The following is a statement from Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan (D-58) following the conclusion of the 2026 Spring Legislative Session
Springfield, IL — As the Illinois General Assembly concludes its 2026 Spring Session, I’ve been reflecting on my role in Springfield and what my colleagues and I were able to accomplish this year.
At a time when families are feeling pressure from rising costs, economic uncertainty, and rapid change across nearly every part of daily life, our responsibility in state government is straightforward: make people’s lives safer, more affordable, and more secure.
This session, we advanced legislation aimed at expanding access to healthcare, strengthening public schools, protecting workers, improving public safety, and helping families keep more of their hard-earned money.
One of the most personally meaningful efforts for me was modernizing Illinois’ medical cannabis program. Prior to serving in the General Assembly, I was the first Director of Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Program under Governor Pat Quinn, and I saw firsthand how difficult it was for patients to navigate access to their medicine even after legalization.
But this year, we finally made meaningful progress.
Through the 2026 Cannabis Omnibus package, we expanded access for medical cannabis patients by allowing cardholders to purchase from nearly every licensed dispensary in the state and improved access through telehealth certification options. For more than 100,000 medical cannabis patients in Illinois, this means fewer barriers and more consistent access to care.
I have never stopped believing that patients deserve reliable access to the medicine they depend on. This represents one of the most significant improvements to the program since its early implementation more than a decade ago, and I am proud that Illinois has taken this step forward in expanding access to care.
Public safety also remained a priority this session.
We passed legislation to improve our clear and present danger protocols and FOID card revocation processes. We also strengthened our lost and stolen firearm laws and clarified when a FOID card should be denied. In addition, we funded community violence interrupters, a proven strategy to reduce gun violence in our communities.
Beyond individual bills, the state budget reflects a broader commitment to affordability and stability.
We continued Illinois’ investment in the Evidence-Based Funding model for K–12 education, reinstated property tax relief grants, and dedicated additional resources to nonprofit security grants. We also supported safety-net hospitals and free and charitable clinics, increased funding for access-to-justice grants, and much more.
For families facing the greatest strain, particularly those impacted by reductions in federal nutrition assistance, we established the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program. This initiative provides eligible households with a one-time $400 payment to help cover basic food needs during a period of federal uncertainty and ongoing changes to our social safety net.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a straightforward goal: focus on what matters most to working families, strengthen core public services, and ensure state government is responding to real-world needs.
I am also proud of the other legislation I’ve championed and passed this session, including banning junk fees, extending our successful pension COLA buyout program, creating a new agency for adults with disabilities in need of guardianship, and expanding insurance coverage for individuals with epilepsy and preeclampsia.
Although a legislator’s work is never finished and there is always more to do, this session made it clear that progress is possible when we stay focused on people over politics.
Illinois families deserve that focus to continue, and I intend to keep fighting for it every single day.
I’ll have more to say soon regarding our state budget, but in the meantime, I thank you for entrusting me with this work.
– Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan