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

Everyday Economics: Cooling jobs, a cautious Fed, and a housing recovery that needs confidence

Everyday Economics: Cooling jobs, a cautious Fed, and a housing recovery that needs confidence

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The week ahead is framed by three macro threads that are increasingly pulling against each other: a Federal Reserve that is debating how restrictive policy...
Fierce races to determine control of Congress

Fierce races to determine control of Congress

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Even as states across the country introduce and pass legislation to reshape congressional districts to favor one political party over another, several states that have...
EXCLUSIVE: Superintendent group webinar details school response to ICE

EXCLUSIVE: Superintendent group webinar details school response to ICE

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The American Association of School Administrators hosted a members-only virtual webinar last week, providing school leaders with guidance on how to respond to potential encounters...
11 of 37 Mexican nationals extradited to U.S. being prosecuted in Texas

11 of 37 Mexican nationals extradited to U.S. being prosecuted in Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Eleven of 37 Mexican nationals extradited to the U.S. from Mexico are being prosecuted in Texas. The extradition was the largest transfer of fugitives in...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Capital Imp Committee: Veterans Assistance Commission Set to Move into New Facility

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) is scheduled to move into its new headquarters at...
will county board meeting.6

Capital Imp Committee: Health Dept Elevator Repair Costs Significantly Lower Than Estimates

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: A malfunctioning elevator at the Will County Health Department has been repaired for approximately $18,000 to...
will county board graphic

Legislative Committee Adopts 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda

Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee finalized and approved the 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda, outlining the county's top priorities for Congress. The...
Poll: Majority prefer Trump's immigration policies over Biden's

Poll: Majority prefer Trump’s immigration policies over Biden’s

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A majority of Americans say they prefer President Donald Trump's approach to border security and immigration than they do former President Joe Biden's, according to...
Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the way state parks receive funding, one that could...
Nation's first primary states to begin early voting

Nation’s first primary states to begin early voting

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Early voting has begun or is about to begin in states with the earliest 2026 midterm election primaries. Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi...
Vermont EV buses prove unreliable for transportation this winter

Vermont EV buses prove unreliable for transportation this winter

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Electric buses are proving unreliable this winter for Vermont's Green Mountain Transit, as it needs to be over 41 degrees for the buses to charge,...
Idaho has least childcare regulations, Vermont the most out of the 50 states

Idaho has least childcare regulations, Vermont the most out of the 50 states

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Idaho ranks as the freest of the 50 states when it comes to childcare regulations, while Vermont is the least free, according to a new...
Will County Finance Logo

Will County Treasurer’s Investment Strategy Yields $6 Million in Income

Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: County Treasurer Tim Brophy and investment managers from Stifel presented a detailed review of the county’s investment portfolio to the Finance...
frankfort village hall graphic logo.2

Village Updates Water System Emergency Plans to Meet Federal Standards

Frankfort Village Board Meeting | February 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Village Board authorized a contract with HR Green, Inc. to update Frankfort’s Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response...
Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.02.55 PM

Lobbyists Outline Strategy for Federal Funding and Grundy County Expansion

JJC Trustees Workshop Meeting | January 28, 2026 Article Summary: Representatives from Point of Difference Strategies updated the JJC Board on efforts to secure state and federal funding for key...