With 517 laws passed last year, odds are some will help Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Mindy Ruckman

12/19/2018

New Year brings new laws as the 100thGeneral Assembly ends. Here are a few wins for Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: Illinois General Assembly, law, licensing, local government consolidation, occupational licensing, pensions, regulations, school district consolidation

Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies

By Amy Korte

08/17/2018

A new law will ensure Illinoisans don’t lose their right to practice their professions if they fall behind on student loan payments.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, occupational licensing, scott bennett, student loans

En route to Rauner’s desk: Victories for licensing reform, regulatory rollback and axing golden parachutes

By Mindy Ruckman

06/19/2018

Nearly 600 bills are on their way to the governor, some of which would be encouraging changes to the status quo.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Carol Sente, criminal justice reform, Dan McConchie, Illinois Tollway, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, Paul Schimpf, regulations, Thomas Cullerton, transparency

Trio of occupational licensing bills en route to governor’s desk

By Vincent Caruso

05/23/2018

A series of occupational licensing reform bills making their way out of the General Assembly would help more Illinoisans enter the workforce.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chuck Weaver, criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, rita mayfield

Senate bill would require regulators to jump more hurdles before imposing new licensing restrictions

By Vincent Caruso

05/07/2018

Regulatory regimes in Illinois often discourage workforce participation without enhancing public welfare. One Senate bill, however, would require regulators to demonstrate the necessity of new rules before imposing them on workers.

TAGS: Chicago, food trucks, licensing, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, regulations, scott bennett, Tom Demmer

Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor

By Vincent Caruso

04/13/2018

Three proposals that would ease occupational licensing restrictions have reached the House floor, passing unanimously out of committee.

TAGS: occupational licensing, Tom Demmer

Senate bill would bar Illinois from axing occupational licenses due to student loan debt

By Vincent Caruso

04/09/2018

Under Illinois law, defaulting on student loan debt could jeopardize one’s occupational license. But a Senate bill would protect indebted workers from displacement.

TAGS: occupational licensing, student loans

Just reward: A 2017 comeback story for the ages

By Austin Berg

01/11/2018

State lawmakers would be wise to re-examine the barriers to second chances and first careers throughout the state.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing

For your own good: Illinois the seventh-most ‘paternalistic’ state in the country, study finds

By Vincent Caruso

01/09/2018

The Land of Lincoln is also the land of “sin” taxes, “saint” subsidies and other nanny-like policies, according to a new study.

TAGS: alcohol tax, cigarette tax, occupational licensing, sales tax

Student loan troubles? Illinois officials can suspend your professional license

By Amy Korte

12/06/2017

Almost a quarter of Illinois workers need licenses to work in their professions, and workers who default on student loans can face the suspension of those licenses.

TAGS: higher education, occupational licensing, regulations, student loans