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Executive Director Energy Council
312-386-7795
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May 13, 2019
There are sixteen days of session left - an eternity in the legislative universe. As I mentioned last week, there is still a lot left on the legislature's agenda. We'll see if a graduated income tax will pass in the House, if a capital bill will make it through, and if gambling and cannabis have a chance. And of course, the budget. Legislators are working toward those big agenda items passing by adjournment on May 31st. As for our world, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that a big energy package will see activity by May 31st. There are always rumblings of activity on individual proposals, but nothing is certain.
Both the House and Senate cancelled session for last Friday, which was also the Committee deadline for bills out of the opposite Chamber to move, and cancelled Monday. Both Chambers are scheduled to be in session Tuesday through Friday this week. May 24th is the 3rd reading deadline for House bills in the Senate and Senate bills in the House.
Last Week
The major activity of the week was passage of SB9 (Bennett), amended, on Thursday. The bill passed out of the Senate Conservation and Environment Committee and later passed the Senate 39-09-07. It now heads to the House and will be sponsored by Representative Ammons. While much progress has been made in negotiations, the bill still has many issues to work out and we do not believe should becoe law in its current form. It is expected that further negotiations will happen in the House, but meetings have not been scheduled. The Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group testified in opposition in Committee. The Chamber is opposed. Please see the attached one-pager for more information.
Below is a quick recap of other activity from last week:
Tuesday
SB1847 (Munoz/Mah) passed the House Energy and Environment Committee 26-0-0. Representative Mah offered CA1 to the bill, but did not call it in Committee. The Chamber is opposed to that amendment. The amendment creates an environmental justice program at the Illinois EPA and sets forth various requirements that must be met before a permit can be issued. The new program would significantly slow down permitting for any facility seeking a permit under the Clean Air Act and the NPDES program. Representative Mah stated in Committee she would not call the amendment unless it was an agreed amendment. The Chamber is neutral on the underlying bill and worked with Senator Munoz on the language to get to an agreed bill. Representative Mah's amendment, if adopted, would move us to opposed.
HJR47 (Marron) passed House Energy and Environment 26-0-0. The Chamber supported the resolution, which creates a task force on coal ash.
Thursday
HB2491 (Walsh/McGuire) passed the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee. The bill provides a process to recycle plastic materials and the Chamber is supportive. The bill is now on 2nd reading.
HB2076
bans the use of BPA in paper for all business records, including receipts. The bill received an amendment to limit the ban to the manufacturing and use of thermal paper if it has BPA in the coating, after January 1, 2020. The ban does not apply to recycled paper. With the amendment, the Chamber moved to neutral.
Next Week
As for Committee activity this week, it's light. On Tuesday, the Senate Criminal Law Subcommittee on CLEAR Compliance will meet to discuss HB1633 (Hoffman/Hastings), legislation to protect critical infrastructure assets across the State. The Committee deadline for the bill was extended to May 17th. The Chamber supports HB1633.
We are in the time frame when Committees can pop up with short posting notices, keep an eye out for "last minute" activity. We'll of course, do the same.
Floor Activity
Second Reading in the Senate
HB2491 (Walsh/McGuire), mentioned above.
HB2460 (Davis/Martinez) codifies guidelines that a state agency shall implement sustainable investment practices and incorporate those into new and existing investment decisions. This is an initiative of the Treasurer's office. The Chamber opposes the bill as we do not see a need for the State to codify this policy, particularly when there is no restriction in law to prevent the Treasurer's office from considering these practices as part of their investment decisions. A number of amendments have been offered to the bill. The Senate companion was re-referred to Assignments.
HB2764 (Hurley/Koehler),
would allow for the use of less onerous manifesting for transporting non-hazardous waste. The Chamber supports the bill.
HB3481 (Gabel/Ellman), repeals the Kyoto Protocol. This statute restricted the State from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The Chamber opposes the bill as any attempt to regulate greenhouse gases should be a national approach. Further, if this were done at the state level, it should not come at the discretion of state agencies without any input from the legislature. The Senate companion passed the Senate but has been re-referred to the House Rules Committee.
Third Reading in the Senate
SB1407 (Hastings), the Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act. The bill has not passed the Senate but has received multiple extensions. The latest extends the bills 3rdreading deadline to May 31st. The bill has received an amendment, Amdt 2, to include additional NAICS codes aimed at incorporating the ethanol industry. Other industries, however, have expressed concern they could also be included in those new NAICS additions. The Chamber is opposed to the bill.
SB2080 (Hastings), the utility formula rate extension, has been amended and shelled. That amendment, however, Amdt 5, remains in Assignments. The bill has not passed the Senate and received an extension to May 31st.
Second Reading in the House
SB1847 (Martinez/Mah), mentioned above.
HJR47 (Marron), mentioned above. On Calendar Order of Resolutions.
For a list of all bills we were tracking and where they stand,
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