Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (4/22)

April 22, 2026

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Illinois House Democrats push Bears stadium tax deal as Republicans seek property tax relief

“House Democrats met for hours behind closed doors Tuesday, working to advance a proposal that would bring the Chicago Bears to Arlington Heights,” by the Chicago Tribune.  

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Illinois ‘millionaire’s tax’ proposal faces political barriers and a tight deadline

“Illinois lawmakers are considering a new ‘millionaire’s tax’ that could generate billions in new revenue. But the measure, which would have to go before voters on this November’s ballot, faces a tight deadline and political hurdles that sank the ‘fair tax’ proposal in 2020,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.  

Pritzker executive order bars state employees from using insider info in prediction markets 

“Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Tuesday barring state employees from using insider information to place bets on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi,” by Capitol News Illinois.  

Illinois Democrats still weighing budget options as strong revenue mixes with uncertain outlook 

“Democrats are entering the home stretch of budget negotiations ahead of their scheduled May 31 adjournment while monitoring better-than-expected revenue growth alongside the uncertainty that is a hallmark of governing during Donald Trump’s presidency,” by Capitol News Illinois. 

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Mayor Johnson, CTA president defend security firings slammed by City Council’s Black Caucus

“Mayor Brandon Johnson and acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen on Tuesday defended their decision to replace hundreds of unarmed security guards with ‘trained professionals,’ a move drawing fire from the chair of the City Council’s Black Caucus,” by the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Chicago’s New Zoning Chair on Top Priorities, Megaprojects: ‘Chicago Is Open for Business’ 

“Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) was recently chosen to lead the City Council’s Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, putting him at the center of decisions that shape everything from residential housing to billion-dollar developments,” by WTTW News. 

Departing inspector general targets Council Office of Financial Analysis 

“Days before concluding her four-year term, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said a shortage of both adequate staff and financial information closely held by the mayor’s office prevents the Council’s Office of Financial Analysis from helping the Council be the the ‘co-equal branch of government’ it aspires to be,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.  

Chicago school board candidates step up fundraising for historic election 

“More than six months ahead of Chicago’s historic school board races, candidates are starting to ramp up fundraising — and political action committees are gearing up to spend big,” by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: Democrats State Their Case

An increasingly favorable national political environment for Democrats is strengthening the party’s prospects in this midterm cycle’s often overlooked state legislative races. 

The Trump administration is all-in on AI innovation, though this approach could have risks for electoral politics. Meanwhile, AI-related political spending is booming in the midterms. 

Top Trump administration officials are making the trek to Capitol Hill over the next few weeks, defending an unprecedented proposed defense spending increase, a massive cut to non-defense programs, and their own records on the job. Read the Cozen Currents here.

The Beltway & Beyond: In-Conversation: Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh on Bridging Divides in a Fragmented World

Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh—the first Druze woman elected to the Israeli Knesset and the first non-Jewish anchorwoman to broadcast Israel’s main evening news in Hebrew and Arabic—joins Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on cross-cultural leadership and shared humanity in a divided world. Drawing on her experience across government and global platforms like the World Economic Forum and Munich Security Conference, she reflects on what it means to lead across cultural, political, and societal divides. Together, they explore geopolitics, the current conflict in the Middle East, rising global polarization, and the leadership traits required to build trust, foster dialogue, and drive progress across communities. Listen here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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