Illinois lawmakers passed a major transit funding and reform package in 2025 that added about $1.2 billion in new annual operating funding for CTA, Metra, and Pace. In 2026, transit issues include safety oversight, major station work, federal scrutiny, and implementation of the new regional transit authority governance structure. The core issue is whether the state should treat transit as a public necessity that needs stable funding, a governance problem that needs consolidation and accountability, or both. Riders care less about agency charts than whether the bus or train shows up, but governance matters if it changes safety, service, and trust.