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.

Today Jul 21
Mostly Clear
55°

Mostly Clear

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Independent candidate blasts election measure

Independent candidate blasts election measure

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is criticizing a failed election omnibus proposal that he says...
Everyday Economics: A stable labor market is not enough

Everyday Economics: A stable labor market is not enough

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The May jobs report offered a measure of reassurance: the labor market is stable. Employers are still adding jobs, layoffs remain contained, and the economy...
Fishermen advocate begins campaign against offshore wind, ‘industrializing’ of the ocean

Fishermen advocate begins campaign against offshore wind, ‘industrializing’ of the ocean

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association began a campaign to bring attention to what it says is a radical climate...
Sorensen drug-pricing bill draws criticism from former FDA official

Sorensen drug-pricing bill draws criticism from former FDA official

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois, is backing legislation he says would lower prescription drug costs by...
Supporters, critics clash over future of taxpayer funding for Rx Kids

Supporters, critics clash over future of taxpayer funding for Rx Kids

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan lawmakers remain divided over the future of the state's Rx Kids program as House Republicans continue scrutinizing the initiative. The first-in-the-nation cash assistance program,...
U.S. Senate race headlines Maine primaries as voters head to polls Tuesday

U.S. Senate race headlines Maine primaries as voters head to polls Tuesday

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters in Maine will head to the polls Tuesday in high profile primary races that could help determine control of Congress. The races have garnered...
Bessent backs 3% deficit goal despite 5% budget forecasts

Bessent backs 3% deficit goal despite 5% budget forecasts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged in two congressional hearings this week to cut the federal deficit to 3% of GDP, a target the government's...
Constables hope to find missing children in immigration search effort

Constables hope to find missing children in immigration search effort

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After months of Congress stalling on funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and administrative changes, Pennsylvania state constables who’ve signed agreements to support federal...
Lawmaker blasts reports of ‘equitable assessments’ at medical school

Lawmaker blasts reports of ‘equitable assessments’ at medical school

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Bill Hauter, a Republican physician and graduate of the University of Illinois College...
FOID changes advance in Illinois House, not called in Senate

FOID changes advance in Illinois House, not called in Senate

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Changes to Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s ID Card didn’t get across the finish line before the General Assembly...
Texas tops California, New York, with the most Fortune 500 headquarters

Texas tops California, New York, with the most Fortune 500 headquarters

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Under Gov. Greg Abbott, the most Fortune 500 headquarters are now located in Texas. According to Fortune Media’s 2026 Fortune 500 list, its top companies...
Nine candidates run in Las Vegas congressional district

Nine candidates run in Las Vegas congressional district

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Nevada’s 1st Congressional district sees a total of nine candidates vying for Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries, but only two have captured the majority of...
U.S. seeks dismissal of lawsuit over deadly boat strikes

U.S. seeks dismissal of lawsuit over deadly boat strikes

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. government moved Friday to dismiss a lawsuit brought by families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. military boat strike, arguing the...
Seattle mayor reverses course, activates surveillance cameras for World Cup

Seattle mayor reverses course, activates surveillance cameras for World Cup

By Randy DiamondThe Center Square In a reversal, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has ordered that surveillance cameras be turned on during the FIFA World Cup Tournament. Wilson said in a...
Expert: GOP success this week doesn't mean Nov. 3 victories

Expert: GOP success this week doesn’t mean Nov. 3 victories

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Republicans appear to have done well in this week's California primary, despite Democrats redrawing congressional districts in their favor. But an expert observing Tuesday's election...