Clark Kaericher l Vice President, Government Affairs l 217-522-5512 x 296
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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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Committee Updates
Both the House and Senate will return to Springfield next week. Governor Pritzker will give a combined “state of the state” and budget address on Wednesday.
House Cybersecurity was canceled this week. Right to Repair (HB 3061) had been posted for votes. The Chamber opposes this measure.
House Transportation: Regulation, Roads and Bridges will meet Tuesday at 3 pm. Nothing major posted for this committee but we’ll be watching HB 3980 (ban on red light cameras) and HB 3124 (creates a statewide towing database).
House Energy Committee is Tuesday at 4 pm. HB 3090 (environmental justice) is posted and is expected to be called.
There is no Senate Transportation committee scheduled.
New Bills of Interest
Last Friday was the Senate filing deadline. This afternoon is the House filing deadline. Here are the newly filed bills of interest from the last few days.
CDL Hiring Tax Incentives
SB 3719 (DeWitte)- Creates an income tax credit for a taxpayer that hires a new employee for a position as a driver for which a commercial driver's license is required and an individual taxpayer who is employed as a driver in a position in which a commercial driver's license is required. This is an Illinois Chamber of Commerce initiative.
Construction
SB 3795 (Morrison)/ HB 4772 (McLaughlin) - Creates the County Design-Build Authorization Division in the Counties Code. Provides that a county may enter into design-build contracts.
HB 5035 (Davis) – IDOT may implement a 5-year pilot program to allow a contractor to provide a non-diminishing irrevocable bank letter of credit in lieu of specified bond requirements on contracts under $500,000.
Electric Vehicles
HB 4963 (Vella) - Amends the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act. Provides that the application approval as a REV project must be by formal application (currently, formal written letter of request or formal application). Provides that each application shall state the minimum number of jobs created or retained at the facility and, for all proposed classifications, commitments to salaries, wages, benefits, investment in training, including commitments to pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, specific protections for worker health and safety, and hiring plans. Provides that each applicant shall state whether it is party to a bona fide labor peace agreement. Provides that applications shall be considered public records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that applicants that are issued credit certificates must report the number, occupation, wages, and benefits of new employees.
Insurance
HB 4719 (Hernandez, E.)- In provisions concerning motor vehicle aftermarket crash parts, provides that the purpose of the provisions is also to regulate the use of original equipment manufacturer repair specifications of aftermarket crash parts and automobile glass. Provides that for aftermarket crash parts and automobile glass repair or replacement, no insurer shall require the use of repair specifications that do not meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer repair specifications for those parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle, and no insurer shall require advanced driver assistance system calibration that does not meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications for those parts. Provides that the language does not require the use of original equipment manufacturer repair parts if the repair parts used are identified and disclosed. Provides that the language does not require the use of original equipment manufacturer repair specifications that unreasonably restrict access to a repair facility.
License Plates
HB 4695 (Ozinga) - Provides that registration plates or digital registration plates issued to a vehicle registered as a fleet vehicle may display the logo of the company for which the fleet is being operated at the company's request.
Mass Transit
SB 3848 (Villivalam) - Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2023, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and its MPO Policy Committee, in coordination with the Authority, shall develop and submit a report of legislative recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding changes to the recovery ratio, sales tax formula and distributions, governance structures, regional fare systems, and any other changes to State statute, Authority, or Service Board enabling legislation, policy, rules, or funding that will ensure the long-term financial viability of a comprehensive and coordinated regional public transportation system that moves people safely, securely, cleanly, and efficiently and supports and fosters efficient land use.
Nearly $220 Million in Rebuild Illinois Funding to Support Local Transit, Ports Projects
On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that almost $111.4 million has been awarded to transit providers downstate as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program. The governor also announced an additional $108.3 million for public ports in Illinois. The two announcements, combined with earlier commitments of $40 million to build a port in Cairo, $244 million in additional funding to downstate transit and $96 million to extend MetroLink Service to MidAmerica Airport, contribute to a combined $601 million commitment to ports and downstate transit.
For the state’s 19 public ports, $150 million in capital funding is available for improvement projects, the first time a state capital program is investing in waterways, with $40 million already committed to a new inland port in Cairo. The remaining $108.3 million being announced today by Gov. Pritzker is being awarded on a competitive basis. Proposals were evaluated on their ability to advance IDOT’s Illinois Marine Transportation System Plan, which prioritizes asset management performance-based decisions and projects that benefit disadvantaged or economically distressed areas.
A total of 12 projects are receiving $108.3 million, including:
- America's Central Port District in Granite City, $21 million total investment with $13 million for sediment reduction project in Madison Harbor, increasing operational efficiency and reducing long-term expenses.
- Illinois International Port District in Chicago, $13 million for Iroquois Landing dock wall rehabilitation at the mouth of the Calumet River and Lake Michigan, part of the Port of Chicago, the largest cargo port on the Great Lakes.
- Mid-America Intermodal Port Authority in Quincy, $13.2 million to improve capacity and operations at existing dock and build a second dock.
Illinois Aviation System Plan Update
As you know, the Chamber serves on the technical advisory committee for the Aviation System Plan Update. The project team has recently finalized a draft of the Illinois Aviation Economic Impact Analysis Full Technical Report which has been uploaded to the project website for your review. This chapter documents the data collection process, economic modeling process, and results at various levels. Please review and provide comments by Monday, January 31.
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Articles of Interest
Until next time,
Clark
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Not a member and want to learn more about the Illinois Chamber - click here to contact Lauryn Thornton. Click here to contact Jack Bernhardt.
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