September 2026

Just because it was summer and the legislature was not in session, does not mean things weren’t happening. Not just the state League, but our local Leagues as well, have been busy advocating for important issues. In this newsletter, we want to shine a spotlight on our local Leagues that have participated in advocacy.

In League,

Your LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Committee

issues@lwvil.org

ISSUES

Illinois 2026 Veto Session

The General Assembly's official calendar shows the veto session occurring in two blocks: November 17–19 and December 1–3, 2026. Although the final agenda has not been set yet (we'll know more closer to November), here are issues worth watching:

1. Property taxes / housing: The Family First Housing Act (HB5791), would make it easier for homeowners to create additional living space—such as an addition, garage apartment, or secondary dwelling—for multigenerational families.

2. Healthcare costs and prescription drugs: Proposals include greater healthcare-price transparency and mechanisms for addressing expensive prescription drugs. Important to watch, since a federal judge recently struck down the Illinois Prescription Drug Affordability Act (more on that below).

3. State finances and taxes: Since the veto session is after the November election, the political calculations of legislators can change. Bills may arise involving business taxes, tax credits, state spending and implementation of the 2026 budget.

4. Data Centers: The POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) would establish comprehensive environmental, water and energy regulations for hyperscale data centers.

5. Styrofoam: The Disposable Food Service Container Act (SB1531) would ban the sale and distribution of containers composed of polystyrene foam. 

ADVOCACY

Help Get Out the Facts on the 2026 Midterm Elections

LWVUS advocacy has actively and effectively opposed efforts to tighten federal control of elections ahead of the 2026 midterm elections:

• Opposed the SAVE America Act, requiring photo ID and proof of citizenships in federal elections and prohibiting universal mail-in voting across the country
• Engaged in lawsuits to fight federal requests for states to hand over voter registration databases and federal seizure of ballots and voting records
• Condemned President Trump’s removal of Election Assistance Commission Commissioners
• Filed lawsuits to block USPS from implementing executive order restricting mail voting

With the midterms approaching, election officials and experts are helping voters understand the mechanics of voting, legal protections for voting, election administration, and the counting of results. Key messages to communicate include:

• Make a plan to vote and consider voting early, particularly if voting by mail
• A slower vote count does not indicate a problem. Different states and localities have different procedures and timelines; taking the time to verify results carefully is an important part of election administration
• The Elections Clause of the Constitution is clear: states and Congress control elections, not the president
• Poll workers and election staff in communities across the country are working to ensure eligible voters can cast their ballots and have them counted

For more information, you can watch and share these videos with your networks:

• LWVUS CEO Celina Stewart encourages voters to make a plan
• Election Center Officer explains: A “slow” count is not a suspicious count
• Legal experts explain: The law is on the voters’ side

Advocating for Vote by Mail

LWVUS has joined with other voting rights organizations in challenging President Trump’s executive order restricting mail voting. While this issue keeps coming up, and has recently been brought to the Supreme Court, it is important to know that the League is monitoring the situation and taking legal action.

Here in our state, LWVIL is advocating for legislation that would allow voters to return completed Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots at polling places within their election authority’s jurisdiction. This would provide voters with a secure alternative to relying on the U.S. Postal Service to return their ballots and help ensure that ballots are received by the election authority in a timely manner.

LWVIL Vice President Roberta Borrino and LWVIL Issues Specialist Barb Laimins attended the Illinois Clerks and Recorders Association meeting in Springfield to listen and learn about the challenges and concerns Election Clerks will be facing in November. Discussions about LWVIL's VBM ballot initiative highlighted the need for clear statutory authority and procedures that protect the security and integrity of the election process.

The LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Committee will continue working with the legislative arm of the Illinois Clerks and Recorders Association to develop legislation that would authorize election clerks to accept completed VBM ballots at polling places while maintaining a secure chain of custody for every ballot. This advocacy reflects the League’s commitment to making voting accessible, secure, and convenient while protecting the integrity of the election process.

Federal Judge Strikes Down IL Prescription Drug Law

On September 8, WGN reported that a federal judge struck down an Illinois law meant to lower the price of prescription drugs. “The Illinois Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HB1697) was signed into law in July 2025 and took effect January 1. The law was to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, but a coalition of those managers sued. The federal court ruled the state law conflicts with a federal law and blocked state officials from putting it in place. The court ruled employee healthcare benefit plans are subject to federal law, which prevents each state from enacting its own specific mandate.”

OMB Proposed Rule Update

Congress recently passed a bipartisan continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through December 11 and temporarily prevent the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing its proposed overhaul of federal grantmaking rules.

While the OMB proposal does not directly rewrite social programs such as housing, food assistance, health care, or education, it changes the rules governing how federal grants are awarded and managed. Because nonprofits, states, and local governments use federal grants to deliver many of these services, changes to grant rules could have significant downstream effects on Americans. Many of these social programs represent the League of Women Voters' national and state social policy positions.

The National Council of Nonprofits will continue monitoring the issue and advocating for nonprofit organizations.

Preventing Discriminatory Practices in Illinois

The Civil Rights Safeguard Act (SB3777), which amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit the use of practices or policies that have the effect of discriminating against individuals based on citizenship status, family responsibilities, work authorization status, arrest record, or conviction record, was passed and signed into law with an effective date of June 1, 2027.

LWVIL is proud to have supported this legislation. If your state senator sponsored this bill, send them a thank you letter. They always appreciate positive recognition—and don’t we all!

Tell Legislators: We Need Data Center Guardrails

Illinois environmental groups are organizing a POWER ACT Lobby Day on November 18 in Springfield, during veto session. The POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), or the HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS bill, provides a regulatory framework for data centers that currently does not exist. It would add guardrails regarding energy, water, environment, labor and transparency issues. This is priority legislation for the League and an important topic for so many of our members, though the League is not an official sponsor of this event. Sign up.

Greater Rockford League Educates County Board and Influences Voter ID Ballot Question

Over the course of three weeks, the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford actively engaged in the Winnebago County Board’s consideration of an advisory question regarding voter ID requirements. The initial advisory referendum question lacked understanding of the potential for voter suppression:

Should the Illinois General Assembly pass legislation that would require voters to show a valid form of government-issued photo identification to prove United States citizenship before being allowed to vote?

Leaguers continued to attend meetings, contact officials, educate County Board members about election procedures, and communicate the League’s positions on voter ID policies—emphasizing that voter fraud is extremely rare and Voter ID laws disproportionately suppress minority voter participation.

While the League did not convince the County Board to abandon the advisory question, they greatly influenced the final version, which included important changes that reflect League input:

Should Illinois law require voters to provide valid photo identification once—either when registering or before voting for the first time—while ensuring eligible citizens could obtain identification free of charge and without unreasonable barriers.

The advisory question passed the full County Board by a vote of 11–8 and will appear on the November ballot. LWV Greater Rockford will continue educating voters and the community about the issue leading up to Election Day.

Lake County Vote by Mail Advocacy

The League of Women Voters of Deerfield/Lincolnshire met with the Lake County Clerk to support the LWVIL position advocating for voters to be able to drop off completed VBM ballots at polling places within Lake County. As a result, the Lake County Clerk will be providing Lake County voters with the option for securely returning their ballots at a local polling place.