Session Update
Late last month, Governor Pritzker called for a special session of the General Assembly in response to the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The Governor did not provide specific dates but said it would be in the coming weeks. However, current talks suggest that the House and Senate may not return until September and may include additional topics following the tragedy that occurred in Highland Park on July 4th.
As always, when the Legislature is in session no topic is off the table. We will keep you posted when those dates of the special session officially become available.
The General Assembly has released the schedule for veto session. Lawmakers will be back in Springfield Tuesday, November 15 -November 17 as well as November 29-December 1.
View and download the veto calendar here.
Legislative Update: Bills of Interest Signed into Law
No bills of interest were signed into law this week.
A Message from Illinois Treasurer's Office: Secure Choice Expansion to Smaller Employers
In accordance with the Secure Choice expansion legislation passed in 2021 (HB 117/PA 102-179), the Illinois Treasurer's office is launching its next wave of the program for employers with 16-24 employees. The legislation staggered the enrollment deadline based on employer size. Registration and enrollment is now open for small employers who were not previously covered by the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act.
Upcoming Registration Deadlines
Employers with 5 or more Illinois employees, that have been in business for at least two years, and that do not offer their own tax-qualified retirement plans are required to facilitate Illinois Secure Choice by the following deadlines:
- November 1, 2022: Deadline for employers with 16 or more Illinois employees
- November 1, 2023: Deadline for employers with 5 or more Illinois employees
Eligible employers are welcome to join in advance of their deadlines to give their employees more time to build their retirement savings.
The program is facilitated by the State of Illinois and administered by a professional financial services firm. It’s designed for employees who don’t have a retirement savings plan at work. Through the program, employees can open Roth IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) that are funded through payroll deduction. Their IRAs belong to them and are portable from job to job. To date, more than 100,000 employees have participated in the program, contributing more than $105 million to their own retirement accounts.
Employers do not pay any fees, make contributions, or have any fiduciary liability – they simply facilitate employee payroll deductions and keep their employee rosters current. Employer registration deadlines are staggered based on employer size.
Resources
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The Illinois Treasurer's office has a variety of resources available on their website, www.ilsecurechoice.com, for both employers and employees.
- Additionally, they have an in-state field representative and staff members who are available to speak to employers and their employees.
If you have any questions, please contact Christine Cheng, Director of Illinois Secure Choice, at ccheng@illinoistreasurer.gov or (312) 515-7566.
Lisa Holder White Sworn in as Newest Member of the Illinois State Supreme Court
Yesterday, July 7th, Lisa Holder White officially took on the role of Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Holder White was sworn in during an installation ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Holder White, a Republican from Decatur, replaces longtime Justice Rita Garman in the 4th Supreme Court District and will finish her term which concludes in 2024.
Holder White earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law in 1993 and was sworn in as an Associate Judge in the sixth Judicial Circuit in 2001. She has served on the Illinois Appellate Court since 2013.
Justice Rita Garman, the longest serving Judge in the State, announced her retirement in early May of this year. Justice Garman served on the State's highest court since 2001 and served as Chief Justice between 2013-2016. Justice Garman first began her career as a Judge in 1973.
We thank Justice Garman for her fair, even-handed approach and years of service to the State of Illinois and wish her the best in retirement.
The Illinois Chamber congratulates Justice Holder White on her historic appointment and looks forward to her tenure in office.
