Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A bill offering career technical education classes as an alternative to Illinois’ foreign language mandate is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 3070 on Sunday.

The measure provides that high school students can still take two years of foreign language but will now have the option to take CTE classes starting in 2028.

NONPROFIT INVESTMENT BILL PASSED

The Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation allowing the state treasurer’s office to set up an investment pool for nonprofit organizations.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said Senate Bill 2968 is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize resources that help communities.

Frerichs told The Center Square last fall he would keep working on the legislation that was vetoed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last summer.

COOK COUNTY ANNOUNCES MINIMUM WAGE HIKE

Minimum wages will be going up in Cook County on July 1.

The county’s Commission on Human Rights issued a notice on Monday that the minimum wage for non-tipped workers over the age of 18 will increase from $15 to $15.40 and the minimum for tipped employees will rise from $9 to $9.25.

Cook County’s minimum wage is based on the greatest rate among the federal minimum wage, Illinois minimum wage, or on the county’s calculation using the Consumer Price Index.

CHICAGO ANNOUNCES BUDGET ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Chicago officials have announced a series of five budget engagement roundtable events, starting Wednesday at Malcolm X College. T

he events are open to the public and will be livestreamed on social media platforms. More information is available at the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget engagement website.

The city’s $16.7 billion budget passed in December includes higher taxes on cloud computing, liquor and plastic bags, along with rideshare surcharges and a roughly $1 billion sweep of tax-increment financing funds to Chicago Public Schools.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Election security takes center stage as GOP lawmakers push three reform bills

Election security takes center stage as GOP lawmakers push three reform bills

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans in Congress are pushing forward multiple bills that would standardize election security requirements nationwide. All three pieces of...
Johnson wants to extend rules blocking Congress from voting on Trump's tariffs

Johnson wants to extend rules blocking Congress from voting on Trump’s tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to delay a congressional vote on President Donald Trump's tariffs until July, but GOP members could join Democrats to...
FIGHT Act targets animal cruelty, illegal gambling, trafficking

FIGHT Act targets animal cruelty, illegal gambling, trafficking

By Lauren JessopThe Center Square Despite strong laws against it, animal fighting – most commonly dogfighting and cockfighting – continues to surface in Pennsylvania and across the country. Advocates and...
White House says Trump can protect ranchers while importing more beef

White House says Trump can protect ranchers while importing more beef

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The White House said it can protect U.S. ranchers while still importing additional beef from Argentina despite concerns from U.S. lawmakers in cattle states. "Both...
Warrants outline possible criminal probe of 2020 Georgia elections

Warrants outline possible criminal probe of 2020 Georgia elections

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square Warrants unsealed in Georgia show an FBI investigation, possibly criminal, into the 2020 presidential election won by Joe Biden over Donald Trump. In Fulton County,...
White House stands behind Commerce Secretary amid Epstein disclosures

White House stands behind Commerce Secretary amid Epstein disclosures

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump continues to back Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick after Lutnick admitted having visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island before a Senate committee Tuesday....
Will County Board Graphic.03

Health & Safety Committee: District 3 Board Member Pushes for Expanded Animal Control Services in Monee, Crete

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: Will County Board Member Daniel J. Butler (District 3) urged Animal Protection Services to establish intergovernmental agreements with...
Trump weighs sending second aircraft carrier to Middle East

Trump weighs sending second aircraft carrier to Middle East

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is weighing deploying a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the U.S. continues talks with Iran over its nuclear program....
WATCH: LA leaders, lawmakers discuss wildfire legislation

WATCH: LA leaders, lawmakers discuss wildfire legislation

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Insurance companies could be compelled to pay homeowners in Southern California who lost their homes in the January 2025 wildfires, if elected leaders have their...
'Fraud tourists' plead guilty in Minnesota fraud case

‘Fraud tourists’ plead guilty in Minnesota fraud case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Fraud investigations continue in Minnesota as the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday two "fraud tourists" have pleaded guilty to stealing millions from taxpayers in...
Illinois lawmakers push uniform election reporting to enhance voter confidence

Illinois lawmakers push uniform election reporting to enhance voter confidence

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would require local election authorities to report election data in...
GOP leaders eye second DHS funding stopgap after Dems reject White House offer

GOP leaders eye second DHS funding stopgap after Dems reject White House offer

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security only days away, Democrats have refused an offer from the White House to strike a...
Texas sheriff proposes bipartisan solution to border issue

Texas sheriff proposes bipartisan solution to border issue

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square As Congress debates Department of Homeland Security funding, bipartisan support could be reached in one area: establishing federal responsibility for recovering dead bodies in border...
Mills fires back at Oz threats of federal intervention

Mills fires back at Oz threats of federal intervention

By Chris WadeThe Center Square Maine Gov. Janet Mills is pushing back on the Trump administration's threats of a federal takeover if it doesn't turn over details of state Medicaid...
Trump warns Canada over bridge, deal he says will eliminate hockey

Trump warns Canada over bridge, deal he says will eliminate hockey

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump warned Canada over plans for a bridge and a deal with China that he says would eliminate ice hockey and the Stanley...