Recent Publication:
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Chicago Bears still looking to piece together stadium legislation in Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says “The Chicago Bears are looking to piece together legislation in Illinois that might pass the General Assembly in Springfield, Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday, as the team continues to weigh whether to stay or move across […]
Rianda advises clients on legislative and regulatory developments at the state and local levels across Illinois. She supports client engagements by monitoring a wide range of legislative and regulatory activity, analyzing policy proposals, and tracking developments across key issue areas.
Rianda previously supported the team as a legislative analyst. Before joining Public Strategies, she worked at The Strategy Group, where she analyzed polling data and supported strategic communications and direct mail outreach for federal, state, and municipal Democratic campaigns. She began her career in Missouri politics, interning with her county legislator and staffing local campaigns. She later served as a research fellow at the University of Missouri’s Political Communication Institute and held roles with the ACLU of Missouri and the People’s Action Institute, where she conducted policy research, community outreach, advocacy campaigns, and grant monitoring.
Rianda earned a Master of Public Policy, with a specialization in survey research, from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communication, with a minor in peace studies, from the University of Missouri.
Publications
June 24, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Chicago Bears still looking to piece together stadium legislation in Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says “The Chicago Bears are looking to piece together legislation in Illinois that might pass the General Assembly in Springfield, Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday, as the team continues to weigh whether to stay or move across […]
June 22, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker continues Illinois Prisoner Review Board restructuring following controversial rulings “Four new members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board began work Monday on a panel whose controversial early-release decisions have repeatedly tested Gov. JB Pritzker politically and whose most consequential decision led to the homicide of an 11-year-old Chicago […]
June 17, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker signs nearly $56B budget with new business taxes as he seeks 3rd term “Gov. JB Pritzker signed the eighth budget of his tenure on Tuesday as he and Illinois Democrats gear up for an election-year battle centered around affordability — though he had to issue a clean-up veto aimed at […]
June 15, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker signs hemp regulations into law, settling Illinois’ lengthy delta-8 debate for now “The long-running tug-of-war between Illinois’ licensed cannabis and unregulated hemp industries reached a head at the end of the legislative session in Springfield, where lawmakers approved sweeping reforms to regulate delta-8 and other intoxicating, hemp-derived products […]
June 08, 2026
Overview The Illinois General Assembly approved a $55.9 billion budget in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1, 2026. The more than 3,700-page operating budget, along with its accompanying implementation measure and revenue package, were introduced and passed in the final 48 hours of session. The operating budget (House Bill 111) was approved around […]
June 03, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois’ ‘swipe fee’ law on the brink after another delay, adverse court ruling “An Illinois law banning ‘swipe fees’ on taxes and tips — already delayed twice by lawmakers — appears to be on life support after a federal judge that once permitted it issued a permanent injunction against it this […]
June 01, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Session slog ends in $56B budget, new taxes on social media companies, crypto, fantasy sports “Illinois lawmakers approved the state budget early Monday morning after slogging through the night, enacting new taxes on businesses and authorizing less spending than what Gov. JB Pritzker proposed in February,” by Capitol News Illinois. […]
May 27, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Governor JB Pritzker open to pausing gas tax increase set for July 1 “Illinois’ gas tax is set to automatically increase by about a cent this July 1. But Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he’s open to pausing that increase to help drivers struggling with high gas prices,” by ABC7 Chicago. […]
May 20, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker says he updated NFL commissioner as Arlington Heights, Indiana sites remain at forefront “With days left until a deadline to pass legislation this spring, Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged he had recently spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and maintained that the Bears and NFL are only considering a […]
May 18, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker optimistic of Bears deal but knocks Mayor Johnson for ‘no plan’ on keeping team in Chicago “Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he expects the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation incentivizing a Chicago Bears stadium and other major development projects before the end of the spring legislative session, […]
May 13, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Pritzker urges feds to release $1B in broadband funds to Illinois “Gov. JB Pritzker sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday, urging him to approve Illinois’ proposal for federal broadband infrastructure funds,” by Capitol News Illinois. Subscribe State lawmakers want to rein in artificial intelligence. Here’s how. […]
May 11, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois lawmakers face budget deadline, Bears stadium fight and insurance battle with 3 weeks left “With less than three weeks before the Illinois General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment, lawmakers are in a race to finish a multibillion-dollar budget while navigating threats from Washington, a simmering fight over soaring insurance rates, a stadium […]
May 06, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Springfield gets some breathing room on state budget “State lawmakers are getting some welcome financial news as they prepare to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Revenue is holding up. March and April individual income tax receipts are up 4.1% from a year ago, according to a new report […]
May 04, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois lawmakers punt remap amendment after SCOTUS Voting Rights Act ruling “Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, told Capitol News Illinois that Senate Democrats decided not to call an amendment that passed House last week after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a hefty blow the federal Voting Rights Act. If approved […]
April 29, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker pushes Illinois watchdog to speed up investigation into Rep. Harry Benton “Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday urged the Illinois General Assembly’s watchdog to move more quickly in its investigation into allegations against a Democratic state representative who was stripped of key caucus duties two months ago by House […]
April 27, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker feels ‘need for speed’ — and changes — with Bears stadium bill “Property tax incentive legislation approved by the Illinois House this week needs serious changes to keep the Chicago Bears from jumping the border to Indiana, and state senators need to move quickly to keep that from […]
April 22, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Illinois House Democrats push Bears stadium tax deal as Republicans seek property tax relief “House Democrats met for hours behind closed doors Tuesday, working to advance a proposal that would bring the Chicago Bears to Arlington Heights,” by the Chicago Tribune. Subscribe Illinois ‘millionaire’s tax’ proposal faces political barriers and […]
April 20, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Feds move to block controversial Illinois credit card swipe-fee ban, siding with banks in ongoing legal fight “The federal government is looking to stop a controversial Illinois law banning certain credit card fees, a move that appears to favor financial institutions that have fought the state law in court for more […]
April 15, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Amid artificial intelligence explosion, lawmakers debate best path to regulate “Committees in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly have heard bills that would implement various restrictions and give recommendations on the use of AI in state government and certain industries. The state already has some laws in place, but legislators […]
April 13, 2026
ILLINOIS AROUND THE STATE Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules “The plan, a cornerstone political and policy piece of Pritzker’s State of the State address in February, would loosen zoning restrictions that currently limit the residential density allowed on a given lot and, supporters say, open the door to […]