| Clark Kaericher | Vice President, Government Affairs | 217-522-5512 x 296 |
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February 14, 2020
The Infrastructure Council is an initiative of the Illinois Chamber that brings together Chamber members with a focus on increasing infrastructure investments in a strategic and thoughtful way to boost the overall business climate in Illinois. Our focus is on the public and private systems that are essential to Illinois businesses.
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Happy Valentine's Day! The General Assembly was not in session this week but that doesn't mean they were not active. Far from it. Today was the bill introduction deadline and the bill drafters at the Legislative Reference Bureau must be exhausted. Over 1000 bills were introduced just this past week. Rest assured, the Chamber is reviewing each of these bills to look out for your interests. We will highlight some of these bills below.
Legislative Update
The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 5:30 pm. These bills of interest have been posted for the 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 3002 (Bertino-Tarrant) - Amends the Toll Bridge Act. Provides that the county board may enter into an agreement establishing a toll rate schedule for a period not to exceed 99 years, as determined by the county board.
SB 2564, SB 2565 Senator Oberweis is once again looking to increase the speed limit.
The House Transportation: Regulation and Roads Committee will meet Tuesday at 2 pm. Two bills are scheduled for hearing:
HB3966 - CTA-PACE-METRA VENTURA FARES
HB4276 - IDOT-ITEP SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
The House Transportation Vehicles and Safety Committee meets Wednesday morning at 9 am. Posted for that committee is HB 326 (McSweeney) which requires IDOT to conduct a study evaluating automated traffic law enforcement systems.
The following bills were introduced last week and may be of interest to council members. I welcome any input you have on these, or any other, bills.
SB 3292 (Villivalam) - Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that the term of any member of a selection committee created by the Department of Transportation to select firms to provide architectural, engineering, and land surveying services prior to January 1, 2021, shall be terminated on December 31, 2020. Provides that beginning on or after January 1, 2021, the Department of Transportation shall appoint selection committees consisting of 9 members who shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate. Effective immediately.
SB2954 (Fine) - Creates the Coal Tar Sealant Disclosure Act. Requires specified persons and entities, public schools and public school districts, and State agencies to disclose the use of a coal tar-based sealant or high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sealant product. Requires public schools or public school districts and state agencies to post, for a minimum of 10 years after application, signage regarding the dangers such use poses. Requires persons or entities to provide information regarding alternative sealant upon request and public schools or public school districts and the State to seek an asphalt-based sealant when distributing any request for proposals. Requires public schools or public school districts and state agencies to determine whether specified benefits of alternative products outweigh the cost and if so to use them. On or before January 1, 2021, requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules for prescribed procedures and standards to be used in assessing acceptable levels of high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of pavement seals on properties covered under the Act. Provides that the Department, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall conduct outreach to public schools and public school districts regarding coal tar-based sealant and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon products. Provides that units of local government shall adopt ordinances providing for the enforcement of the Act. Provides that a person or entity who commits a violation of the Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 and that each incidence of violation shall be deemed a separate offense. The Chamber opposes this legislation.
HB 4695 (Guzzardi)- Provides that any county (currently, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, and McHenry counties only) may impose a tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling motor fuel. Provides that, in addition to other uses currently allowed by law, the proceeds from the tax shall be used for the purpose of maintaining and constructing essential transportation-related infrastructure.
SB 3183 (McGuire) - Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that, in and within one mile of an urban area, the Department of Transportation shall establish and solely fund bicycle and pedestrian ways in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any State transportation facility. Effective immediately.
HB 4499 (Ugaste)- abolishes CTA, Metra and Pace boards and places everything under the control of the RTA board.
HB 4571 (Lilly)- bans motorists from pumping their own gas. The sponsor touts this bill as a job creation measure. The Chamber opposes this legislation.
SB 2961 (Ellman) - repeals the Railroad Intoxicating Liquor Act
HB 4620 (Halpin) - Creates the Infrastructure Development Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall segregate a portion of the Treasurer's State investment portfolio in the Infrastructure Development Account, an account that shall be maintained separately and apart from other money invested by the State Treasurer. Allows the State Treasurer to make investments concerning the Infrastructure Development Account. Provides for Infrastructure Development Account-Recipient Funds created by Illinois infrastructure development firms in which the State Treasurer places money.
HB 4674 (West) - Lowers the registration fee for motor vehicles of the first division, other than autocycles, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and pedal cycles, from $148 to $120, not including surcharges.
SB 3190 (McConchie)- Lowers the flat weight tax for Class C and D vehicles; Class VF farm trucks. It lowers the mileage weight tax for Class MD, ME, MF, and MG vehicles. Lowers the trailer flat weight tax for Class VDD, VDE, and VDG farm trailers. Lowers the flat weight trailer tax of Class TA, TB, TC, TD, and TE trailers.
HB 4671/ SB 2902 (Hunter)- repeal of red light cameras. SB 2902 has been sent to the Senate Executive Committee. Note that its sponsor, Senator Hunter, is also the Chair of the Executive committee.
Chamber Day 2020
Chamber Day 2020 is about a month away! Register now to ensure your place:
Articles of Interest
Until Next Week,
Clark
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