GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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June 10th, 2022
This Week in Illinois
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Chamber Team On the Road Again |
With summer in full swing, staff of the Illinois Chamber are back on the road visiting members and attending events throughout the State. On Wednesday, the Illinois Chamber had the privilege to attend Meta's 15th anniversary of their Chicago location.
We thank Meta for inviting President and CEO Todd Maisch and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Clark Kaericher to attend. From a small office in the suburbs to a sprawling Downtown Campus, we look forward to seeing where Meta Chicago goes in the next 15. The event also marked the announcement of Meta's new software engineering career certificate program.
On Tuesday, members of the Chamber team had the opportunity to visit Milwaukee Tool's new location at the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago. The Chamber is excited to welcome the company's expansion in Illinois. Special thanks to Patrick Thomas for being a great tour guide.
If you'd like someone from the Illinois Chamber to visit your site or attend an event, please reach out to Clark at ckaericher@ilchamber.org
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Illinois Chamber 2022 Women in Business Conference
Illinois women are Second to No One. We have amazing talent, determination,
intelligence, and resolve. This year's theme will be Challenge Accepted.
The Illinois Chamber welcomes you to our women's conference as we come together to discuss and further dreams of our already strong women for a stronger Illinois. This year's theme is "Challenge Accepted." The robust agenda will provide time for networking and connecting with professionals, and topics providing takeaways for all to take back to the office or home.
When: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM CDT
Where: NIU Center 1120 E. Diehl Road Naperville, IL 60563
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Session Update
The House and Senate were both in Springfield for the final day of Spring Session on April 8th. There are no further session dates scheduled at this time until Veto Session.
On Wednesday of last week, the General Assembly released their Veto Schedule. Lawmakers will be back in Springfield Tuesday, November 15 -November 17 as well as November 29-December 1.
View and download the calendar here.
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Chamber Fundraiser & Meet and Greet
Thank you to all those in attendance at the June 6th Fundraiser & Meet and Greet honoring Supreme Court 2nd District Candidate Judge Daniel Shanes with Special Guest Justice Burke. It was a great evening and an opportunity for Chamber members and guests to meet the candidates. Next time you are hungry in the Chicago area, be sure to visit Carlucci Restaurant.
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Legislative Update: Bills of Interest Signed into Law
HB 2382, Healthy Foods Program was signed into law. This bill creates the Healthy Food Program Development Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish a Healthy Food Development Program to expand access to healthy foods in eligible areas in the State by providing assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers. Provides that the benefits provided shall be awarded to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and other small food retailers in eligible areas on a competitive basis, with priority given to projects with the greatest potential impact to expand access to healthy foods ineligible areas that are underserved by retail sales of healthy food in the State. Provides requirements for participation in the program. Provides that the Department shall designate a grocery ambassador to assist retailers of healthy foods in the State by: (1) providing research and data on eligible areas with insufficient grocery access; (2) coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and other relevant State agencies; (3) providing assistance to small grocery retailers in this State, including obtaining and expediting regulatory procedures; and (4) providing other assistance as needed. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall convene a working group to develop a plan for establishing a commercial distribution system, for fresh produce and healthy foods to corner stores and other small food retailers.
HB 4481, Expressway Cameras was signed into law. This bill amends the Expressway Camera Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall work together to conduct a program to increase the amount of cameras along expressways and the State highway system in the counties of Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Madison, McHenry, Morgan, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair, Will, and Winnebago (instead of only Cook County). Provides that any funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways or State highway system under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation shall be taken from the Road Fund and shall be included in requests for qualification processes. Provides that any funds needed to conduct the program for use on expressways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall be paid for by funds from the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority and shall be included in requests for qualification processes. Changes the Act repeal date to July 1, 2025 (instead of July 1, 2023).
HB 4818, PFAS Incineration was signed into law. This bill provides that the disposal by incineration of any Toxic Release Inventory Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances including, but not limited to, aqueous film forming foam, is prohibited. Provides the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency with rulemaking authority. Provides that nothing in the amendatory provisions applies to (i) the combustion of landfill gas from the decomposition of waste that may contain PFAS at a permitted sanitary landfill or (ii) the combustion of landfill gas in a landfill gas recovery facility that is located at a sanitary landfill (rather than providing that, if a rule or regulation is published by the USEPA in the Federal Register regarding all or part of the subjects of the amendatory provisions, one year after its publication the rule or regulation shall be controlling over the provisions of the amendatory provisions and any part of the amendatory provisions conflicting therewith shall be inoperative). Provides that "incineration" does not include thermal oxidizers when they are operated as a pollution control or resource recovery device at a facility that is using perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances or chemicals containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances. Specifies that the prohibition on the disposal of TRI-PFAS by incineration does not apply to the incineration of waste at a permitted hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerator that meets the requirements of specified federal provisions or the Board-adopted State Plan requirements for hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerators, as applicable, or to the incineration of sludges, biosolids, or other solids or by-products generated at or by a municipal wastewater treatment plant or facility.
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INCYMI...Illinois Chamber Releases Legislative Ratings and 102nd General Assembly Awards
On Tuesday, May 31st The Illinois Chamber of Commerce was pleased to announce the 2022 Champion of Free Enterprise Award Winners and Freshmen of the year.
These awards correspond with the release of the Illinois Chamber 102nd General Assembly Legislative Ratings. These awards are given by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to legislators who work toward the advancement of economic opportunity for all Illinoisans and to those who have made special contributions to the defense and furtherance of free enterprise in our state.
The Illinois Chamber rated all members of the 102nd General Assembly based on each legislator's votes on the key business-related legislation of the past two years. These bills of importance were determined by staff and the Illinois Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee and made known to members of the legislature.
The Champion of Free Enterprise Awards are given biennially to Senators and Representatives with Illinois Chamber ratings averaging 85 percent or higher over the previous two General Assemblies who have demonstrated their commitment to legislation that frees the entrepreneurial spirit.
With over 10,000 bills and resolutions introduced in 102nd General Assembly, these 22 votes in the Senate and House were scrupulously selected based on their potential impact on the Illinois economy and members of the business community. None of the bills used in the report are weighted, as there were an adequate number of bills voted on during this General Assembly.
Click here to view the complete 102nd General Assembly Legislative Ratings.
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Small Business Alert from the US Chamber: Dream Big Awards
The U.S. Chamber’s Dream Big Awards program is open for 2022 application submissions. Applications from small business owners through July 8, 2022.
Every year at The Big Week for Small Business, the Dream Big Awards program honors the achievements of small businesses and highlights their contributions to America’s economic growth. The 2022 Small Business of the Year award winner will receive national recognition and a $25,000 cash prize!
A business must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award or a Business Achievement Award.
- For-profit business operating for at least one (1) year primarily within the United States.
- Have less than 250 employees OR gross revenues of less than $20 million for each of 2021 and 2022.
The Award categories are as follows:
- Emerging Business
- Green/Sustainable Business
- Minority-Owned Business
- Veteran-Owned Business
- Woman-Owned Business
- Young Entrepreneur Business
- LGBTQ-Owned Business
- Community Support and Leadership Award
Learn more about the Dream Big Awards here.
Find the application from the US Chamber here.
A local Chamber of Commerce or trade/economic development group can refer a small business here.
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Illinois Chamber 2022 End of Session Report |
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If you have questions about the Government Affairs Report, contact Clark Kaericher at ckaericher@ilchamber.org. Do not reply to this email.
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