How to File a FOIA Request in Illinois
Governments must allow access to its public records. Your tool to these records is a Freedom of Information Act request. Learn how to file one.
Your Transparency Watchdog
BGA OpenGov is the Illinois affiliate of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.
Without access to information about the workings of government, it would be impossible for citizens to determine whether taxpayer dollars were being spent responsibly and equitably, or to hold public servants accountable for their actions.
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2027 City of Chicago Budget Proposal Overview
Mayor Brandon Johnson released his proposed 2027 budget for the City of Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 21. As in previous years, BGA Policy will release a series of department-specific budget snapshots ahead of the departmental budget hearings in City Council. The following is a preliminary summary of the overall budget and some of its major…
Chicago City Budget Analysis: Estimating Real Cost of Budgeted Positions from Publicly Available Data
BGA’s annual Budget Snapshots project seeks to supply policymakers and the public with analysis and historical context for Chicago’s municipal budgets.
Analysis: 2025 City of Chicago Budget vs. Actual Spend
As Chicago’s government prepares for the 2027 municipal budgeting cycle, most of the city’s departments have continued to operate well within their budgets — with…
BGA Policy Agenda: City of Chicago 2023-2027
Learn about the BGA Policy’s agenda for the City of Chicago in 2023-2027
Latest News
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Updates From BGA
BGA Annual Luncheon & Celebration
This year’s Annual Luncheon celebrates the Better Government Association’s 100+ year record of advancing a more transparent, equitable and accountable government for all the people of Illinois through investigative…
Policy Statements
BGA pushes Illinois judicial system to release SAFE-T Act-mandated data analyses in new lawsuit
Represented by the MacArthur Justice Center, BGA and DuPage County service provider Radical Hospitality Ministries, has filed suit against elements of the judicial branch to force compliance with transparency requirements under the SAFE-T Act. For years, BGA has been working to bring transparency and accountability to Illinois’ judicial system. But not only have the courts…
Session Ends, but the Work Continues
This year’s schedule was unlike any in recent memory. While legislative sessions are always demanding, the greatest challenge was not the number of days lawmakers worked, but rather how those days were structured. Over a five-month period, the Illinois House and Senate were in session together for just 31 days. Eighteen of those days occurred…
Years of Advocacy Lead to New Judicial Transparency Policy
For nearly five years, the Better Government Association, through its leadership of the Court Transparency Coalition, has worked alongside lawmakers, civic organizations, and advocates to push for greater transparency and public accountability within Illinois’ judicial branch. That sustained effort has now resulted in a significant step forward. The Illinois Supreme Court has approved a new…
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See What the Illinois State Legislature Is Doing
Better Government Association believes in transparency and accountability, which is why we have partnered with FastDemocracy to bring you some of the most powerful tools to keep tabs on your lawmakers in Springfield and their legislative actions.
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Perspectives
Bryan Zarou Appointed to Chicago Inspector General Search Committee
Bryan Zarou, the Better Government Association’s vice president of policy, has been appointed to serve on the City of Chicago’s Inspector General Search Committee. The Inspector General is…
Bryan Zarou: The state of ethics reform in a post-Michael Madigan Illinois
Michael Madigan is going to prison, but Illinois still has work to do to make state government more accountable.
The Public Should Have Open Access to Judicial Records. A Recent Investigation Shows Why.
BGA Policy has long documented the perils that come with the judiciary being exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. This lack of public oversight puts those in…
Research & Analysis
Small Steps for Independent Budgeting: City Council’s Plan, Passed Over Mayor’s Objections, Changes Revenues but Keeps Roughly the Same Spending Plan
Chicago’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year, enacted just before its Dec. 31st deadline, made history when it passed without the mayor’s support or approval. Mayor Brandon Johnson lacked the votes to pass his own proposal and was forced to accept a budget package that contained substantial amendments by Chicago’s city council. Johnson ultimately allowed…
Six bills sought to reduce public access to body cam footage
Just a few months after the last remaining law enforcement agencies were required to equip officers with body cameras, several legislative efforts in 2025 tried to limit access to body cam footage, according to an analysis by BGA Policy. Body cameras, which nearly all officers in Illinois must wear, help them collect evidence and also…