January 2026: Illinois Spring Legislative Session Update

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January marked the beginning of the 2026 Illinois Spring Legislative Session. The Illinois Senate was the first chamber to convene, meeting January 13–14, 2026, and canceling its scheduled Thursday session date. As expected, activity during these initial days focused largely on organization and preparation rather than substantive legislative action. One notable change this session involves Senate office locations. Historically, the Senate offices have been housed in the Capitol’s North Wing but many Senate offices were temporarily relocated during renovations that began in 2021. With renovations mostly complete, several Senate Democrats have returned to the North Wing, while others have chosen to remain in the Stratton Building through the end of spring session. Please make sure to check the General Assembly website for updated office locations, as changes may occur throughout the spring.

Friday, January 16th marked the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) deadline for bill drafting requests. This deadline gives structure to bill drafting so legislators can file their bills before of the February 6 filing deadline. These deadlines apply only to substantive bills; resolutions and budget-related legislation follow different rules. The Illinois House convened the week of January 20–22, 2026. While there was little substantive legislative movement, the week involved considerable positioning through caucus meetings and floor resolutions.

Notable Legislation

• HB 4039 –Holistic Overdose Prevention and Equity (HOPE) Act (Rep. Lindsey LaPointe)

• HB 4362 –Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program (Rep. Lindsey LaPointe)

• HB 4312 –Domestic Violence Orders of Protection (Rep. Maurice West II)

• HB 4359 –Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights (Rep. Nicolle Grasse)

• HB 4284 –Persons with Disabilities (Inclusive Language Updates) (Rep. Justin Cochran)

Looking Ahead

As a reminder, 2026 is an election year. (See NASW-IL endorsements for the upcoming March primary here.) Some legislation introduced this session may be primarily used for campaign messaging rather than passage. Not all introduced bills are expected to advance through the legislative process.The Senate is scheduled to reconvene the first week of February, ending that week with the bill filing deadline. The first time both chambers are scheduled to be in session together is the week of February 17, coinciding with the Governor’s Budget and State of the State Address on February 18. This address will set the tone for the session by outlining the administration’s priorities and beginning discussion on budget negotiations.