September 29, 2023

This Week in Illinois

Thank You for Attending the 2023 Illinois Chamber Annual Meeting

On Thursday, the Illinois Chamber was pleased to host its 2023 Annual Meeting. It was a pleasure to welcome 500 members, elected officials, and special guests to Oak Brook for our biggest gathering of the year as we celebrated the Illinois business community.

This year's meeting featured a fireside chat between Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Secretary of the Chamber Board, Kelly Edwards - State Counsel for Illinois and Indiana at State Farm Insurance Companies. Comptroller Mendoza spoke about her rise in different areas of public service and what motivates her today. Mendoza also spoke about the state's fiscal image and how businesses and associations can work to attract economic investment in Illinois.

Joe Cosenza, Vice Chair of Inland Real Estate Group and President of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions was this year's keynote speaker. Cosenza, one of four founders of Inland Real Estate, spoke on the history of the company and provided riveting insight into current commercial real estate trends.

This year's program had special meaning as there was a time of remembrance and tribute to our Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch who we sadly lost this summer. A tribute video in honor of Todd was compiled by Chamber Communications Director, Darbi Durham. The touching video features memories of Todd from Illinois public figures and friends.

View the video in honor of Todd here.

We offer a sincere thank you to everyone who was able to sponsor participate, or attend yesterday's program. As member companies, we are all so appreciative of your continued investment in our state. We know that we can't carry out our mission without your support. As always, we look forward to welcoming you back at next year's luncheon.

View a list of 2023 Annual Meeting sponsors here.

UAW Strike Update

Today, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, Jim Farley held a briefing on the United Auto Workers (UAW) contract talks. The Illinois Chamber alongside other stakeholders and media were invited to attend.

Earlier this month, the Illinois Chamber signed onto a US Chamber Coalition letter to express our concern over the growing possibility of a strike by the UAW in their negotiations for a new labor contract with General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company. UAW workers first went on strike on September 15th.

Industry experts have expressed much concern over a prolonged strike. Provided below are a few national voices that have spoken on the potential negative impacts of the continued strike.

“A month-long strike could cause shortages of some vehicle models, according to Rob Handfield, Bank of America University professor of supply chain management at North Carolina State University. A strike of that length could lead to a roughly 10% increase in prices on vehicles whose production is affected, he estimates. "If it goes for two months, we probably won't see any cars on lots," he said. "Which means dealers will raise prices on the inventory they have."

“It’s also the retail outlets, the grocery stores, the people who sell clothing, the people who sell tickets to the sporting events, it definitely trickles down throughout the whole community.”” Michelle Kaminski, Michigan State University 

"The dealers aren't parties to the negotiations, they are bystanders," Gordon said. "The UAW is making them collateral damage and is spreading the economic effects across the country." Erik Gordon, Michigan Ross

Illinois Chamber Energy Council Represented In DC at API's Fall State Gov Relations Meeting

On September 19^th and 20^th, the Illinois Chamber’s Energy Council Director Alec Messina attended and spoke at the American Petroleum Institute’s Fall State Government Relations meeting in Washington, D.C. More than 100 state government relations professionals from across the county attended to hear about a host of issues affecting the natural gas and oil industry, particularly focusing on operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability. 

Messina participated on a panel that dealt with the challenges of developing energy projects throughout the country, with a focus on environmental permitting, environmental justice, and NIMBY-ism.

For more information about the work of the Energy Council, contact Alec at amessina@ilchamber.org

Session Update

The General Assembly adjourned in the early morning of Saturday, May 27th. Per SJR 42, the House and Senate have adjourned until the call of the Speaker and the Senate President. The 2023 fall veto session has been announced for October 24th-26th and November 7th-9th. View the calendar here.

Bills of Interest Filed

HB 4145, Restaurant Fees was filed by Representative Carroll. This bill provides that a restaurant shall clearly and prominently disclose all fees outside of food costs and taxes that are added to a customer's bill, including administrative fees, at the beginning of the ordering process. Provides that a restaurant that violates the provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

HB 4155, Agriculture/Climate was filed by Representative Harper. This bill establishes the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office. Provides that the Office may provide voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives, including grants, that increase the ability to anticipate, prepare for, mitigate, adapt to, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to drought or the climate. Provides that the Director of Agriculture may promulgate rules necessary for the administration of the Office's assistance, programs, and incentives, including grants. Requires the Director or the Director's designee to conduct a study to examine greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration opportunities in the agricultural sector and in agricultural land management in the State.

BIPA Is Turning 15 - Register Today

Date/Time: Friday, October 6, 2023 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: The Security Innovation Hub | 1302 South Kilbourn Ave. Chicago, IL 60623

What will you learn? Delve into the present legal, political, scientific, ethical, and technological aspects of BIPA. Acquire insights from industry experts on how to proactively maintain and oversee your onboarding, access control, data and compliance protocols, ensuring their ongoing effectiveness to help avert a BIPA lawsuit.

Who should attend? Businesses of all sizes – small, medium, enterprise, and mega-tech – can gain valuable insights into BIPA compliance. We suggest that individuals with the following roles consider attending: Owners, CISOs, CSOs, Human Resources personnel, Legal departments, Accounting professionals, IAM staff, Operations and Facility Managers.

Why participate? With class-action payouts surpassing 1 BILLION dollars (and still rising), Illinois has earned the reputation of being “a cottage industry for BIPA lawsuits.” Now is a pivotal juncture for businesses across diverse sizes and sectors to grasp the significance of BIPA and actively engage in discussions. BIPA's impact has been felt across a wide spectrum, cases range from chicken processors, roofing distributors, retailers, restaurants, and amusement parks to mega tech corporations. It's imperative for all of these entities to comprehend the intricacies of the BIPA law, which encompasses both digital and physical implications.

More information here: bipabuzz.com (squarespace.com)