While bipartisan gains are welcomed by the employer community, we need to remind policymakers of the negative impacts of misguided policies enacted in 2019. Small businesses will struggle mightily with the burden of a $15 minimum wage. The wage is unfairly set at $15 regardless of geography or wage rates that vary greatly in our diverse state. Also, the proposed progressive income tax eliminates our current, true Fair Tax. It is already having a chilling effect on employers' willingness to invest in Illinois.

A focus on our greatest job producers, small business, must be a priority in 2020 to balance the negative effects of 2019 policies. The Governor has demonstrated a good understanding of issues that impact small businesses, but still has pursued detrimental legislation. 2020 represents an opportunity to offer them more support with bipartisan policies to move our state forward."

Key Legislation 

The House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics & IT Committee meets for the first time this year at 10 am on Wednesday, February 5th.    HB 2736  (Buckner) is the sole bill posted.  HB 2736   creates the "Right to Know Act". This legislation would forbid an operator of a website or online service from disclosing personal information about users of its website, or application, residing in Illinois unless in the customer agreement they are notified about: i) the personal information collected; ii) all categories of third-party persons or entities with whom the operator may disclose, and iii) proving a description of an Illinois' residents rights under this Act. All website or online service operators that disclose personal information to a third party must maintain an email address or toll-free phone number to inform any Illinois resident that asks what personal information that was shared about them and to whom it was shared. All inquiries must be answered within 30 days.  Most worrisome is that it creates a private right of action for failure to comply. As we have seen with BIPA, this can be abused.