* Illinois State University…

Illinois State is again publicly supporting the proposed Public Higher Education Equitable Funding Formula legislation – Senate Bill 13 (SB 13) and its replica, House Bill 1581 (HB 1581), House Amendment 1.

The House bill is scheduled to be heard in a subject matter hearing in the House of Representatives Higher Education Appropriations Committee on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. The legislation would revolutionize how public higher education institutions are funded through state allocation and significantly increase operational funding for Illinois State.

* Press release…

A coalition of Illinois public universities today released the following statement in support of legislation to provide equitable funding for public universities (SB13/HB1581), which may be heard in committee as soon as Thursday:

“Illinois public universities are the foundation of our state and regional economies, preparing the skilled workforce employers depend on, driving research and innovation, and fueling development throughout our communities. The future of our state depends on the strength of public universities and their ability to advance student and community achievement. For these reasons, we stand united in support of the equitable funding formula, which will provide stable, predictable funding for every public university. That stability will help ease pressure on tuition, strengthen recruitment and enrollment, improve student outcomes, increase graduation rates, and grow economic investment – all of which will lead to a stronger, more successful Illinois.”

- Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, JD, President, Chicago State University
- Dr. Jay Gatrell, President, Eastern Illinois University
- Dr. Joyce Ester, President, Governors State University
- Dr. Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University
- Dr. Lisa C. Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University
- Dr. Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, President, Northeastern Illinois University
- Dr. Dan Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University System
- Dr. Kristi Mindrup, President, Western Illinois University

* ACLU Illinois…

More than 5,000 communities across the country – including hundreds here in Illinois – are using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) to monitor cars moving throughout their community. ALPRs scan and store license plate data from thousands of cars each day in our state, allowing police and other government agencies to track people when they drive and wherever they go.

As we have learned over the past few months, federal agencies and out-of-state law enforcement officers can – and have – accessed ALPR data collected in Illinois to target immigrants, people seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care, and anyone else the government decides is a threat.

Currently there are no statewide standards for ALPRS and no regulations about the use of the data captured by the array of cameras in place across Illinois.
HB 5151– the ALPR Act – fixes this problem by creating statewide, common sense standards and regulations for when and how law enforcement agencies and government entities can use ALPRs.
The ALPR law sets standards for:

- When ALPRs can be used
- How long ALPR data can be retained
- Who can access ALPR data
- Minimizing warrantless surveillance
- Increasing transparency
- Vendor, law enforcement and government accountability

Many community groups across Illinois are working to cancel contracts with ALPR companies and remove them from their town or city. As those efforts continue, the ALPR law provides some basic safeguards and transparency around the use of this powerful surveillance tool.

* Illinois Environmental Council CEO Jen Walling…

Big Tech is coming to Illinois, and we’re not ready. The rapid expansion of data centers could derail our climate goals, pollute communities and strain already-stressed water resources.

Illinois has worked hard to position itself as a clean energy leader and recently passed the Clean & Reliable Grid Affordability Act to accelerate renewable energy development. But data centers pose a serious threat to that progress while also jacking up electricity rates for everyday Illinoisans. […]

The POWER Act proposes a commonsense solution: require data centers to pay 100% of the costs they impose on the grid. If a private corporation’s operations require expensive new infrastructure, Illinois ratepayers shouldn’t be stuck with the bill. Data centers must pay their fair share.

Unchecked growth also threatens Illinois’ climate commitments. Massive new electricity demand risks prolonging the life of expensive coal plants or spurring new methane gas facilities — locking in decades of additional carbon pollution. The POWER Act embraces a smarter path, built around the principles of Bring Your Own New Capacity and Clean Energy (BYONCCE), which ensures new data centers bring clean power online. Projects that do the right thing will be prioritized, giving data centers an incentive to bring more solar, wind and battery storage projects to our grid.

* Press release…

Small Business Owners, Advocates to Call for “APR for All” Legislation
Illinois small businesses lose $1.25 million per day as a result of non-transparent loans

WHO:
Mike Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer
Mary Beth Canty, State Representative (D-Arlington Heights)
Horacio Méndez, President & CEO, Woodstock Institute
Andres Solarte, Government and Community Relations Director, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Geri Aglipay, Senior Fellow, Small Business Majority
Gloria Hicks, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
Nikki Bravo, Small Business Owner, Momentum Coffee

WHAT:
A press conference featuring small business owners, legislators and advocates calling on Illinois lawmakers to pass the Small Business Financing Transparency Act (HB744 HA #1), also known as APR for All.

The legislation would require non-bank lenders to disclose the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of loans offered to small businesses, saving Illinois small businesses an estimated $1.25 million per day. APR is the gold standard for understanding the true cost of loans, allowing small businesses to make a clear apples to apples comparison between different loan products.

WHEN:
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
11-11:30 am

WHERE:
Illinois State Capitol Blue Room

* WCIA…

Illinois lawmakers are considering a proposal that would ensure law enforcement officers across the state have access to paid mental health leave following traumatic incidents in the line of duty.

State Representative Patrick Sheehan (R) introduced House Bill 4715, also known as the Law Enforcement Mental Health Leave Act, earlier this year.

“Law Enforcement officers see things every day that most people never have to experience in their entire lives,” Sheehan said in a news release. “When an officer goes through a traumatic event, we owe them the basic support needed to recover and continue serving safely. HB4715 is one way we can help protect the men and women who protect us.” […]

HB4715 would ensure that officers suffering from a mental illness as a result of a traumatic event would be granted five days of paid mental health leave during any 12‑month period. It would also require every law enforcement agency in the state to adopt clear mental health leave policy, including, but not limited to, the following:

* Capitol News Illinois…

[Sen. Jil Tracy’s (R-Quincy)] Senate Bill 2702 aims to expand the market for raw milk and allow sales at, for example, a farmers’ market. It hasn’t been assigned to a committee since she introduced it in October. Previous efforts to deregulate raw milk have also drawn little support in past General Assemblies.

Tracy said she sought the regulatory changes after speaking with a farmer in her district who was struggling with the restrictions placed on selling raw milk. Tracy said she is aware of the health concerns around raw milk but believes it can be sold safely in Illinois, comparing its risk to that of other farm products like vegetables. […]

Concerns about the safety of raw milk were amplified during a recent outbreak of Campylobacter infection in 11 people in Illinois that appeared to be connected to the consumption of raw milk. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of Campylobacter infection include diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting and fever. It can often be confused with food poisoning.

According to the USDA, raw milk consumption was linked to 3 deaths, 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations in the U.S. between 1998 and 2018.