Chicago City Council 2026: A Year-to-Date Catch-Up
How this was made
The Chicago City Council has met four times in full session since January 1. Committees have been meeting consistently across every standing body. Here's the complete picture through May 13, 2026.
The Four Full Council Sessions
January 21 — 614 items, 3 non-unanimous votes
All 50 alderpersons present. The most significant vote: a new ordinance regulating cannabinoid hemp products (SO2025-0021018) passed 33–14, with dissent from a progressive coalition including Taylor, Sigcho-Lopez, Rodriguez Sanchez, Hadden, La Spata, Manaa-Hoppenworth, and Fuentes. A police settlement (Or2026-0022295 — Tim Anderson et al. v. City of Chicago) passed 32–14. The remaining 611 items — honorary street designations, parking permits, alley exemptions, property sales — were unanimous.
February 18 — 707 items, 0 true split votes
The largest agenda of the year. One member was absent (Ald. Monique Scott), which triggered five "non-unanimous" flags in the data — but every item passed without a single Nay from members present. Notable legislation: reduced parking minimums near CTA and Metra stations (SO2025-0021721), an ADU expansion in residential zones (SO2026-0022453), and a landmark designation for the Humboldt and Sacramento Extension to Logan Square Boulevards District — all unanimous.
March 18 — 541 items, 7 non-unanimous votes — the most contested session
Full 50-of-50. The genuinely contested votes:
Tipped-worker minimum wage (SO2025-0017549) — Passed, but drew 18 Nay votes from a named progressive bloc: Robinson, Hall (6th), Ramirez, Gutierrez, Fuentes, Cruz, Clay, Manaa-Hoppenworth, Moore, Sigcho-Lopez, Vasquez, Martin, Rodriguez, Hadden, Taliaferro, La Spata, Rodriguez Sanchez, and Quezada. Taylor and Ervin voted "Not Voting." The ordinance allows tipped-occupation employers a gratuity credit of up to 24% of the minimum wage rate.
Four TIF agreements — Assistance ordinances for park and school improvements (Avondale Park, Clarendon Park, Hermosa Park, Carter G. Woodson Elementary) each drew a lone Nay from Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward).
COPA expansion (O2025-0020004) — Expanded COPA's mandate to investigate complaints against CPD members. Passed unanimously, 50–0.
Chicago Tourism Improvement District (O2026-0022544) — New hotel-assessment district. Passed unanimously.
Medicare for All resolution (R2025-0018946) — Called on Congress to pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025. Adopted unanimously.
April 15 — 606 items, 5 non-unanimous votes
Full 50-of-50. Ward51 has covered this session in detail — see 606 Items, 5 Contested Votes: Inside the April 15 City Council Meeting and the breakdown of those five non-unanimous votes.
By the Numbers
Date | Agenda Items | Non-Unanimous Votes | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan 21 | 614 | 3 | 50/50 |
Feb 18 | 707 | 0 (1 absence) | 49/50 |
Mar 18 | 541 | 7 | 50/50 |
Apr 15 | 606 | 5 | 50/50 |
Total YTD | 2,468 | 15 | — |
Committee Activity
Every standing committee has met at least once since January. High-frequency bodies have been meeting monthly. Here's the full inventory:
High-frequency (5+ meetings YTD)
Committee on Finance — 9 meetings, Jan 14 through Apr 13.
Committee on Public Safety — 6 meetings, Jan 7 through May 12. See below.
Committee on Budget and Government Operations — 5 meetings, Jan 15 through Apr 27.
Committee on Housing and Real Estate — 5 meetings, Jan 14 through May 4.
Committee on Transportation and Public Way — 5 meetings, Jan 20 through Apr 8.
Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety — 5 meetings, Jan 14 through May 12.
Committee on License and Consumer Protection — 5 meetings, Jan 13 through May 5.
Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development — 5 meetings, Jan 13 through May 11.
Mid-frequency (2–4 meetings YTD)
Committee on Health and Human Relations — 3 meetings, Jan 27 through May 7.
Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards — 3 meetings, Feb 17 through May 6.
Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy — 3 meetings, Feb 3 through May 11.
Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights — 2 meetings, Mar 25 and Apr 14. See below.
Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight — 2 meetings, Mar 16 and Apr 16.
Committee on Police and Fire — 2 meetings, Mar 13 and May 6.
Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity — 2 meetings, Jan 22.
