News

In recent weeks, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) celebrated with its partners the grand opening of three residential senior developments located in northern, central, and southern Illinois that received IHDA funding. These developments collectively supply more than 160 affordable housing units, enabling Illinoisians to remain within their communities they call home. The three developments will provide much-needed rental options in regions that have experienced limited housing capacity, increased rents, and lengthy waiting lists.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the State of Illinois has been approved to receive $1.04 billion in funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to support high-speed internet access statewide. The funding will connect approximately 350,000 residents through homes, businesses, and community institutions across Illinois by 2031. Between private investment, prior public funding, and new BEAD funding, the total broadband investment will exceed $2 billion.

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced $50 million in grant funding has been awarded to 21 grantees through the Community Health Center Construction Grant Program. This funding was made possible by the Rebuild Illinois capital program which aims to support the construction, expansion, and improvement of community healthcare facilities across Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in July, down -0.2 percentage point from June, and up +0.6 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised June unemployment rate was 5.1 percent.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings today announced $766,600 in funding through the Public Buildings Energy Efficiency Program for projects that include energy efficiency upgrades identified in an energy efficiency assessment or audit conducted within the last five years. The Efficient and Resilient Public Building Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted.

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) estimates that local taxing districts will receive approximately $2.366 billion in Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT) allocations during Fiscal Year 2027, a $425.1 million, or 21.9%, increase over FY 2026 distributions. IDOR attributes the increase largely to a significantly smaller diversion from the PPRT Fund through the annual “true up” process, changes affecting business tax payments and an improved outlook for domestic corporate profits. IDOR has published estimated FY 2027 allocations for approximately 6,500 local taxing districts, including each district’s estimated allocation and FY 2026 actual disbursement. The estimates are based on current economic data, and actual distributions may vary. Click on the title for more information.

Illinois and 46 state financial agencies in 46 states have reached a $15.5 million settlement with one of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers for improperly imposing “force-placed” insurance costs on borrowers who already had active homeowners insurance policies. Under the terms of the settlement, Fort Washington, Penn., based NewRez LLC (NMLS ID 3013), will pay a total of $15.5 million. The company worked with state regulators to self-identify and proactively remediate more than $4.5 million to the impacted borrowers, and it will pay nearly an additional $11 million for costs and penalties. NewRez will be required to implement and conduct enhanced monitoring for loans that have force-placed insurance. The company also must implement other actions to strengthen controls.

Potential changes to Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) are emerging as a key issue in negotiations over data center legislation. Organized labor and the data center industry are seeking targeted changes to address AI applications and the storage or transmission of biometric information, while privacy advocates and trial lawyers caution against weakening existing protections. Click on the title to read the article.

Parents starting on back-to-school shopping will get a temporary sales tax break for 10 days this month. From Friday, Aug. 7, through Aug. 16 the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases.

Advocates urged the state to invest in community-based alternatives to nursing homes for people with disabilities before attempting to enter Gov. JB Pritzker’s Chicago office in the West Loop on Wednesday.

Small-town law enforcement agencies are adopting automated license plate readers, bringing new crime-fighting tools and new privacy debates to rural communities.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $307.8 million in missing money to more than 567,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the I-CASH program during Fiscal Year 2026. “Our changes to I-CASH allowed us to return more money to more people,” Frerichs said. “We are proud to set records, but we’re even more proud of helping folks. Reuniting people with money that rightfully belongs to them is even more important as inflation and decisions made by the Trump administration squeeze the average person and make food and gas harder to afford.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) today announced the award recipients of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program, distributing nearly $4 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support the continued expansion of Illinois’ local food system.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Heidi E. Mueller, legislators, DCFS staff, caregivers and students gathered to celebrate this year’s scholarship recipients at the department’s annual scholarship luncheon at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare in Rosemont. This year, 317 current or former youth in care received scholarships provided by the Illinois DCFS Scholarship Program, including up to five consecutive years of tuition and mandatory fee waivers valid at Illinois public universities, community colleges and vocational schools. The program also provides student recipients with financial assistance for books and school supplies, a monthly grant payment to supplement other expenses and an Illinois Medicaid card.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in June, unchanged from May, and up +0.8 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised May unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a fourth consecutive over-the-month increase in June, up +1,500 (0.0%) to 6,164,400. The May monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +6,000 to +4,100. The June payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

The Chicago region is currently under an Air Pollution Action Day alert for ground-level ozone. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are reminding all Illinois residents to take into consideration each day’s daily air quality index to protect their health. This is especially pertinent at a time when North America is seeing increased wildfire intensity and frequency, and the smoke from these fires travel across the continent impacting more than the region of origin.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced $195,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations across the state that provide food and housing to people in need. “Through these grants, we are lending a hand to people who are struggling to meet basic needs like food and shelter,” Treasurer Frerichs said at a news conference in Chicago. “We recognize that people are faced with higher housing costs and grocery prices while the federal government is abandoning its responsibilities. We are proud to team up with these nonprofit organizations that strengthen their communities by diligently working to improve the lives of Illinoisans in need.”

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) released their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Tracker for the Class of 2026, and Illinois is now ranked second in the nation and first in the Midwest for completion of the FAFSA — the highest position and the highest rate (71.4%) ever for an Illinois high school graduating class. “Illinois’ increase in FAFSA completion is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators – and a clear demonstration that the state’s continued efforts to expand awareness, remove barriers, and connect students with financial aid are making a real difference,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Every completed FAFSA represents a world of opportunity opened and brings Illinois a step closer to making educational attainment a reality for every student in every corner of our state.”

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs' measure to expand investment opportunities for non-profit organizations across the state is now law after Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed the bill. Senate Bill 2968 creates the Non-Profit Investment Pool, a safe and efficient investment option allowing eligible nonprofits to make the most of available funds while reducing administrative burdens. The law is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize resources that support communities throughout the state.

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), in its role as the Illinois Climate Bank, announced today that the first electric vehicle (EV) chargers funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program are officially online in central Illinois. The sites, located in the City of Springfield and the City of Charleston, are the first of many in the area that will feature Level 2 and Level 3 DC Fast Charging (DCFC) ports.

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a measure allowing residents of assisted living and shared housing establishments to exercise the right to use electronic monitoring, meant to enhance transparency and resident safety. A similar law allowing cameras in residents’ rooms in nursing homes has existed in Illinois since 2016. “This new law allows assisted living residents to install a video and/or audio recording device in their room, allowing added peace of mind for them and their family members," said Illinois State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Ke

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Board approved awards totaling $37 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and an additional $39 million in federal and state subordinate resources that will finance the creation and preservation of 22 affordable housing developments in 15 counties throughout Illinois. The LIHTC awards are expected to generate an estimated $303 million in private capital to support the development of 969 affordable homes for low- to moderate-income families, seniors, and veterans.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding organizations and individuals sponsoring fireworks displays in Illinois to be sure their fireworks vendor has the required state licenses and certificates issued by IDNR and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) before their fireworks show. The Illinois Explosives Act requires that anyone who purchases, possesses, uses, transfers, stores or disposes of explosives, including display fireworks, must have an explosives license and explosives storage certificate issued by the IDNR.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31. A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. IDNR will again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects in economically distressed communities. In the most recent round of OSLAD awards announced in January, 20 underserved locations received grants for local park projects.

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) officially begins operations as Illinois’ first agency focused entirely on early childhood programs and services. The agency joins together programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD).