Senate Returns to Springfield Ahead of Key Bill Filing Deadline
The Illinois Senate will return to Springfield this week as lawmakers continue their work for the spring legislative session. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for three of the four weeks in February, with committee hearings and floor action increasing as legislation moves forward.
An important deadline arrives on Friday, February 6, which is the cutoff for lawmakers to introduce new bills. In the days leading up to that deadline, lawmakers will be finalizing proposals that reflect their priorities for the remainder of the session. However, it is important to remember that filed bills can be amended to create new proposals.
State Senator Terri Bryant says the weeks ahead will be crucial as legislators debate policies that impact families, job creators, and communities across Illinois. She says the focus will remain on advancing practical solutions that address affordability, public safety, and accountability in state government.
Illinois Sees Third-Worst Loss of Residents to Other States
New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Illinois continues to lose residents to other states at one of the highest rates in the nation. Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, more than 40,000 Illinois residents moved to other states, ranking Illinois third-worst nationally for domestic population loss, behind only California and New York.
While Illinois posted a modest overall population increase, Census data show that growth was driven almost entirely by international migration. Without that influx, Illinois would have continued to lose population, as the state saw only a small increase from births while thousands of residents chose to leave.
Experts and past surveys point to high taxes as a major reason Illinoisans are moving elsewhere. Census and IRS data consistently show that the vast majority of residents who leave Illinois relocate to states with lower tax burdens. Illinois continues to rank among the highest in the nation for overall state and local tax burden.
State Senator Terri Bryant says the numbers confirm what families have been saying for years. She says Illinois must address affordability, rein in taxes, and adopt policies that make it easier for residents to stay, work, and raise families here instead of watching more people leave every year.
Illinois Still Hasn’t Opted into Federal Scholarship Program
Illinois has yet to join a new federal tax-credit scholarship program that would expand educational options for families without using state or local education dollars. The program allows individuals to receive a federal tax credit when they donate to scholarship organizations that help students pay for private school tuition or cover education-related costs, such as tutoring or after-school programs.
Supporters say the program is unique because it does not divert funding from public schools and does not impact the state budget. Scholarships are funded entirely through voluntary private donations, and participation simply requires the state to opt in. More than two dozen states have already chosen to participate.
Governor Pritzker has said he is still evaluating whether Illinois will join the program. Critics argue the delay leaves families with fewer options, especially after Illinois ended its own scholarship program in 2023, which had helped thousands of students access alternative education opportunities.
State Senator Terri Bryant says the federal scholarship program offers families more flexibility without taking resources away from public schools. She says opting in would give parents additional options while protecting classroom funding and respecting the role of local schools.
Conservation Scholarships Available for Illinois High School Seniors
The Illinois Conservation Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 Conservation Achievement Scholarships, which will award up to four one-time scholarships of $2,000 to Illinois high school seniors who are committed to protecting the state’s natural resources.
The scholarships recognize students who have shown sustained volunteer involvement in conservation efforts, including work that preserves or promotes Illinois’ lands, waters, and wildlife. One scholarship each year is reserved for a dependent of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources employee.
Since the program began in 2005, the foundation has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to Illinois students who plan to continue their conservation efforts through education and public service.
Applicants must be Illinois residents and seniors enrolled in an Illinois high school during the year the scholarship is awarded. Applications are due March 1. More information and application materials are available at www.ilconservation.org/Scholarships.
Dept. of Aging is Seeking Senior Illinoisans for Hall of Fame
The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame, a program that recognizes Illinois residents aged 65 and older for outstanding lifetime achievements and contributions.
Each year, four older adults are selected for induction, with honorees representing accomplishments in areas such as arts, sports and entertainment, community service, education, and the workforce. Nominations are open to the public, meaning anyone can submit a candidate for consideration.
To qualify, nominees must be at least 65 years old at the time they are nominated and must either currently live in Illinois or have spent most of their life in the state. The Department also accepts posthumous nominations, as long as the individual was 65 or older and an Illinois resident at the time of their death.
To be considered for the 2026 class, nominations must be submitted by June 2, 2026. For more information or to submit a nomination, please click here.