INTRODUCTION TO THE 2025 SPRING END OF SESSION REPORT From Lou Sandoval, President & CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce As the 2025 Spring legislative session concludes, I want to take a moment to reflect on the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s work over the past several months and highlight how we’ve continued to advance a pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-Illinois agenda. It has been an active Spring session. While progress on key issues was sometimes uneven, activity under the dome in Springfield was nearly nonstop, with only brief scheduled breaks from late January through May. In total, more than 7,000 bills and resolutions were filed this session. Of those, the Illinois Chamber’s government affairs team actively tracked over 1,500 proposals that could impact the state’s business community. You can view our legislative agenda published earlier this year here. We take pride in being a steadfast voice for businesses of all sizes, from local job creators to some of the world’s most recognized brands. Now in my second year as President & CEO, I remain committed to seizing every opportunity to promote our mission: to position Illinois as a competitive, innovative, and vibrant place to do business. This begins with establishing meaningful relationships with lawmakers and demonstrating that the business community can be a genuine partner in advancing solutions for long-term growth. While legislators have returned to their districts, many critical issues remain unresolved. Chief among them are mass transit reform and long-term, sustainable system funding. Equally pressing are discussions sur- rounding energy reliability and affordability, which continue to influence the broader economic landscape in Illinois. Additionally, structural challenges to the state’s budget persist, including considerations of costly changes to the State’s Tier 2 pension system, and will demand careful engagement in the months ahead. The whirlwind of May reminded us of a critical truth: when business isn’t at the table, bad policy occurs. Our collective presence matters. Without strong advocacy from the business community, legislative outcomes can, and often do, impose unintended consequences that hinder innovation, investment, and job creation in Illinois. That’s why the Illinois Chamber exists. We are here to serve as your voice in Springfield. To advocate, educate, and engage in real time to protect and promote the interests of our diverse membership. We also recognize and appreciate the pragmatic, bipartisan leadership shown by many members of the Gener- al Assembly. These “bridge builders” are essential to crafting balanced, forward-thinking policy that benefits both residents and employers across the state. Public-private collaboration is a necessity and something we deeply appreciate. This report outlines our legislative engagement across seven core areas: Employment, Energy, Environment, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Tax, and Technology. These pillars represent the heart of our government relations efforts this spring. While not exhaustive, the report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the issues we’ve tracked, the coalitions we’ve led, and the legislation we’ve helped pass or stop. As always, none of this work is possible without you. Thank you for your continued partnership, engagement, and trust. You empower our team to speak on behalf of Illinois businesses and ensure that your interests are both represented and championed. We are honored to lead that charge, and we remain unwavering in our com- mitment to building a stronger Illinois through a stronger business community. Sincerely, Lou Sandoval President and CEO Illinois Chamber of Commerce 1 | END OF SESSION REPORT
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