The 2018 Spring legislative session wrapped up for the first time in three years with a full, appropriated fiscal year budget. This session had a tumultuous beginning as everything from the #metoo movement and primary election politics played crucial roles in bill introductions.
While taxes dominated much of 2017, employment law issues stole the limelight in 2018. The General Assembly continues to give lip service to structural reforms such as workers' compensation and property tax relief. However, on the whole the business community came out okay in the budget agreement, in the sense that we escaped any new tax burdens. The good news is that the budget does not contain any tax increases either in the form of rate increases or elimination of beneficial aspects of the federal tax reform law. The Chamber was also instrumental in defeating several regulatory bills, but also provided compromises that removed Chamber opposition.
At the end of every session, the Illinois Chamber compiles an 'end of session report.'
Overall, this document does not reflect every piece of business-industry related legislation. Instead, it focuses on the Chamber's victories and other pertinent legislation that was brought forward this session that would impact the business community.
2018 is an election year. There was no doubt that lawmakers wanted to get out of Springfield on time and rest up before the November elections. This election year will become one of the most contentious and costly gubernatorial elections in the nation's history. It will be a wild ride, and only a matter of time before our airwaves are covered with campaign commercials.
