Illinois Legislative News: September 15, 2025
With the fall veto session about a month away, conversations are ramping up surrounding which outstanding issues the General Assembly will take on. Several major issues were left unresolved earlier this year, and since then, shifting federal policies and mounting economic pressures have only raised the stakes. The October session is shaping up as a chance to revisit big-ticket items like the energy omnibus bill, data center regulations, and the looming transit funding crisis.
One of the most closely watched fights will be over data centers. Illinois has been actively seeking to expand these facilities with generous tax breaks, but critics say their enormous energy demands and lack of transparency around sustainability call for tighter rules. House Speaker Chris Welch has already suggested that data center measures are likely to resurface this fall, potentially folded into a broader energy package. Lawmakers are considering proposals that would require new facilities to offset their energy use with clean power or meet stricter reporting standards, ideas that stalled last spring after industry pushback.
The data center industry continues to advocate for reforms to Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), which it views as a major liability concern. Hyperscale data center campuses continue to relocate in neighboring states due to these concerns. It remains unclear whether BIPA reform will advance during October’s veto session or be pushed to next spring. Industry stakeholders are working closely with organized labor and key legislators to finalize language that would address industry concerns and bring these massive economic development projects to Illinois.
Transit funding is also expected to take center stage, though the urgency has shifted somewhat. The Regional Transportation Authority recently approved a $74 million transfer to help the CTA push back its “fiscal cliff” into mid-2026. That stopgap gives lawmakers more room to maneuver, but it doesn’t erase the underlying $546 million regional deficit projected for 2026. For that reason, transit advocates still see the October veto session as an important moment to press for a long-term funding and governance fix. Realistically, the legislature could delay action until January or even fold the issue into the FY 2027 budget process.
The debates over data centers, transit funding, and the possible revival of the energy omnibus bill suggest this fall’s session may be less about introducing new ideas and more about catching up on policies that stalled earlier in the year, while also responding to new financial and federal pressures shaping Illinois’ political landscape.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2