What exactly did Illinois lawmakers pass in the final few days of the legislative session over the long holiday weekend? Here's a breakdown of some of the biggest items that could soon become law, should Gov. J.B. Pritzker sign them.
Illinois Democratic leaders released a revised version of proposed House and Senate legislative maps Thursday night, saying they made changes based on public input they received during hearings this week and to address criticism that Republican incumbents would be forced to run against one another.
May 27, 2021 | 8:02 PM
(The Center Square) – Democrats put out revised legislative maps for redrawing the state’s political boundaries Thursday afternoon that they say factors in feedback from residents and advocacy groups.
“After 50 public hearings across the state and listening to hours of testimony, the House and Senate Democrats have put together a product our state can be proud of,” said state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, chair of the House Redistricting Committee. “What should stand out about this proposed map is how similar districts look compared to our current map.
She said the changes were based on feedback, including criticism from Republicans.
Seth Perlman/AP file
SPRINGFIELD Following Republican complaints and public testimony, Democrats went back to the drawing board, releasing newly proposed state legislative maps late Thursday calling them a “product our state can be proud of.”
But GOP legislators said any claims that their concerns have been taken into account were “deceptive and downright untrue.”
Democrats also released new boundaries for the three-member Cook County Board of Review Thursday night. That board allows residents to appeal their property assessments.
After hours of hearings this week in which legislators were told to reverse course on maps released a week ago, Democrats released a redistricting redo that they said reflects “testimony provided the last couple of days from members of the public’’ as well as “concerns raised by Republicans.”