GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
------------Report
May 13th, 2022

This Week in Illinois
Illinois Chamber of Commerce PAC Announces Endorsements of Judge Daniel Shanes and Justice Michael Burke for Illinois Supreme Court

On Tuesday, the political arm of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsement of two outstanding candidates to fill new positions on the state’s highest court.

Representing thousands of Illinois small, medium, and large employers, the Chamber of Commerce advocates for the election of candidates that understand the impact of government decisions and legal precedents on a healthy economy. Judge Shanes, running in the newly drawn 2nd district and Justice Burke, running in the new 3rd district, are just the kind of judges all Illinoisans concerned with our future prosperity should support.

“The Chamber Board considered impartiality and fairness, knowledge and experience, and unquestioned integrity as the hallmarks of judicial candidates worthy of job-creators’ endorsement. Judge Shanes and Justice Burke represent the best choices for voters in all three areas,” said Todd Maisch, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

“As the son of a small-business owner, I am proud to receive the endorsement of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in my race for the Illinois Supreme Court. It is an honor to ask the people of the Second District to allow me to represent them on the state’s highest court, and it is gratifying to know I have the support of the Chamber, representing thousands of job providers in our great state. The Chamber represents everyone from our Main Street small businesses to some of the world’s very best corporations. I am proud to have earned their trust," said Judge Shanes.

“The endorsement of the Illinois Chamber is very meaningful to me. It represents a statement of trust that I will bring fairness and integrity to the Illinois Supreme Court on all issues, but especially where our economic future may be at stake. I thank the members of the Chamber and job creators across the Third District who work every day to ensure a prosperous Illinois,” said Justice Burke.
 
The newly drawn 2nd Supreme Court district includes all of Lake, McHenry, Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties. The new 3rd district includes DuPage, Will, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Kankakee and Iroquois counties.

Read the full endorsement press release here.
Illinois Chamber Releases Supreme Court Endorsement Video

In this video release by the Illinois Chamber, President & CEO Todd Maisch provides a breakdown of Chamber PAC's endorsement of Judge Daniel Shanes and Justice Michael Burke for the second and third supreme court districts.
Justice Rita Garman to Retire

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman, the longest serving Judge in the State, has announced her upcoming retirement. Justice Garman, a Republican from the fourth District, has 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.

Effective July 8th, Justice Garman's seat on the bench will be filled by Fourth District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White whose term will end in 2024.

We thank Justice Garman for her fair, even-handed approach and years of service to the State of Illinois.

President Biden Visits Kankakee County

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden was welcomed to Kankakee County. The President provided remarks and took questions at a local area farm. The President was joined at the northeastern Illinois farm by Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack and met with a host of Illinois political leaders throughout the day. After a tour of the farm, President Biden spoke on the importance of the work of Illinois farmers and agriculture more broadly.

The President's full press conference can be watched here.

Legislative Update: Bills of Interest Signed into Law

HB 1091, INFORM Act was signed into law. This bill Creates the Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. Requires online marketplaces to collect and disclose to consumers contact and other information about high-volume third-party sellers. Provides exceptions. Provides that if the Attorney General has reason to believe that any person has violated the Act, the Attorney General may bring an action to restrain by preliminary or permanent injunction the use of such a method, act, or practice. Creates the Organized Retail Crime Enforcement Fund in the State treasury. Provides that subject to appropriation, moneys in the Organized Retail Crime Enforcement Fund shall be used by the Office of the Attorney General to award grants to State's Attorneys' offices and law enforcement agencies to investigate, indict, and prosecute violations of organized retail crime. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of organized retail crime. Defines the offense and establishes penalties. Provides that a retail mercantile establishment that is a victim of a violation of retail theft, organized retail crime, financial institution fraud or related offenses, or looting shall have certain rights. Provides that an issuer shall not provide a debit or credit cardholder or a person who utilizes an account number or code the value in any manner of any item purchased with intent to defraud the issuer or a person providing an item of value. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Provides that a Statewide Grand Jury may investigate, indict, and prosecute violations of organized retail crime. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately, except that the Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act takes effect January 1, 2023.

HB 2770, Procurement was signed into law. This bill requires the Capital Development Board and the Department of Transportation to prepare quarterly reports on the status of change order requests. Provides that a lease of real property owned by a public institution of higher education (rather than the University of Illinois) may exceed 10 years under specified circumstances. Requires construction agencies procuring construction and construction-related professional services to make reasonable efforts to contract with Illinois businesses and, in procuring construction and construction-related professional services for projects with a total construction cost of more than $100,000, to provide a bid preference to a responsible bidder that is an Illinois business. Requires disclosure of financial interests for all bids and offers from responsive bidders, offerors, vendors, or contractors with an annual value in excess of the specified small purchase threshold under the Code. Exempts certain communications from procurement communication reporting requirements. Creates the State Procurement Task Force. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall provide support to the task force. Provides that the task force shall submit specified reports to the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the task force is repealed on January 1, 2025. Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the Business Enterprise Council shall have the authority and responsibility to adopt a procedure to grant automatic certification to businesses holding a certification from specified entities and to develop and maintain a repository for specified non-certified vendors. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that the Department of Human Rights, by rule, shall establish a reasonable opportunity to cure any noncompliance by a bidder prior to the awarding of a contract. 

