General Assembly Overrides Pritzker Veto on Aviation Maintenance
For the first time in Governor Pritzker's tenure, the General Assembly overrode a veto. Both the House and Senate overwhelmingly voted to override the veto of
HB3902
HB3902(Bristow/Crowe) with only one lawmaker siding with the Governor.
HB 3902
reinstates a tax break for private jet maintenance companies. The law applies to as many as 14 facilities throughout the state which employ more than 3,500 highly paid workers. The Illinois Chamber lobbied in support of
HB 3902. For more information, see the article linked below.
Legislative Update
The House Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee met on Wednesday, February 5th. Representative McSweeney's red-light camera ban advanced from the committee.
HB 322 would repeal red-light cameras for non-home rule units of government. It was approved with a unanimous vote.
The other
HB 326 requires IDOT to complete a study on red-light cameras. This bill was held in committee. For more on red-light cameras, see below.
The Senate Transportation Committee was canceled. The following bills of interest have been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee:
SB 2560 (Villivalam) Creates the Complete Streets Act.This requires IDOT to use federal and state funds allocated for transportation projects to improve access, mobility, and safety for users of various modes of transportation.This would include pedestrians and bicyclists. Opponents will call this a road fund diversion.
SB 2564,
SB 2565 Senator Oberweis is once again looking to increase the speed limit.
A few other interesting bills have been filed. As always, I value and appreciate any feedback you have on these bills or others.
Senator Cunningham introduced
SB 2978.This would allow all municipalities statewide to impose a motor fuel tax. Currently, this is limited to municipalities in Cook County.
The General Assembly is NOT in session next week. Legislators will return to Springfield on February 18th.
Statewide Broadband Expansion
Governor Pritzker held a press conference on Wednesday announcing the state is releasing the first $50 million in funding for matching grants of Connect Illinois, the state's $420 million statewide broadband expansion.This expansion is part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan.
The program is designed to provide high-speed internet to areas of the state that are currently underserved. Applicants will likely include internet service providers, rural cooperatives, nonprofits and local governments. Applicants are required to at least match any state funding they receive.The ambitious goal of the program is to provide universal access to broadband to all homes and businesses by 2024. The program was praised by legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Articles of Interest
More information on Illinois Statewide Broadband:
https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/news-item.aspx?ReleaseID=21129
