Clark Kaericher l Senior Vice President, Government Affairs l 217-522-5512


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April 8, 2022
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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If you’re reading this, we’ve survived another legislative session. In this newsletter, I’ll provide you with the infrastructure related bills that passed in this final week. 

In the next week or so look for a broader look at infrastructure policy changes that occurred during the entire duration of the spring session and updated legislative ratings.  

Bills that Passed the Final Week 

HB 4281 This bill amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no non-utility individual, business, or entity shall use a public utility name or logo, in whole or in part, in any manner to market, solicit, sell, or bill for a home (i) insurance, (ii) maintenance, or (iii) warranty product. Provides that the prohibition does not apply to activities permitted to implement a program or plan approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that the prohibition does not apply to the partial use by a non-utility entity of a logo belonging to an electric utility that serves fewer than 200,000 customers in the State.  

HB 4568, Coal Mining This bill provides that the Mining Board shall carry out the duties of the Miners' Examining Board 

HB 4772, County Design Build passed out of the Senate by a vote of 54-0-0. This bill creates the County Design-Build Authorization Division in the Counties Code. Provides that a county may enter into design-build contracts. Includes scope and performance criteria for design-build contracts, a two-phase procedure for selection of contracts, requirements for submission of proposals, procedures for awarding contracts, and requirements of reports and evaluation of contracts. Provides that, if the total overall cost of a project is estimated to be less than $12,000,000, the county may combine the two-phase procedure for selection into one phase. In provisions relating to the awarding of a design-build contract to the highest overall ranked design-build entity, provides that the county may not (rather than may) request a best and final offer after the receipt of proposals of all qualified design-build entities. Provides that nothing in the Division shall prevent a county from using a qualification-based selection process for design professionals or construction managers for design-build projects.  

HB 5463, Visibility This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide for vegetation control on land or a right-of-way under its jurisdiction related to the visibility of a permitted or registered outdoor advertising sign or grant a permit for such work. Authorizes the Department to issue rules to provide the standards and procedures for vegetation control to establish clear visibility zones along highways in the State under its jurisdiction (rather than along interstate or primary highways in the State). Provides that visibility zones shall be 250 feet in front of a single-sided sign and 250 feet in front of each side of a double-sided sign (rather than 500 feet for a single-sided sign and 1,000 feet for a double-sided off-premises sign along interstate or primary highways). Provides that the visibility zone for signs shall also include an additional 250-foot triangular section measured diagonally from the edge of the right-of-way to the edge of pavement, which shall be measured from the edge of the sign face closest to the pavement in a direction parallel to the pavement. Provides that all cutting or trimming of vegetation shall maintain environmental compliance.  

SB 1099, Lawsuit Lending This bill creates the Consumer Legal Funding Act. Sets forth provisions concerning consumer legal funding contract requirements, right of rescission, and consumer legal funding company prohibitions. The Chamber has concerns with this legislation regarding a lack of required disclosure of contract to defendants so that all parties are dealing with same information and a cap on interest rates.  

SB 2940, Electric Motorcycles 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.  

SB 3005, EV Taskforce This bill provides that the Electric Vehicle Permitting Task Force shall include one member representing a statewide organization of municipalities as authorized under specified provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the Task Force shall include one member from an association representing automobile manufacturers. Provides that the Task Force shall include one member of a labor organization that represents workers in the auto industry and one member representing the component parts manufacturing community.  

SB 3096, Digital Drivers License This bill provides that the Secretary of State shall continue to monitor developments pertaining to digital driver's licenses and shall deliver a report to the General Assembly concerning these developments on or before December 31, 2022. Provides that the report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) advancements in technology standards necessary for the implementation of a digital driver's license; (2) production information on other states offering a digital driver's license to qualified drivers in their jurisdictions; and (3) advancements in the interoperability of digital driver's licenses.   

Items of Interest in the Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP) 

HB 4700 is the annual Budget Implementation Bill, known as the BIMP. Here are some items of interest in that 544-page bill. I’ll put the page numbers in parenthesis for your convenience.  

  • An increase of $40 million in moneys from sports wagering to the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund (116) 
  • An electric vehicles coordinator (45) 
  • Transit transfers a flat amount from last year (136) 
  • $148 million from General Revenue Fund (GRF) to Build Illinois Bond Fund (146) 
  • $180 million from the GRF to Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund (147) 
Next Infrastructure Meeting May 20th - Registration Now Open 
You can register for the Infrastructure Council quarterly meeting here.
Connect with the Chamber
Not a member and want to learn more about the Illinois Chamber - click here to contact Lauryn Thornton. Click here to contact Jack Bernhardt.