Committee on Education and Child Development — 2 meetings, Jan 13 and Mar 30.
Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation — 2 meetings, Mar 13 and Apr 9.
Committee on Workforce Development — 2 meetings, Apr 13 and May 12.
Single meetings YTD
Committee on Aviation — Jan 20.
Joint Committee: Police and Fire; Immigrant and Refugee Rights — Jan 27. See below.
Joint Committee: Budget and Government Operations; Police and Fire — May 5.
What the Transcripts Show
Three storylines stand out from available committee transcripts:
CPD and ICE — Joint Committee: Police and Fire; Immigrant and Refugee Rights (Jan 27)
The joint committee convened to examine CPD's interactions with federal immigration authorities under the Welcoming City Ordinance (Chapter 2-173). Public testimony cited 33 COPA complaints filed between June 2024 and January 21, 2026, tagged to an ICE-related case indicator. Speakers called for ordinance amendments to explicitly prohibit CPD from creating perimeters or providing operational cover for ICE activities, and demanded independent oversight with automatic investigations when CPD is present at any ICE operation. The existing ordinance has no private cause of action — enforcement depends entirely on internal CPD discipline. Watch the meeting.
Teen gatherings and the curfew ordinance — Committee on Public Safety (Apr 9)
Committee Chair Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced that the city's curfew ordinance is being held in committee for revision in response to "teen trend" mass gatherings — citing similar events in Memphis, Nashville, and Miami. Hopkins noted Chicago's 10 PM curfew enforcement was effective at a recent local event and said the committee was studying dispersal techniques from other cities. A revised ordinance was expected to come before the committee at its next meeting. Separately, Ald. William Hall (6th Ward), joining remotely, provided an update on ongoing negotiations with social media companies about teen flash mob coordination. The revised curfew ordinance did not appear on the May 12 agenda — it remains in committee. Watch the meeting.
Gunshot detection and CPD records management procurement — Committee on Public Safety (May 12)
The full May 12 hearing was devoted to CPD surveillance technology procurement: a pending RFP for a gunshot detection system (replacing the existing ShotSpotter contract) and a separate CPD records management system RFP. City officials from the Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA) and the Chief Procurement Officer stonewalled on nearly every substantive question, citing "active procurement" restrictions. Alderpersons could not get answers on whether the evaluation committee had reached consensus, how many members it has, or whether CPD itself is represented on it. Ald. Samantha Nugent (President Pro Tem) pressed procurement officials to confirm that CPD — the actual operational user of the gunshot detection system — has a seat on the evaluation committee; OPSA declined to answer. Chair Hopkins closed the meeting by recessing — not adjourning — to June 3, explicitly noting: "I don't necessarily feel I know any more now than I did at the outset of this meeting." The June 3 continuation will include written follow-up responses and, if possible, CPD representation. Watch the meeting.
What's Coming Up
A concentrated committee sprint is underway this week leading into the May 20 full council session:
Today, May 13 — Committee on Budget and Government Operations (3:00 PM), Committee on Transportation and Public Way (3:30 PM), Joint Committee: Budget and Government Operations + Economic, Capital and Technology Development (4:30 PM), Committee on Housing and Real Estate (5:30 PM). No agendas published yet.
May 18 — Committee on Finance (3:00 PM), Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (3:15 PM), Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity (5:30 PM).
May 19 — Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards (3:00 PM), Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight (3:30 PM).
May 20 — Full City Council session, 3:00 PM. The fifth full session of 2026.
May 26 — Joint Committee: Police and Fire; Ethics and Government Oversight.
June 3 — Committee on Public Safety reconvenes (recessed from May 12) to review written responses on CPD surveillance technology procurement and, if possible, hear from CPD directly.
June 8 & June 30 — Committee on Health and Human Relations.
The Fault Line to Watch
The tipped-wage vote in March is the clearest data point on aldermanic alignment: a progressive bloc of 18–20 members will vote No on business-aligned ordinances; a centrist majority carries the mayor's agenda without much friction. The more volatile questions — CPD and ICE, the curfew ordinance, gunshot detection procurement — are all still live in committee. What happens when they reach the floor is the real test.
Data sourced from the ward51.com council meeting database (Chicago Clerk records) and the Chicago City Clerk's eLMS system through May 13, 2026. Committee transcript content is auto-generated except where noted; speaker attributions have been verified against meeting attendance records.