GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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February 4th, 2022
This Week in Illinois
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Session Update
Both the House and Senate were scheduled to return to Springfield on Tuesday, February 1st for in-person activity. However, in-person action was canceled due to the inclement weather that hit the region late on Tuesday. Instead, both chambers have carried out virtual hearings this week.
Wednesday was the Governor's combined annual State of the State and Budget Address (more on this below). While originally scheduled to be delivered on the House floor, the Address was moved to the Old State Capitol with limited attendees.
The Senate is scheduled to be in Springfield next Tuesday-Thursday with the deadline for substantive bills to be moved out of Committee on the 10th. View the Senate Committee schedule here. View the more limited House committee schedule here.
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Governor J.B. Pritzker Gives State of the State and Budget Address
Despite the snow, the Governor made it to the Old State Capitol to give the annual State of the State and Budget Address. President & CEO Todd Maisch had the opportunity to attend and represent the Illinois business community at the event. These are historically two separate speeches, but Governor Pritzker has combined them into one since his first year.
The speech was a more positive characterization of the state’s finances and there is indeed much to be hopeful about. There are many fiscally responsible ideas in this address. Ideas include, building up a rainy-day fund, paying longstanding debts and a commitment to help the battered unemployment trust fund. The use of ARPA funds for the UI trust fund has been one of the top priorities of the Illinois Chamber this year. The state could potentially see another credit rating upgrade if the plan is carried out by the General Assembly. As readers know, the Governor proposes budgets, but it is the General Assembly that has the power to pass the budget.
View the Governor's full address here.
Illinois Chamber Response to Governor Pritzker's State of the State/Budget Address
Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch released the following statement on Governor Pritzker's State of the State and Budget Address.
"We are encouraged that to be on a path towards fiscal stabilization, it is important we understand the context of Illinois’ fiscal situation. We support the Governor’s efforts to move Illinois from the 49th worst funded public pension system but there is much work to be done to achieve this modest goal and policies that grow our economy are essential to success."
"We support the Governor’s proposals that will temporarily lessen the tax burden on Illinois taxpayers, but we believe that his proposed array of tax cuts needs to be revised. Of greatest concern is the Governor’s call to disregard a bipartisan commitment to adequately fund our vital transportation infrastructure. We join our friends in labor in expressing our concern that the Governor’s proposal on the gas tax is an end run around the transportation lockbox amendment.
We are encouraged with the Governor’s confidence in our fiscal future, but his current tax proposals run the risk of being viewed as a one-time election year gimmick.
We hope the administration and the legislature will demonstrate a longer-term commitment to tax relief by enacting the maximum amount of property tax relief that the state can afford over a period of the next five years."
Following the address, President & CEO Maisch spoke with various media outlets, including WTTW Chicago, on the Chamber's response. You can view the other stories here, here, and here.
Bills of Interest with Committee Action this Week:
HB 3124, Towing Database passed out of the House Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee by a vote of 12-0-0. This bill provides that the Transportation Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission shall establish a statewide database in which any licensed tow operator may enter information regarding vehicles towed for safety or relocation purposes.
HB 3386, Watercraft Refueling passed out of the House Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee by a vote of 11-1-0. This bill amends the Gasoline Storage Act. Provides that the State Fire Marshal shall allow residential refueling services by watercraft that are approved by the State Fire Marshal to provide fuel and that meet all applicable fire safety standards
HB 4245, Sunset Extension passed out of the Labor & Commerce Committee by a vote of 23-0-0. This bill extends the repeal date of provisions of the Illinois Plumbing License Law concerning irrigation contractors and lawn sprinkler systems from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2029.
HB 4251, Bidding passed out of the Counties & Townships Committee by a vote of 11-0-0. This bill provides that contracts for construction work whose estimated cost will exceed $30,000 (rather than $20,000) for township waterworks and sewerage systems shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder.
HB 4306, Mental Health passed out of the Mental Health & Addiction Committee by a vote of 11-5-0. This bill provides that all youth in care shall be assigned a mental health provider to manage their mental health care needs. Requires a youth's mental health provider to visit the youth and conduct a well-being assessment within 30 days after the youth is removed from his or her home and placed in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that additional follow-up visits and well-being checks shall be scheduled and conducted until the youth is no longer under the custody or guardianship of the Department. Provides that any mental health care services provided to the youth shall be in addition to any care or services the youth receives from his or her primary care provider.
HB 4356, Carpet Stewardship passed out of the House Energy & Environment Committee by a vote of 18-10-0. This bill provides that for all carpet sold in this State, producers shall, through a clearinghouse, implement and finance a statewide carpet stewardship program that manages the product by reducing the product's waste generation, promotes its reutilization and recovery, and provides for negotiation and execution of agreements to collect, transport, process, and market the product for end-of-life carpet recovery and carpet reutilization. Requires the clearinghouse to be incorporated as a nonprofit. Provides that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency must approve the carpet stewardship plan for the plan to be valid. Establishes requirements for review of the plan, and requirements for producers, retailers, and distributors of carpet. Requires the clearinghouse to submit annual reports to the Agency and pay specified administrative fees.
HB 4357, Contract Goals passed out of the State Government Administration Committee by a vote of 5-3-0. This bill provides that in the procurement of architectural, engineering, and land surveying services and in the awarding of contracts for such services under the Act, not less than 30% of the total dollar amount of State contracts shall be established as an aspirational goal to be awarded to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Provides that of that total amount of all State contracts awarded to firms owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, contracts representing at least 16% shall be awarded to firms owned by minorities, contracts representing at least 10% shall be awarded to women-owned firms, and contracts representing at least 4% shall be awarded to firms owned by persons with disabilities.
HB 4358, CCR passed out of the House Energy & Environment Committee by a vote of 18-10-0. This bill provides that all CCR generated by the electric generating industry located in a municipality bordering Lake Michigan with greater than 75,000 inhabitants but fewer than 150,000 inhabitants shall be removed from the site.
HB 4388, Alzheimer's Training passed out of the Healthcare Licenses Committee by a vote of 6-2-0. This bill provides that, for license renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023, Emergency Medical Services personnel must complete at least one one-hour course of training on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias per license renewal period. Contains training requirements. Provides that completion of the course may count toward meeting minimum credit hours required for relicensure requirements. Provides that specified training may count toward the continuing education required under the amendatory provisions.
HB 4393, Bidding passed out of the State Government Administration Committee by a vote of 8-0-0. This bill provides that specified contracts may be let to the lowest responsible bidder or the best value bidder (rather than to the lowest responsible bidder). Provides that "best value" means the result determined by a procurement method that considers price and other criteria reflecting an objective and quantifiable analysis.
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President & CEO Maisch Releases First Video in Chamber Map Series.
Chamber President & CEO Todd Maisch released the first video in his "Chamber Map" series. In this video, Maisch presents a visual tool on job creation and pandemic employment numbers.
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Weekly GAP Call
The Chamber will host a Government Affairs Professionals (GAP) call on Monday, February 7th at 3:00 pm. We will provide you the latest updates on what legislation we are watching this Spring. Call in information is provided below.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
Phone Conference ID: 463 563 254#
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Chamber Day 2022 Registration
On March 2nd, 2022 the Illinois Chamber will host our fifth annual Chamber Day. The event will take place in-person in Springfield at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, A Double Tree by Hilton.
When: Wednesday, March 2, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM CST
Contact Information: Callie Brenden
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
217-361-6493
View the registration link for more information here.
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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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