GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
------------Report

October 20, 2023


This Week in Illinois

Session Update


The House and Senate will return to Springfield this Tuesday for the beginning of six scheduled days of veto session. The 2023 Fall session dates are October 24th-26th and November 7th-9th. View the calendar here.

 

While the full session agenda may still be in flux, three notable pieces of legislation were vetoed or received an amendatory veto this summer.

 

  • Removal of Moratorium on new nuclear construction, SB 76 - Vetoed
  • Governor Pritzker veto reasoning: The bill provides no regulatory protections for the health and safety of Illinois residents who would live and work around these new reactors...the vague definitions in the bill, including the overly broad definition of advanced reactors, will open the door to proliferation of large scale nuclear reactors that are so costly to build that they will cause exorbitant ratepayer-funded bailouts, such as the recent one totaling over $3 billion for Constellation Energy Corp., a part of Exelon’s former power generation and competitive energy business.
  • Procurement Omnibus, HB 2878 - Amendatory Veto
  • The recommended action is the deletion of "any county, municipality, or other unit of local government" from the definition of a responsible public entity under the P3 for Transportation Act.
  • Governor Pritzker amendatory veto reasoning: the bill also extends the authority for public private partnerships (P3s) in Illinois from the Department of Transportation and Tollway to also include counties, municipalities, and any other unit of local government, while not providing proper oversight. As written, the bill creates a pathway for private industry to enter P3 agreements locally that skirts transparency and anti-corruption requirements established in state statute, including ethics, BEP, campaign finance, and procurement laws. The potential in this bill for opacity and corruption is too great.
  • Transmission Lines, First Right of Refusal, HB 3445 - Amendatory Veto 
  • HB3445 creates a study on various energy proposals among other inclusions. It also includes that an incumbent electric transmission owner has the right to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line that has been approved for construction in a transmission plan and that will connect to facilities that are owned by that incumbent electric transmission owner and are or will be under the functional control of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
  • Governor Pritzker amendatory veto reasoning: the right of first refusal language inserted by Senate Amendment 4 will eliminate competition and raise costs for ratepayers by giving incumbent utility providers in the MISO region a monopoly over new transmission lines. Raising costs for ratepayers is particularly concerning in the MISO region, where there is currently over $3.6 billion in planned transmission construction in the Ameren service territory.  


GAP Call


The Illinois Chamber will host its first veto session Government Affairs Professionals (GAP) call on Monday, October 23rd at 3:00 pm. We will provide you updates on the legislation we are watching for this first week and provide any other insights we have gathered.


This will be the first scheduled GAP Call of the veto session with the second taking place on November 6th. Please use the login information below.


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Bills of Interest Filed


HB 4174, Medical Financing was filed. Creates the Medical Financing Disclosure Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, medical providers referring patients to any third-party medical financing plan are required to disclose (i) that the referred financing plan is from a third-party entity or provider that is unaffiliated with the medical provider or with a governmental entity, if applicable, and (ii) specified relevant terms of the plan. Defines "third-party medical financing plan".

 

HB 4180, Mammography was filed. In provisions concerning coverage for mammograms, provides that coverage for certain types of mammography shall be made available to patients of a specified age (rather than only women of a specified age). Makes changes to require coverage for molecular breast imaging and, in those cases where its not already covered, magnetic resonance imaging of breast tissue. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall convene an expert panel, including representatives of hospitals, free-standing breast cancer treatment centers, breast cancer quality organizations, and doctors, including radiologists that are trained in all forms of FDA approved breast imaging technologies, breast surgeons, reconstructive breast, surgeons, oncologists, and primary care providers to establish quality standards for breast cancer treatment. Makes technical changes. Effective immediately.


HB 4182, Construction Detour was filed. This bill creates the Construction Zone Safe Detour Act. Establishes that a company that provides GPS travel services in the State is required to ensure that at least one person is available to receive official requests 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from emergency services, Illinois State Police, or the Department of Transportation for the purpose of implementing proper detours in the event of construction or emergency. Requires a GPS service provider to upload the detour and routing information provided by emergency services, Illinois State Police, or the Department of Transportation into its navigation system to properly route users of the GPS service provider's systems. Provides that a GPS service provider that fails to implement proper detour routing on an ongoing and emergency basis may be liable for treble damages. Allows an affirmative defense for GPS service providers if emergency services, including the Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police, fail to notify the GPS service provider with routing information. Prohibits the Department from conducting construction on a secondary route or parallel primary highway at the same time, except in an emergency. Requires the Department to reimburse local governments for damages caused to roads within the local government's jurisdiction that arise from any detour around or near a construction zone authorized by the Department. Provides that the Department shall adopt emergency rules for the administration of the Act.


SB 2600, Patient Fees was filed. Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that, except as otherwise required by law, healthcare providers shall not charge a patient or require the payment of a fee for a missed or late appointment. Provides that nothing shall be construed to limit health care providers from developing and implementing any incentive program to encourage patient adherence to scheduled appointments. Provides that any health care provider that violates the provision is guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined $500 per violation.

Southern Illinois Chambers Regional Luncheon


Yesterday, the Southern Illinois Regional Chambers of Commerce hosted a luncheon in Ina, Illinois at the Rend Lake Community College. At the Luncheon, Illinois Chamber Senior VP of Government Affairs, Clark Kaericher presented a veto session preview and explained the new UHC Level Funded Community Chamber insurance program to all attendees. We appreciate the work of these incredible chambers and appreciate the invitation to spend time with so many great local businesses.

Quarter 3 Illinois Chamber Business Leader


If you haven't had a chance to give it a read, the newest issue of the Illinois Business Leader is now available! Published in time for our 2023 annual meeting, this edition of the Illinois Business Leader honors the life and legacy of President & CEO Todd Maisch and features some of the recent work of member companies and staff. This edition's member spotlight is Inland Real Estate Group. Read here.

Save the Date: 10th Annual Illinois Chamber New Laws Forum

 

The New Laws Forum focuses on the new laws and legal developments that will affect ALL Illinois employers in 2024 and beyond. The forum features Illinois attorneys and experts speaking about Illinois laws – as well as representatives from government agencies talking about the latest changes and your peers, a panel of Senior HR professionals discussing how the laws have and will affect their businesses. It's already been a busy year, and more regulation is coming.

 

When: December 5, 2023 | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

 

Where: Doubletree Hilton l 3003 Corporate West Drive

Lisle, IL 60532

 

Register Here.

Connect with the Chamber
If you have questions about the Government Affairs Report, contact Clark Kaericher at ckaericher@ilchamber.org. Do not reply to this email.