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford
Maria Garza, Co-Founder of Challenge II Change
Andre Ruddock, Outreach Coordinator at the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance and Founder of Returning Citizens in Memory of Henry Dee
WHERE:
Illinois State Capitol Blue Room
401 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois
WHEN:
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026
9:30 a.m.
* WGEM…
For anyone looking to take a passenger train from Quincy or Macomb to Chicago, or vice versa, making it to the station on time requires an early start or a late night. A new bill in Illinois aims to change that.
If adopted, the Passenger Rail Planning Act (H.B. 4279) would require the Illinois Department of Transportation to plan for increased frequency of passenger train departures at stations across Illinois as it outlines future investments.
“We would like to have the state create a long-range plan for every route in the state, including a train departing every four hours from Quincy and Macomb to head toward Chicago,” said Rick Harnish, executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance (HSRA).
Harnish said the bill could bring six train departures a day to and from Quincy and Macomb, up from two (one in the morning, one in the evening).
* Rep. Rick Ryan…
State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is holding a press conference to announce filing a bill to name the Italian beef sandwich as the official state sandwich of Illinois on Friday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at Pop’s Beef, located at 10337 S. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago.
“The Italian beef sandwich has long been a staple of Illinois meals,” Ryan said. “It’s our most well known sandwich, and I’m excited to see this officially named as our state sandwich. It really represents a part of Illinois culture that so many of us enjoy.”
Ryan sponsored House Bill 4669 to officially name the Italian beef sandwich as the state sandwich. The measure received bipartisan support and passed unanimously out of committee. It awaits a full vote in the House later in the spring.
- Blue Dog - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 1:03 pm:
Italian beef. Nonsense. Nothing speaks Illinois like a hotdog.
- very old soil - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
or a Polish with lots of mustard?
- No relation - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 1:23 pm:
How about the Horseshoe, founded in Springfield?
- Think Again - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 1:37 pm:
= would require…every four hours from Quincy and Macomb e=
Reuiring train schedules based on legislation is a recipe for disaster and a waste of resources.
- Norseman - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 1:57 pm:
Given that the German population is the largest contingent (schucks - I thought we Scandinavians were closer), I’m all in for hot dog. While I like Italian Beef’s especially Portillo’s and Bueno Beef, a state sandwich needs to represent. The Irish is the next largest (identified group); followed by the Poles and then Italians.
- H-W - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:11 pm:
The Higher Education funding bill is essential, if we are to retain regional universities, serving regional needs. It make sense U of I would oppose a new formula - they currently receive a disproportionate share of the pie. The same can be said for Illinois State. Those universities that have the greatest tuition revenues also get the greatest state appropriations. That might make sense if headcount alone were the only criterion.
But is is not. Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville, Chicago State, Northeastern Illinois, and Northern Illinois are not identical units with unequal numbers of inputs. To assume otherwise is folly. The regionals do not duplicate U of I - they need to differentiate themselves in order to serve their regional communities and the industries in their regions.
Killing off a few regionals that cannot compete with U of I, in order to justify giving more money to U of I is a pound foolish. Many children of Illinois are not prepared to compete and survive at U of I. They too need education beyond the three R’s. Similarly, graduates of U of I are highly unlikely to move to Macomb or Carbondale.
If our interest is in creating an attractive base of workers in order to attract business venture to Illinois, we need regional universities intended to prepare all citizens for the work forces of the future, in the varied and differing regions of Illinois.
- Amalia - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:16 pm:
Is a hot dog a sandwich? I’m voting that it is not. even as I’m part German. The Italian Beef should be the state sandwich. And I’m not one drop Italian. Just a lover of the sandwich and a fighter with those who have their fav place. It’s Al’s. Or fight me.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
I am yes on the Italian Beef bill. Though Johnnie’s needs to be where the signing ceremony is at.
- JS Mill - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:33 pm:
I am yes on the Italian Beef bill. Though Johnnie’s needs to be where the signing ceremony is at.
Agreed on the sandwich. The beautiful part about being from the Chicago area is that we all have our favorite local beef joint. And they are all good.
