* Capitol News Illinois…

A pandemic-era allowance is now law six-and-a-half years later. Senate Bill 618 makes cocktails-to-go permanent.

Illinois lawmakers passed legislation during the pandemic that allowed restaurants and bars to sell cocktails and mixed drinks for pickup or delivery as businesses were closed to in-person customers. That will be allowed to continue permanently under the new law. […]

The new Department of Early Childhood will officially launch on July 1, completing one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s top priorities of his second term.

Senate Bill 1 to create the new agency passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support in 2024 and calls for consolidating a variety of early childhood services that are spread across multiple state agencies under one roof. Those include oversight and funding of preschools, childcare centers, home visiting and early intervention programs.

Pritzker tapped Teresa Ramos to direct the agency. She worked in childcare advocacy before joining the governor’s office’s education policy team.

* Tribune…

Companies that violate the Illinois Oil and Gas Act could face stiffer fines under a new bill aimed at reducing the thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells scattered throughout downstate Illinois.

Passed by the legislature late last month, the bill comes in response to a Chicago Tribune investigative series that exposed the myriad problems surrounding those wells, and a similarly focused study jointly created by the California-based environmental nonprofit ClientEarth USA and the Environmental Advocacy Center at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law. […]

At its core, the bill increases the maximum possible daily penalty for most violations of the act from $1,000 to $4,000. Operators who fail to comply with Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ rules, regulations, orders or permits could also face steeper penalties under the bill: up to $2,000 a day for a violation that lasts more than 90 days but less than 180 days, and up to $4,000 a day for violations lasting 180 days or longer.

Penalties in excess of $1,000 a day will be deposited in the department’s fund designated for the plugging and restoration of orphaned and abandoned wells, which as of this month, totaled nearly 3,900 wells. IDNR calculates the cost to plug them is around $155 million.

* WCIA…

Under Senate Bill 1504, the the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) would be required to prepare youth, aged 15 years old and older, for their transition out of care and into independence.

The youth transition plan should address areas like post-high school goals, drivers education, employment, mental and physical health and well-being, physical documentation needed for adulthood and more. The law also places court oversight over DCFS’ efforts to ensure the youth are getting “age and developmentally appropriate life skills.”

State Senator Lakesia Collins said that by creating legislation which gives young people a “game plan” to figure out their options, the state is helping children in care plan for their futures. The bill was signed in August 2025 and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

* WAND…

A bill on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk could create an intelligent speed assistance program within the Secretary of State’s office as an alternative to license suspension for dangerous drivers.

The plan requires drivers who commit two offenses within a year to install the speed limiting device in their vehicle.

This comes as 75% of people with suspended licenses continue to drive.

“Our current methods are not working,” said Rudy Faust from Families for Safe Streets. “The intelligent speed assistance program is a practical and equitable step towards saving lives of both drivers and vulnerable road users without limiting mobility.”

* WQAD…

Illinois is expanding its definition of cyberbullying to include AI-generated content in schools under House Bill 3851.

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, cyberbullying will include posting or distributing an unauthorized AI-generated digital replica of another person if it meets the state’s definition of bullying. The law also expands the definition of bullying to include the posting or distribution of sexually explicit images and adds legal definitions for artificial intelligence, digital replicas and generative artificial intelligence. […]

Illinois is making several changes to state liquor laws under Senate Bill 618.

Beginning July 1, the law creates a new Class 3 craft distiller license, allowing eligible distilleries to produce up to 100,000 gallons of spirits annually and self-distribute limited quantities. The law also updates provisions governing the delivery and carryout of mixed drinks, allows retailers to use third-party delivery platforms for alcohol sales and deliveries, and makes other changes to state liquor laws.