the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

In 2018, Public Act 100-1148 transferred the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Legislative Research Unit to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA). The merger of the two legislative support services agencies became effective on December 10, 2018.

CGFA's Research Unit provides nonpartisan, objective, documented, and timely information for members of the Illinois General Assembly and legislative staff. All research requests are confidential. Our staff offer a wide range of expertise on matters including state and federal law, science and technology, taxation, education, local government, economics and fiscal affairs, and the political and social history of Illinois.

major publications by title

• 1970 Illinois Constitution Annotated for Legislators (12/18)
• Abstracts of Reports Required to be Filed With the General Assembly (monthly)
• Assistance for Illinois Businesses (12/22)
• Consumer Laws (7/23)
• County Data Book (7/13)
• Directory of Illinois State Officials (PDF Updated 6/2024)
• Federal Funds to State Agencies (8/24)
• Federal Grant Alerts (monthly)
• First Reading
• First Reading Index
• How a Bill Becomes Law in Illinois (4/16)
• How a Bill Becomes Law in Illinois (Spanish) (9/10)
• Illinois Tax Handbook for Legislators (3/24)
• Laws for Older Adults (10/22)
• Laws for Youth (8/22)
• Local Government
  • Catalog of State Assistance to Local Governments (12/17)
  • Legislator's Guide to Local Governments in Illinois: Special Districts (3/03)
• Nongovernmental Funding Sources (1/07)
• Penalties for Crimes in Illinois (5/22)
• Preface to Lawmaking (3/23)

  publications & selected research

  by topic

  • Business Regulation
  • Criminal Law
  • Education
  • Families
  • Government; General Assembly
  • Health and Safety
  • Revenue
  • Transportation
  • Miscellaneous

  by date

  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005

search

The search function will search within all of the text on any of the Research Unit pages. The search function will also search within publications and PDF documents that are linked from this site.

LRU Search is capable of limited Boolean search. You can link terms together with AND/OR, as well as put terms in quotation marks.

what's new at the research unit

Our Most Recent Publications

Assistance for Illinois Businesses (12/22)

First Reading (11/24)

Federal Funds to State Agencies (8/24)


Illinois Tax Handbook for Legislators (3/24)


Constituent Service Form

general assembly information and history

• Illinois General Assembly Home Page
• Illinois Visitors' Guide to the Illinois General Assembly (3/18)
• House and Senate seating charts (1/19)
• Roster of Illinois Legislators (4/24)
  
• How a Bill Becomes Law in Illinois (4/16)
• African American Legislators in Illinois, 1876-2023 (3/23)
• Illinois Women in Congress and the General Assembly (3/23)
• Public Acts by Effective Date (cumulative)

contact us:

CGFA Research Unit
802 Stratton Building
Springfield,  Illinois  62706
Phone: (217) 782-6851
Fax: (217) 785-7572
webmastercgfa@ilga.gov

research unit services

The Research Unit tracks and maintains information on appointments to boards and commissions, federal aid received by the state, and federal grant opportunities.

appointment tracking

Overview

• Expiration and Vacancies Reports for:

  • Governor (10/24)
  • Senate President (10/24)
  • Senate Minority Leader (10/24)
  • House Speaker (10/24)
  • House Minority Leader (10/24)
  
  
• State Board and Commission Descriptions (12/23)
• Boards and Commissions With Salaries or Other Compensation (12/23)

• Detailed Organization Reports

  • Boards and Commissions With Legislative Appointments (9/24)
  • Boards and Commissions With Executive and Judicial Appointments (A-K) (9/24)
  • Boards and Commissions With Executive and Judicial Appointments (L-Z) (9/24)

federal aid tracking

Overview

• Weekly Report
• Quarterly Report
• Annual Report (2/1/24 Updated)
• Federal Aid Forms
  • CGFA-191 (FY2025)
  • CGFA-191 Instructions
  • CGFA-192

grant alerts

• Monthly Report (12/2024)
• Subscribe

research unit special projects

• Constitutional Convention Referendum Resources

  

• Record of Proceedings, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention (.zip)