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

Illinois quick hits: McClain reports to prison

Illinois quick hits: McClain reports to prison

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square McClain reports to prison Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime associate has begun serving a two-year prison sentence at a...
Will County Board Graphic.01

New Lenox Used Car Dealership Approved with Conditions

Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a special use permit allowing a used car dealership to operate in an industrial park...
manhattan park district graphic.1

Manhattan Park District Proposes Tax Levy Increase; Public Hearing Set for December

Manhattan Park District Board Meeting | Nov. 2025 Article Summary: The Manhattan Park District Board of Commissioners approved a resolution determining the estimated tax levy for the 2025 tax year,...
jackson township graphic.2

Jackson Township Sets 2026 Schedule and Reviews Tax Levy Options

Jackson Township Board Meeting | Nov. 12, 2025 Article Summary: The Jackson Township Board established its meeting calendar for 2026 and began preliminary discussions on the upcoming tax levy. The...
Op-Ed: How one puppy mill-teliant retailer is preempting local laws

Op-Ed: How one puppy mill-teliant retailer is preempting local laws

By Madison Gesiotto GilbertThe Center Square One of the most overlooked threats to community-based control in America isn’t coming from Washington politicians or even state government officials, but from a...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago school board raises property tax levy

Illinois quick hits: Chicago school board raises property tax levy

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago school board raises property tax levy By a vote of 15 to 5, the Chicago Board of Education raised its...
Illinois lawmaker welcomes possible Marine deployment after Supreme Court ruling

Illinois lawmaker welcomes possible Marine deployment after Supreme Court ruling

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker praised as a “win” a U.S. Supreme Court ruling temporarily preventing President...
Screenshot 2025-12-20 at 12.27.21 PM

Lincoln-Way Officials Warn of $400,000 State Funding Shortfall

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: Assistant Superintendent Michael Duback informed the Board of Education of a significant reduction in state funding due...
Will County Board Graphic.02

County Board Approves Women’s Residential Treatment Center in Joliet

Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved zoning changes to allow the Existential Counselor Society to open a women’s residential treatment...
manhattan elwood library graphic.5

Library Board Reallocates Maturing CD and Debt Certificate Funds

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Meeting | November 24, 2025 Article Summary: The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board voted to shift funds from a maturing Certificate of Deposit and debt certificates into...
White business owners are biggest share of Illinois' diversity-preferred contract group

White business owners are biggest share of Illinois’ diversity-preferred contract group

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois' initiative to boost the amount of state contract money it awards to businesses owned by racial...
Filings delayed in convicted ex-Illinois House speaker’s appeal

Filings delayed in convicted ex-Illinois House speaker’s appeal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spends the final days of 2025 behind bars, the next...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Fire Protection District for Nov. 17, 2025

Manhattan Fire Protection District Meeting | Nov. 17, 2025 The Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees met on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Fire Station #81 to adopt the...
Jackson Township Graphic.2 NEW

Jackson Township Approves America 250 Resolution and Dial-A-Ride Agreement

Jackson Township Board Meeting | Nov. 12, 2025 Article Summary: The Jackson Township Board approved a resolution supporting the upcoming America 250 commemoration and signed off on an intergovernmental agreement...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for December 18, 2025

Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 The Will County Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, focusing heavily on land use, transportation infrastructure, and public...