HB 2910, Discount Prices was signed into law. This bill provides that, if a grocery store or a supermarket shows the price of an item on a screen or other display at the point of sale, and the item is being sold at a discount to the regular price, the display must show both the regular price and the discounted price when the price of the item is first displayed on the screen, rather than delaying the showing of the discounted price until the total price of all items is displayed, with specified exceptions. Provides that a person or retail mercantile establishment shall not be fined in excess of $500 per year for violations under the Act.

HB 4114, Port District was signed into law. This bill amends the Kaskaskia Regional Port District Act. In provisions concerning the Kaskaskia Port District's rights and powers, provides that the District may own or lease one or more, or a combination or combinations of, industrial buildings, office buildings, buildings to be used as a factory, mill shops, processing plants, packaging plants, assembly plants, fabricating plants, and buildings to be used as warehouses and other storage facilities (currently, only acquire, erect, construct, reconstruct, improve, maintain, and operate such facilities).

HB 4251, Bidding was signed into law. 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 4271, INS Coverage was signed into law. This bill provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 (rather than January 1, 2023) shall provide coverage for medically necessary breast reduction surgery.

SB 145, Physician Assistants was signed into law. This bill amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that the collaborating physician shall file with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation notice of employment, discharge, or collaboration with a physician assistant within 60 days (rather than at the time) of employment, discharge, or assumption of collaboration with a physician assistant. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall prevent a physician assistant from beginning his or her employment before the notice of employment or collaboration has been filed.

SB 1097, Manufactured Homes was signed into law. This bill amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act. Provides that if a formula is used in a disclosure of information on a 3-year rent increase projection, the formula shall include the total fixed amount determined by the formula, and, if applicable, the "not to exceed" amount. Requires a park owner to disclose in writing with every lease or sale and upon renewal of a lease of a mobile home or lot in a mobile home park or manufactured home community: the contact information of the legal entity that owns the manufactured home community or mobile home park or the contact information of the property manager or designated agent for the manufactured home community or mobile home park (rather than the name of the legal entity and either the name, address, and telephone number of the property manager or designated agent or the address and telephone number of the legal entity); and information notifying the tenant that the tenant's right to trial by jury shall not be waived. Restricts a park owner from charging or imposing a pet fee upon a resident that owns the home, unless a service related to the pet is offered by the park owner and accepted by the resident.

SB 2963, Life Insurance was signed into law. This bill amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that if active employment is a condition of a policy of group life insurance, in order to be delivered in the State the policy must contain provisions that state that continued coverage for specified active employees will remain in effect until the earliest of specified dates, and specified obligations of the replacing carrier may be limited to the amount for which the employee was covered under the prior carrier's group life insurance policy and may be reduced by any amounts payable under the prior carrier's group life insurance policy.

SB 3939, Cybersecurity was signed into law. This bill requires a local government official or employee to be chosen to act as the primary point of contact for local cybersecurity issues. Amends the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act. Requires the Secretary of Innovation and Technology to establish a cybersecurity liaison program to advise and assist units of local government concerning specified cybersecurity issues. Provides for cybersecurity training for employees of counties, municipalities. Provides that State agencies are prohibited from purchasing any products that, due to cybersecurity risks, are prohibited for purchase by federal agencies pursuant to a United States Department of Homeland Security Binding Operational Directive.

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. Veto Session can be expected to commence after the election in late November or early December but no official dates have been released.
Register for the Infrastructure Quarterly Council Meeting Here

Small Business News from the US Chamber: Dream Big Awards

The U.S. Chamber’s Dream Big Awards program has officially opened 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.
Webinar: Detection is Your Superpower!

Protecting a network against a hacker used to mean that you had to be on your game 100%, but the hacker only needed to be right once to get in. With Detection, however, the tables are turned, and they’re on your territory. Detection becomes your advantage, as they have to avoid making any mistakes and all you have to do is watch and wait. Join Stel Valavanis, CEO of Onshore Security, to hear more about how Panoptic Cyberdefense gives us the super power to see all and stop bad actors in their tracks.

Date/Time: May 25, 2022 | 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Register Here!

Webinar: Future of Work Virtual Conference

Successful business leaders are always looking to plan for the future. As the economy emerges from the COVID pandemic, the conversation on the Future of Work has taken heightened intensity. Companies are launching “Future of Work” teams and legislatures across the country are studying policies that will shape the workforce for the next decade. Join the Illinois Chamber as we have a conversation with nationwide business leaders on the future of work, and what you can do to prepare.

Date/Time: May 25, 2022 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Register Here!
Illinois Chamber 2022 End of Session Report
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.