{"id":553,"date":"2021-02-27T20:14:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T02:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pirg.org\/illinois\/resources\/illinois-pirgs-2021-state-legislative-agenda\/"},"modified":"2022-08-06T06:52:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-06T11:52:48","slug":"illinois-pirgs-2021-state-legislative-agenda","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/pirg.org\/illinois\/resources\/illinois-pirgs-2021-state-legislative-agenda\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois PIRG’s 2021 State Legislative Agenda"},"featured_media":13288,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":""},"campaign_tax":[],"display_option":[],"issue_tax":[],"resource_type":[90],"region_tax":[],"state":[16],"topic_tax":[154,150,136,152],"class_list":["post-553","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_taxonomies":{"topics":[136,150,152,154],"collection":false,"press_type":false,"person_type":false,"resource_type":90,"event_type":false,"campaigns":false,"department":false,"level":false,"states":[16],"act_option":false,"display_option":false,"primary":{"topic":136}},"subtitle":"","excerpt":"Our job is to make sure that any decisions that get made during this legislative session are made in the public\u2019s best interest.\u00a0","featured_image":13288,"caption_override":"","updated_on":null,"sidebar_action":null,"related_event":null,"hide_hero_image":false,"location":"","external_link":{"publication_name":"","url":""},"file":null,"sidebar_action_query_string":""},"helper_people_group":{"title":"Authors","entities":[{"type":"dynamic","dynamic_person":{"site":104,"people":"3148"},"information":{"name":"","image":"","role":"","biography":"","contact":{"twitter":"","facebook":"","email":"","phone":""}}}]},"helper_downloads":{"title":"Downloads","files":null},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

We advocate for the public interest in Springfield. This year there are hundreds of policies being discussed which could safeguard public health, protect consumers in the marketplace, transform our energy and transportation systems, remove toxic threats, stop wasteful spending, revitalize our democracy, and protect Illinois\u2019 environment. Our job is to make sure that any decisions that get made during this remote legislative session are made in the public\u2019s best interest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As they legislate mostly remotely due to COVID-19, the General Assembly is entering uncharted territory, and its leaders are working hard to keep elected officials, staff and the public safe while conducting the people\u2019s business in Springfield.\u00a0During the remote legislative sessions \u2013 and always \u2013 it\u2019s vital that when the bills and policies that could impact our common interests are being debated, those discussions aren\u2019t conducted behind closed doors, or without citizen involvement. We know our leaders will be hearing from powerful interests, and their lobbyists, won\u2019t be afraid to try and use their access and influence to push for decisions which benefit their narrow agenda, instead of what is best for the people of Illinois. That\u2019s where we come in.<\/p>\n

Illinois PIRG\u2019s advocates closely monitor the public interest policies being debated in Springfield. We propose and analyze legislation, provide independent research, and expert testimony so that our leaders can make informed decisions. Our staff watchdog how our elected officials are leaning and what political calculations they are making. And we make sure that our leaders hear from the public, by bringing the voices of our members and Illinois residents into the meeting rooms, public hearings, or these days the Zoom calls, where critical public interest decisions are being made.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Illinois PIRG\u2019s top priorities this legislative session include:\u00a0<\/h3>\n