You feel that, that feeling of things starting to right size? That’s Indiana back in the NCAA tournament. By this time next week, my bracket might be busted but today everything seems just a little sweeter.
Session Update
Only the House will be in next week, as the Senate is taking a week off. We have less than a month to go before the scheduled adjournment, currently set for April 8.
No one really believes April 8th will be the final day of session this year. It will merely signal a break before a frantic return for a few days in May.
I do think that the looming primaries are tamping down the most outrageous proposals, however. Expect some of those to return for the Veto and Lame Duck sessions after the general election.
HB 5555: Permitting Reform Passes House, Awaits Senate Action
Late last week, HB 5555 sponsored by Representative Yednock, passed out of the House by a vote of 104-0-0 and now awaits Senate action. Senator Villivalam is carrying the legislation in the Senate. This bill is an Illinois Chamber and Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group (IERG) joint initiative that will instill state permitting improvements. This important piece of legislation has also garnered support within the Labor community.
The legislation provides an optional streamlined permitting process in Illinois for projects exceeding $20 million. Provided below are some additional features of the legislation:
- Agencies must coordinate in creating an agreed timetable for issuance of all required authorizations to ensure permit issuance in 2 years;
- Specify a process for Agencies to later modify their agreed-upon timetable;
- Create an online dashboard for tracking projects' permitting status;
- Agencies must affirmatively acknowledge or disclaim any jurisdiction or authority over a proposed project;
- Include a process to account for project delays for the applicant;
- Allow local governments with permitting programs to be part of the process;
- Allow for Illinois to become more competitive to receive federal grants for infrastructure and economic growth-related projects; and
- Include revisions not directly related to the permitting improvement process that would modernize the existing Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance such as the use of online communication.
You can read the full fact sheet HERE.
We would greatly appreciate your support of this legislation and encourage you to contact your State Senator to urge their cosponsorship and its swift passage.
Committee Updates
On Tuesday, March 8th the House Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee held a brief hearing. Nothing of substance occurred aside from road-naming and other similar resolutions.
Also, that afternoon, the Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing that lasted for about five minutes. The committee took only one vote which was the unanimous passage of the agreed bill list. On that agreed bill list was SFA1 to SB 1233. This amendment creates the task force to study future transportation funding.
House Transportation: Regulation meets Tuesday at 2 pm. The only bill we are tracking in SB 3848 which requires the RTA to conduct a transit funding report.
House Transportation: Vehicles meets Wednesday at 10:30 am. Two bills of interest there: SB 3096 to study a digital driver's license and SB 3609 which provides that the registration fee for cars and small trucks shall be reduced by $25 if vehicle is manufactured in this State and the application for registration is made no more than one year after the month in which the vehicle was manufactured
SB 3795 (Morrison/Mason) is set for a hearing in the House Counties and Townships committee on Wednesday at 2. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 2981 (Villivalam/Evans) the design build bill is up in the House State Government Administration Committee on Wednesday at 2. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 645 (Hastings/Hoffman) is up in the House Labor Committee next Wednesday. It passed the Senate as a work around to airline collective bargaining that the Chamber opposed. It has since been amended to say that the Employee Sick Leave Act serves as a minimum standard in a negotiated collective bargaining agreement. We are still evaluating this, but it will likely move us to neutral. Your input is encouraged.
Floor Action of Note
SB 1233, Transportation Study passed out of the Senate by a vote of 48-0-0. This bill creates a task force to study future transportation funding. Provides that the Commission shall report a summary of its activities and produce a final report of its data, findings, and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2023. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 2803, UI Trust fund passed out of the Senate by a vote of 33-15-0. This bill appropriates $2,000,000,000 from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Employment Security for payment to the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for partial repayment of Title XII advances, including prior year cost. This bill is a vehicle/placeholder for further discussion. The agreed bill process on this matter is still ongoing.
SB 2940, Electric Motorcycles passed the Senate by a vote of 47-0-0. This bill amends the Electric Vehicle Act and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act to delete language providing that "electric vehicle" does not include electric motorcycles. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2022, each person shall be eligible to apply for a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is an electric motorcycle.
SB3796, Toll Highway Authority passed out of the Senate by a vote of 49-0-0. This bill removes language authorizing the chairman to exercise general supervision over all powers, duties, obligations and functions of the Toll Highway Authority. Provides that the directors shall appoint agents or employees as they consider necessary or desirable. Provides that such agents or employees, other than technical or engineering employees, shall be subject to the Personnel Code. Provides that the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint from the State at large an Executive Director to the Toll Highway Authority to serve as the chief executive officer of the Board of Directors. Provides that the Board shall employ and fix the compensation of the Executive Director.
