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

WATCH: Lawmakers call out Pritzker for lack of transparency with budget cuts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers say they are not getting information from Gov. J.B. Pritzker or state agencies about the...
Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Authors of a new report on social mobility across the 50 states said that barriers to social mobility are largely “man-made” and can be solved...
Fetterman hospitalized for heart episode

Fetterman hospitalized for heart episode

By Christen SmithThe Center Square Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman remains under observation at a Pittsburgh-area hospital following a heart episode early Thursday. The senator’s spokesman posted to his...
Federal services to slowly recover following end of government shutdown

Federal services to slowly recover following end of government shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the longest government shutdown in history finally over, federal agencies are slowly bringing affected services back online and hoping to resume normal operations by...
IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

By Catrina Barker contributiorThe Center Square An Illinois congressman is pushing to expand testing options at U.S. service academies, a move experts say could revive academic rigor and expand access...
solar panels photovoltaics in solar farm

New Lenox Solar Farm Gains County Committee Approval with Conditions

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: A 63-acre commercial solar energy facility on Spencer Road in New Lenox Township received a key endorsement...
Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.1

Committee Approves Frankfort Township Gaming Bar on Split Vote

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: Despite an objection from Frankfort Township, a proposed video gaming bar on West St. Francis Road is...
Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.3

Crete Township Senior Group Home Gets Unanimous Committee Support

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: A proposal to convert a single-family home in Crete Township into a shared living facility for up...
Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.4

Beecher-Area Rezoning and Variances Approved to Legalize Structure

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved a rezoning and two variances for a property...
Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.2

Committee Approves Wilton Township Land Division Despite Spot Zoning Concerns

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved a request to rezone a 1.75-acre parcel in...
MS-13 members prosecuted nationwide for brutal murders, fentanyl trafficking

MS-13 members prosecuted nationwide for brutal murders, fentanyl trafficking

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Federal, state and local law enforcement officers continue to target Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang members nationwide. MS-13 was designated as a foreign terrorist...
Illinois, Chicago residents rank high taxes as state’s top issue

Illinois, Chicago residents rank high taxes as state’s top issue

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With the state now losing a resident to another state every nine minutes and more than...
Jan. 6 panel cost twice previous estimates, hiring TV producers to dramatize attack

Jan. 6 panel cost twice previous estimates, hiring TV producers to dramatize attack

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square The U.S. House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol cost almost twice as much as previously reported, including...
Illinois quick hits: Illinois House members vote along party lines; More than 40% of CPS teachers missed 10 or more school days; State Treasurer says Bright Start earns gold

Illinois quick hits: Illinois House members vote along party lines; More than 40% of CPS teachers missed 10 or more school days; State Treasurer says Bright Start earns gold

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois House members vote along party lines Illinois U.S. House members voted along party lines as the chamber approved legislation to...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee for November 4, 2025

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | November 4, 2025 The Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, reviewed a successful bond refinancing...