- Think Again - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:47 pm:
=official state sandwich =
I’m all in for Italian Beef as the state sandwich; so many states/regions can claim hot dog fame. While the Italian beef is particular to Chicago/Illinois.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:50 pm:
==If our interest is in creating an attractive base of workers in order to attract business venture to Illinois, we need regional universities intended to prepare all citizens for the work forces of the future, in the varied and differing regions of Illinois.==
Agreed. For 25 years we have seen an out migration of talented students who would thrive at our regional universities. Why? As higher ed funding decreased, tuition increased, and going to a neighboring state made financial sense. Ironically, U of I’s opposition only favors the Urbana-Champaign campus; UIC and UIS would both benefit from the proposed formula.
All of the universities should support this formula and work together to build back our universities to keep more Illinois students in Illinois. We can further grow those universities by highlighting the freedom to learn that is being restricted in conservative states; as HS seniors begin to realize the limitations being put in place from FL & TX to IA, IN, & MO, they are going to be looking for affordable options in states that support the freedom of inquiry.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 2:50 pm:
===so many states/regions can claim hot dog fame===
This is supposed to be a “state” sandwich. I don’t see either proposal as representative of the state as a whole.
- Tom - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 3:03 pm:
Hooray for Rick Ryan. It’s about time the beef is recognized. Pop’s has a good one, but there are better. A hot dog is not a sandwich. This needs to pass! And you need to do an Italian beef day in the Capitol, just like cheesecake day. Bring in all the top beef vendors and have JB sign the bill.
- Think Again - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 3:08 pm:
= I don’t see either proposal as representative of the state as a whole=
So I would say that in the absence of a true “statewide” sandwich, you default to the most popular Illinois-centric sandwich using overall popularity and impact. Look at how Portillo’s is branching out nationally - so gotta be the Italian Beef.
- Chicago Voter - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 3:08 pm:
The U of I took part in all the negotiation meetings and the legislation was changed to reflect many of their concerns. Then they opposed and spread inaccurate information, saying their institution would lose money under the new formula. The legislation clearly states ALL universities would see funding increases.
Clear case of the “haves” not wanting to share with the “have nots.” That’s our flagship.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 3:10 pm:
===in the absence of a true “statewide” sandwich, you===
drop the whole thing.
- OnerMan - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 3:46 pm:
I was on campus during the week at NIU for the first time in a long time and the place seemed absolutely dead compared to when I went there almost 40 years ago.
Even compared to when I was there for something about 10 years ago, just dead.
- Flapdoodle - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 5:02 pm:
== drop the whole thing ==
Yes, please, let it go . . . does anyone really give a . . . um . . . hoot?
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:23 pm:
== Given that the German population is the largest contingent (schucks - I thought we Scandinavians were closer), I’m all in for hot dog. ==
Hmmm … Has anyone ever done a hot dog or a sliced up bratwurst based horseshoe? A bratwurst one would be interesting …
May have to see if Motorheads could whip up one. I know one the chefs there; may have to suggest it to him.
- Tim - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:30 pm:
Good thing we don’t have anything important to do in Springfield. But since Mr Ryan is a Democrat this makes perfect sense.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:37 pm:
===But since Mr Ryan is a Democrat this makes perfect sense===
lol
Isabel had a Republican bill not long ago for the state pop.
Give it a rest.
- ALIGNI - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:41 pm:
@H-W Or maybe we have too many public universities and not as many college-bound students (a good thing). I think Illinois could do with a trimming of higher education and use those savings to support the institutions that actually producing results for students.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:45 pm:
===a good thing===
Why would you say that?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 6:47 pm:
Also, newbie commenters using IP-blocking software are just gonna be deleted from now on.
- Blitz - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 7:09 pm:
Speaking of the state pop, a buddy and I are planning some driving to the southern half so we can buy some and to try our first horseshoe. For this hot dog vs beef battle at least I won’t have to travel plan.
- ALIGNI - Monday, Feb 23, 26 @ 11:35 pm:
@Rich Two-parts, 1) a lot of people went to college because they were told they should when there were other phenomenal career pathways available to them that were better personal fits. 2) We face some stark technical career pathway shortages caused, in part, by the college only push. The pendulum swung too far and we’re in a moment of balancing I think.
I should clarify to state that I mainly mean 4-year+ pathways when I refer to college. Community colleges have really stepped up to help train technical talent and support their local communities.
I think 4-year institutions are facing a rightsizing and it’s not necessarily a bad thing for us to consolidate resources.