Illinois Chamber of Commerce- Technology Council Newsletter

Clark Kaericher | Vice President of Government Affairs | 618-806-1501

April 14, 2023

The Technology Council seeks to aggressively and proactively promote the interests of the Illinois technology community by advocating for public policy that fosters innovation and promotes economic growth. The Council will seek to promote workforce development policies, advocate for world-class technology infrastructure, avoid overregulation on the industry and support innovators access to the capital they need to grow.

I hope everyone got caught up on their rest- the one-month sprint to the finish starts next week. Legislators return to Springfield on Tuesday, and with few exceptions, will not leave until the scheduled adjournment on May 19.

Committees Posted for Next Week

House Consumer Protection Committee meets on Tuesday at 4pm. SB 328 (Glowiak Hilton- Hanson) focusing on automatic contract renewals will be heard at that time. The amendment sent over to the House had no opposition.

Senate State Government meets Wednesday at 2 pm to consider HB 3653 (Rashid-Peters) which creates an artificial intelligence task force.

Senate Executive Committee meets Wednesday at 2 pm to hear HB 2231 (Gong-Gershowitz and Martwick). This bill misapplies the common carrier definition to rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft which will create a massive new potential legal liability. The Chamber strongly opposes this bill.

Please join us on April 18th for the Spring meeting of our Infrastructure, Energy and Technology Councils. This gathering will feature a discussion of the future of electric vehicles in Illinois with a great lineup of speakers.

Both State EV Officer, Megha Lakhchaura and Electric Mobility and Innovation Director, Lisa Clemmons Stott will address attendees.

Chamber members Ameren and EVBox will also speak on how their companies are working in this space.

Agenda:

2:00pm – Introductions

2:05pm – Presentation by State EV Officer

2:30pm – Presentation by State Electric Mobility and Innovation Director

2:55pm – Ameren

3:10pm – EVBox

3:25pm – Closing by Chamber Directors

This meeting is free of charge for Energy, Infrastructure and Technology Council members as well as for those who have purchased a ticket to Chamber Day. For those attending Chamber Day in the morning, we are thrilled to have you join us for this afternoon session.

Session Recap to Date

I thought this break is a good time to look at where things stand as we head into the final weeks of session.

Automated Vehicles have so far been bottled up in committees without advancing. Representative bills HB 2053, SB 1471, HB 1403, SB 306. The Chamber continues to believe we must allow this industry to grow before prematurely regulating it.

Auto Renewal- SB 328 passed the Senate and is posted for committee this week (see below).

Social Media overly broad restrictions on social media companies and their users have failed to advance. Representative measures HB 3880 - age appropriate design code and HB 3841.

Independent Contractors/Worker Classification: This has been the number one priority of the Chamber’s Tech Council. So far we have seen little movement but remain engaged on the issue.

Data Privacy: HB 3603 (Williams) remains an active bill. We are not opposed to the concept, but have lots of concerns on this particular execution. I wouldn’t write this bill off as dead. Meanwhile, no movement on so-called “Right to Know” legislation.

Right to Repair: Three bills were introduced. None have been heard in a committee.

Data Tax: No movement on SB 2307 but we will continue to watch as the budget comes together. This would be a particularly devastating tax.

Chamber Day is Tuesday. Last Chance to Register!

Please remember to register for Chamber Day on April 18th. We have confirmed all four legislative leaders will be on hand to give their thoughts on this session and answer a few questions from those present. Registration information is here:

Sponsorships for this event have sold out. Thank you to all who sponsored!

When: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM CDT

Where: President Abraham Lincoln A Double Tree by Hilton

701 East Adams Street

Springfield, IL 62701

Register Here

Chamber BIPA Webinar

Sean Darke from Dykema will moderate the virtual panel discussion on “The Good, Bad, and Ugly of BIPA!” The panel will focus on recent developments in BIPA lawsuits and best practices to avoid being caught in the wave of lawsuits, which have typically resulted in outsized class settlements. As litigation continues to explode in BIPA, Dykema has assembled a panel to discuss the recent changes to BIPA and recent case law that continues to shape BIPA for companies and legislatures across the country. Concerning is that over 1,000 BIPA lawsuits involve every day workplace issues like time tracking and employee verification. Although we see the ugly in BIPA through litigation, this panel will discuss the positives of biometrics that have been lost during this litigation explosion and how companies should not shy away from using this amazing technology. The panel will also discuss the future of biometrics and the much needed BIPA reform. Join Sean Darke and panel members Abad Lopez from Dykema, Doug O’Gordon from Find Biometrics, and Jake Parker from The Security Industry Association as they explore the “Good, Bad, and Ugly of BIPA!”

Panel Discussion Will Include: