Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (7/30)

July 30, 2025

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

Pritzker says Illinois working to soften impact of SNAP cuts imposed by Trump  

“Gov. JB Pritzker spoke at an East St. Louis food shelter on Tuesday to talk about his administration’s plans to alleviate the impact spending cuts to federal benefits programs, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will have on Illinois residents who use the aid to buy groceries,” by the Belleville News-Democrat.

State lawmakers, officials seek input into how auto insurance rates are set 

“Just weeks after Gov. JB Pritzker called for action following State Farm’s 27.2% rate hike for homeowners insurance, some state lawmakers and officials said they are renewing efforts to address the steady rise in auto insurance rates,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Trump administration requests voter data from Illinois elections board 

“The Trump administration has asked Illinois election officials for a copy of the state’s voter registration database, including sensitive data about individual voters and detailed information about the state’s efforts to scrub ineligible voters from the rolls,” by Capitol News Illinois.

Bipartisan group launches latest effort to remove partisanship from how Illinois legislative boundaries are drawn 

“For the third time in little more than a decade, a bipartisan group is being formed to launch a voter initiative aimed at amending the Illinois Constitution to try to remove the heavy partisan influence of lawmakers in the once-per-decade redrawing of state legislative boundaries,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Attorney General Raoul hosts other AGs in town hall on pain of Trump administration policies 

“Attorneys general Keith Ellison of Minnesota; Letitia James of New York; Peter Neronha of Rhode Island; and Nick Brown of Washington State also attended Thursday’s meeting. It was the latest in a series of similar town halls hosted by Democratic state attorneys general to hear from constituents about the impacts they’ve felt from the Trump administration’s policies,” by the Chicago Sun Times.

 

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Mayor Brandon Johnson: Corporate head tax on table to fix Chicago budget 

“The first such wealthy-targeting option he was asked about Tuesday: a per-employee head tax similar to the one in place for decades before being eliminated by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “It’s an option, it’s an option,” Johnson said about bringing the tax back in some form,” by the Chicago Tribune.

As Ald. Walter Burnett Officially Resigns From City Council, CHA Appointment Appears Stalled 

“West Side Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward) will officially resign from the Chicago City Council on Thursday after 30 years in office — but he will not take over the Chicago Housing Authority, at least immediately,” by WTTW.

Alderman: Chicago’s ‘uncontrolled spending’ the problem, not ‘falloff in revenue’

“Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez is vowing to make Mayor Brandon Johnson a man of his words when it comes to a pledge not to raise property taxes. A senior Johnson administration official recently told Bloomberg News such policy changes could be on the way,” by the Center Square. 

Chicago reopens the fight over hemp THC — and big money is on the line

“Under a municipal code amendment introduced by Conway on July 16, the city of Chicago would formally allow retailers such as convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops to continue selling intoxicating hemp goods to consumers, but would establish new rules governing such sales,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Mayor Johnson’s crossroads — budget decisions that will define his financial stewardship of Chicago 

“Reinstating the $4-a-month-per-employee head tax, lump-sum payments in lieu of taxes for hospitals, churches and other non-profits exempt from paying property taxes, taxing digital advertising and a corporate income tax are all “options” on the table, the mayor said Tuesday,” by the Chicago Sun Times.

 

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents – The Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is searching for a path out of the political wilderness after being locked out of power on the federal level in last year’s elections.

The crypto industry notched its first major legislative victory with the passage of a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Now, both industry and lawmakers are turning their attention to the more expansive effort to create a regulatory framework for non-stablecoin digital assets.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing – The State of the Governors in Trump’s America 

Today, Public Strategies takes the Beltway Briefing outside the Beltway to explore Democratic and Republican governors’ relationships with the second Trump administration. How do policies and messages vary from state to state? What impact is the administration having on the balance of power between the states and the federal government? And which governors might be on the 2028 presidential bingo card? Featuring Public Strategies’ Pat Carey (Illinois) and Julia Hammond (Virginia).

Listen to the Beltway Briefing 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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