TOBACCO 21 GOES TO GOVERNOR

HB 345  (Lilly/Morrison) passed the Senate this week 39-16-1  and is now headed to the governor's desk where we are expecting his signature.  This bill increases the minimum purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. The Chamber opposed this legislation.   

 

EMPLOYER DEFINITION PASSES HOUSE

HB 252  (Guzzardi/Castro) passed the House this week 74-40-0. This bill amends the Illinois Human Rights Act providing that "employer" includes any person employing one (instead of 15) or more employees within Illinois during 20 or more calendar weeks within the calendar year of or preceding the alleged violation. The Chamber opposed.

 

BOARD GOVERNANCE

This week the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee held a subject matter on SB 76 (Castro). This bill would require domestic or foreign corporate boards to have females on their board of directors.  The Chamber opposes this bill.  

 

FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TAX

The House Revenue Committee held an impromptu subject matter hearing this week on Rep. Mary Flowers' (D-Chicago) proposed financial transaction tax.  The Chamber is opposed to this proposal.

 

OTHER FLOOR ACTION

HB 834  (Moeller/Castro) passed the House this week 86-28-0. This bill prohibits an employer from seeking the salary, including benefits or other compensation or salary history, of a job applicant from any current or former employer, with some exceptions.  The Chamber is opposed.

 

SB 1596 (Sims/Hoffman) passed the House 70-40-1 and is being sent to the governor's desk. It amends the Worker's Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act to provide that specified Sections under the Acts limiting recovery do not apply to injuries or death resulting from an occupational disease as to which the recovery of compensation benefits under the Act would be precluded due to the operation of any period of repose or repose provision. Provides that, as to any such injury occupational disease, the employee, the employee's heirs, and any person having the standing under law to bring a civil action at law has the nonwaivable right to bring such an action against any employer or employers.  The Chamber is opposed.   

 

COMMITTEE ACTION

SB 54  (Harmon) passed the Senate Executive Committee 18-0-0. This bill would amend the Liquor Control Act by creating a third-party facilitator license and allowing a retailer to deliver alcoholic liquors to the home or other designated location of a consumer.  The Chamber was in support of this legislation.   

 

SB 162  (Holmes) passed the Senate Insurance Committee 17-0-5  with the commitment to come back with an amendment. This bill provides that mammogram coverage shall also include a diagnostic mammogram when medically necessary, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant. It also makes changes to coverage for a comprehensive ultrasound screening and MRI.  The Chamber is opposed.

 

SB 222 (Castro) passed out of the Senate Commerce and Economic Opportunity Committee 8-2-2. This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice to offer to consumers at retail a rebate made on a rebate card that charges dormancy fees or other post-issuance fees. The Chamber is monitoring.

 

SB 241 (Holmes) passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously. This bill provides that it is unlawful for a manufacturer to import for profit, sell, or offer for sale in this State any cosmetic, if the cosmetic was developed or manufactured using an animal test that was conducted or contracted by the manufacturer, or any supplier of the manufacturer, on or after January 1, 2020.  The Chamber is neutral. 

 

SB 1407  (Hastings), passed Senate Executive Committee 14-2-3. The bill creates the Illinois Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act requiring all construction and maintenance work at privately owned petroleum refineries and petrochemical facilities within the state to be exclusively performed by members of certain trade unions.  The Chamber is opposed.

 

HB 3152 (Hoffman) passed out of the House Public Utilities Committee (18-0-1). The bill would extend the formula rate making process for electricity rates that is set to sunset in 2022.  The Chamber is neutral.

 

HB 3435 (Carroll) passed out of the House Insurance Committee (22-0-1). This bill amends the Illinois Insurance Code providing that a policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan shall provide coverage for epinephrine injectors for persons 18 years of age or under.  The Chamber is opposed .

 

HB 1639  (DeLuca) passed out of the House Insurance Committee 18-1-0. This bill provides that, "policy of individual or group accident and health insurance" does not include any coverage or policy that provides an excepted benefit, as defined in the federal Public Health Service Act. The Chamber supports this legislation.

 

SB 1852 (Curran) passed out of the Senate Environment Committee 9-0-0.  This bill provides that in the event of an ethylene oxide leak a facility shall issue a notice to all affected property owners and local government within 2,500 feet of the leak site.  The Chamber opposes this bill.   

 

SB 1854 (Curran) passed the Senate Environment Committee this week 7-2-0.  This bill provides that beginning on the effective date of the bill no facility shall have fugitive emissions of ethylene oxide above zero. Provides that each facility shall be subject to regular and frequent inspections and testing to ensure that no fugitive emissions of ethylene oxide exist. The Chamber is opposed.

 

SB 2020 (Steans) passed out of the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee (7-0-2.) The bill requires multiple state agencies to set a broad-based policy approach to decarbonize Illinois' electric sector, phasing out polluting power plants by 2030. The Chamber has concerns with the overall goal of decarbonization by 2030 and that the bill does not include language on costs to ratepayers, the impact to Illinois' economy and the impact on electric reliability.  We are working with the sponsor to provide language to the bill.

 

BUSINESS LEADER MAGAZINE

The latest issue of Illinois Business Leader is now available online.

This issue features the kickoff of the Illinois Chamber's 100 th birthday celebration. We talked with the Cubs management to find out how they work with small businesses in Illinois. And, we spoke to the founders of the Celebrating High School Innovators Awards program to see how they celebrate the most innovative high school students in the state of Illinois. It also covers this session's legislative agenda.