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Bill Action of Note:
HB 2473, Nuclear passed the Senate 44-7-0. This bill makes changes concerning the circumstances under which construction may commence on nuclear power plants and nuclear power reactors. Removes the definition of "high-level nuclear waste". Amends the Nuclear Safety Law of 2004. Requires the Illinois Emergency Management and Office of Homeland Security to adopt rules for the regulation of small modular reactors, including rules regarding decommissioning, emergency preparedness, and fees. Sets forth provisions concerning inspections of small modular reactors. Authorizes the Governor to commission a study on regulatory gaps for the development of small modular reactors in the State. Requires the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to lead the study by researching and developing small modular reactors. Provides that the Agency shall finalize the study and publish a publicly available copy on its website and submit a copy to the General Assembly. Sets forth the requirements of the study. Repeals the provision requiring the study on January 1, 2027. Provides that the Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act and the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act do not apply to small modular reactors.
HB 2878, Procurement Omnibus amendatory veto was accepted by a vote of 53-0-0 in the Senate and 109-4-0 in the House. This bill had passed unanimously in the Senate and with a large majority in the House in late May. The bill Received an amendatory veto for the public-private partnership (p3) expansion provisions of the bill. The numerous other procurement provisions in the legislation including changes to the VOSB program, diversity reporting requirements, public construction bonds and more will not be affected by the acceptance of this amendatory veto.
SB 384, EV Charging passed the House 73-40-0. This bill amends the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Provides that for provisions related to EV-capable parking space requirements and residential requirements, the Act applies to newly constructed single-family homes and multifamily (rather than multi-unit) residential buildings that have parking spaces and are constructed after the effective date of the Act. Provides that for provisions related to electric vehicle charging system policies for unit owners and renters, the Act applies to unit owners, tenants, landlords, and associations of both newly constructed and existing single-family homes and multifamily residential buildings that have parking spaces. Effective January 1, 2024.
SB 765, Farm Mutual Insurance-Support passed the House 114-0-0. This bill provides that, until the date that is 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a farm mutual insurance company insuring against the perils of wind or hail must have and maintain adequate catastrophic reinsurance (instead of catastrophic reinsurance which limits the company's exposure on any one loss occurrence to 20% of its policyholders' surplus). Defines "adequate catastrophic reinsurance" as reinsurance in an amount no less than that required for a 500-year event, based on an actuarially sound catastrophe model that limits the company's exposure on any one loss occurrence to (i) 20% of its policyholders' surplus or (ii) an amount authorized by the Director of Insurance. Provides that a farm mutual insurance company must additionally have and maintain aggregate reinsurance coverage in an amount no less than that required for a 250-year event, based on an actuarially sound catastrophe model. Provides that the reinsurance permitted or required under the provisions must be provided by (i) a farm mutual insurance company, (ii) an insurance company authorized to write the kinds of insurance described in the Illinois Insurance Code pertaining to casualty, fidelity, surety, fire, marine, and other types of insurance, or (iii) a reinsurer and reinsurance program meeting the standards set forth in the Illinois Insurance Code that permit a domestic company to take credit for reinsurance. Requires a farm mutual insurance company converting from unlimited catastrophic reinsurance to adequate catastrophic reinsurance to provide notice of the change to policyholders in a form approved by the Director of Insurance.
SB 1769, Govt. Zero Emissions Vehicles passed the Senate on concurrence by a vote of 37-18-0. This bill, as amended, provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on January 1, 2030, all passenger vehicles, except law enforcement vehicles, purchased or leased by a governmental unit must either be a manufactured zero-emissions vehicle or a converted zero-emissions vehicle. Provides that "passenger vehicle" does not include vehicles purchased by the Department of Transportation as part of their consolidated vehicle procurement program.
Recent Bill Introductions of Note:
HB 4196, Fleet Electrification Incentives was introduced. This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators in the State grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. Provides that the Program shall offer qualifying purchasers a grant up to specified base amounts toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles based on the Class of vehicle. Requires the Agency to award grants under the Program on a competitive basis according to the availability of funding. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program a purchaser must satisfy all of the required criteria. Provides that the Agency shall give weight to an application based upon the potential impact of the geographic location and route of the purchaser's fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community. Requires the Agency to ensure that resale of a vehicle serving a public school or located within an equity investment eligible community shall result in the vehicle servicing a similarly situated community. Provides that grants under the Program may be combined with other public incentives but the total of governmental incentives shall not exceed a maximum of 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle. Requires the Agency to set aside 20% of the appropriated funds under the Program for grants to the purchaser of electric school buses. Provides that all awards granted are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
HB 4210, Low-Carbon Delivery was introduced. This bill creates the Low-Carbon Distribution and Delivery Act. Designates residentially zoned areas in counties with a population of 3,000,000 or more as low-carbon delivery zones. Requires a last-mile delivery to a low-carbon delivery zone to be made using a low-carbon delivery method. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Low-Carbon Fleet Rebate Program. Provides that the Program shall offer a qualifying purchaser a grant up to 50% toward the purchase of an electric-assist cargo bicycle. Provides that the Program shall offer increased grant incentives of an additional 25% of the purchase amount for the purchase of an electric-assist cargo bicycle that will deliver goods within a low-carbon delivery area that is also designated as an equity investment eligible community. Limits a grant provided under the Program to a maximum award of 75% of the purchase price per electric-assist cargo bicycle. Provides that multiple bicycles may be included in each grant under Program. Allows the Department to limit the amount or number of grants awarded to each qualifying purchaser. Requires a fleet owner to be domiciled in the State. Requires an electric-assist cargo bicycle that acquired using grants from the Program to operate exclusively within the State.
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