The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene in Springfield November 12-14 and November 19-21 for its fall Veto Session.

The legislature has no vetoes to consider, but it will take up other issues. While no legislative agenda has been publicly announced, legislative leaders—now that the elections are over—are taking preliminary steps to prepare for the filing and passing of new legislation on a variety of issues.

On November 6, a number of so-called “vehicle” or “shell” bills—blank bills that can be amended and passed quickly—were procedurally put on the senate floor calendar.

Amendments to these shell bills can be filed and passed rapidly, largely bypassing normal processes to solicit public input in the legislative process.

Other bills dealing with a variety of topics were assigned to the Senate Executive, Judiciary, and Health & Human Services Committees.

The recently released budget projections by the Governor’s Office could put pressure on lawmakers to begin internal discussions on tax and spend policies.

The General Assembly may hold a lame-duck session in early January to consider additional legislation before the swearing-in of the 104th General Assembly on January 8, but no announcement is expected before the end of Veto Session.