Articles filed under Capitol News Illinois
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Utility watchdog warns of rising water rates as regulators consider hike requestsJul 07, 2026 6:34 pm - Customers across Illinois could be facing higher water and sewage bills as the state’s largest private water utilities seek rate increases and permission to merge.
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Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation billJul 06, 2026 7:04 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation Monday modeled after similar bills in California and New York, furthering a push for a state-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations.
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New regulations on intoxicating hemp are ‘long overdue,’ Pritzker saysJul 03, 2026 9:24 am - A new Illinois law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker last month immediately banned intoxicating hemp sales to those under 21 years old. Intoxicating hemp products like delta-8 are now regulated under the state’s existing cannabis laws. The law also expands access to medical cannabis by allowing any licensed dispensary to distribute medical products.
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Suburban schools grapple with AI cyberbullying, deepfakes as new law takes effectJul 03, 2026 8:34 am - Beginning July 1, the state’s definition of cyberbullying was expanded to include AI-generated digital replicas, forcing districts across Illinois to update policies and procedures.
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Pritzker signs bills on in-state tuition, coupons, speed devices and moreJun 29, 2026 6:16 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker has signed more than 60 bills since Friday, including new laws to increase transparency around rental fees and give some drivers an alternative to having their license suspended.
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‘A real farm crisis’: Illinois farm bankruptcies rise for 3rd straight yearJun 29, 2026 11:20 am - Family farm bankruptcies surged 46% nationwide in 2025. In the Midwest, filings jumped 70%. In Illinois, they rose 55%. Total farm debt is forecast to hit a record $624.7 billion in 2026, as overhead costs like land rent and interest keep climbing. Farmers bought a record 2.54 million crop insurance policies in 2025. But when the guaranteed revenue floor falls below production costs, farmers lose money on every bushel.
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Cocktails-to-go, new state agency among 14 laws taking effect July 1Jun 29, 2026 9:23 am - July 1 marks a second New Year’s Day in Illinois as a new budget takes effect along with more than a dozen new state laws.
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Prediction market Kalshi sues Illinois over its push to regulate sports betsJun 28, 2026 4:09 pm - Prediction market Kalshi — which offers trades on everything from the World Cup top goal scorers to the winners of the reality show “Love Island” and the 2028 Democratic primary — is suing Illinois over its latest push to regulate sports bets on the platform.
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Pritzker signs bill protecting medical records for abortion patients in IllinoisJun 24, 2026 7:22 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act into law on Wednesday, preventing abortion information from being shared with out-of-state entities to protect women from potential retaliation for receiving legal healthcare in Illinois.
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Federal cuts are hitting Illinois food assistance recipients — and the farmers who feed themJun 20, 2026 11:00 am - The Trump administration eliminated food assistance for an estimated 360,000 Illinoisans this year by expanding work requirements and cutting benefits for lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers. Link Match doubles SNAP users’ purchasing power at farmers’ markets, food co-ops and local grocers and has grown from $469,000 in spending in 2021 to $2.26 million in 2025. With fewer Illinoisans eligible for SNAP benefits, local farmers who already operate on slim profit margins could lose income.