GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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October 29th, 2021
This Week in Illinois
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Session Update
The General Assembly returned to Springfield from Tuesday-Thursday for three extended days/evenings of session. This was the second and final week of veto session for fall 2021.
Both chambers adjourned late Thursday night/Friday morning. This was the last scheduled appearance of the General Assembly in Springfield for the year.
The 2022 session calendar beginning in January was released early this morning. View the 2022 House calendar here. View the 2022 Senate calendar here.
Illinois General Assembly Approves Congressional Map
Late Thursday evening, both the House and Senate approved the newly drawn federal congressional map. HB 1291 passed the Senate by a vote of 41-18-0 and the House by a vote of 71-43-0 This bill creates the Illinois Congressional Redistricting Act of 2021. Redistricts the Congressional Districts for the purpose of electing Representatives to the House of Representatives of the United States Congress.
Due to Census reapportionment, Illinois will lose one congressional seat. This takes the Illinois congressional delegation down to 17 members. As currently drawn, Illinois has 13 Democrat Representatives and 5 Republicans. Based on prior voting trends, the new map will give Democrats an advantage with 14 seats compared to 3 for the Republicans. However, such an advantage is not guaranteed.
Shortly after the map was passed by the General Assembly, Representative Adam Kinzinger (R) announced that he would not seek reelection. This eliminates a potential primary between Kinzinger and fellow Republican Darin LaHood.
Representative Newman (D) announced her intention to run in the newly created 6th district. This will set up a primary with incumbent Sean Casten.
View the Congressional map here.
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Infrastructure Council to Host Quarterly Meeting
On November 10th, the Illinois Chamber Infrastructure Council will hosts its quarterly meeting in downtown Chicago. Meeting information and registration details are provided below.
Fall Infrastructure Council Meeting:
November 10th 9-10:30 am
Illinois Chamber of Commerce Chicago Office: 70 West Madison St. Suite 200
- Featured Speaker: US Representative Marie Newman
- Congresswoman Marie Newman serves on the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will discuss federal transportation funding.
- Featured Speaker: RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard
- Chairman Dillard will discuss recent activities of the RTA and the return-to-work process underway in the city.
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Bills of Interest During Veto Session:
HB 106 Transportation Omnibus bill passed the House on concurrence by a vote of 75-39-0. This is a transportation omnibus that contains cleanup language for the secretary of state and some fare percentage relief for the RTA. The Chamber supports these two provisions. However, the Chamber opposed the bill in committee due to mischief regarding airline sick leave. The airline issue has been negotiated in good faith and this legislation attempts to ignore those negotiations.
HB 594 Utility Sunset Extension of prohibition on taxing electric generating facilities by home rule communities passed the Senate by a vote of 58-0-0 and passed the House by a vote of 112-2-0.This bill provides that a home rule preemption concerning taxes or fees related to electricity is repealed on January 1, 2023 (currently, January 1, 2022). This bill also expands the membership of the Future of Work Taskforce and pushes back the reporting date from April to December of 2022.
HB 1291, Congressional Map passed the Senate by a vote of 41-18-0 and the House by a vote of 71-43-0 This bill creates the Illinois Congressional Redistricting Act of 2021. Redistricts the Congressional Districts for the purpose of electing Representatives to the House of Representatives of the United States Congress. Repeals the Illinois Congressional Reapportionment Act of 2001.
HB 1769 Electric Vehicle Incentives Package passed the Senate by a vote of 55-0 and passed the House by a vote of 110-2-1. This bill establishes the "reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act." Provides incentives to Electric Vehicle manufacturers, their suppliers, and electric vehicle power supply manufacturers. Illinois Chamber President & CEO Todd Maisch as well as Employment Law Council Executive Director Jay Shattuck testified on this legislation in committee. Check your Illinois Chamber Council newsletters for a more detailed summary on this legislation.
HB 2431EMS Act Changes passed the Senate by a vote of 54-0-0. This bill provides that the Department of Public Health shall have the authority and responsibility to adopt rules permitting immediate reciprocity to all emergency medical services personnel who have received a certification issued by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, allowing such individuals to operate in a provisional status until the Illinois license is issued. Provides that to operate as EMS personnel on provisional status, an individual must have applied for licensure with the Department and meet all requirements for licensure. Provides that, until October 1, 2022, the Department must require each EMS System Program Plan to permit the utilization of alternative staffing models. Provides that each EMS System Program Plan shall be required to implement alternative staffing models no later than January 1, 2022. Exempts local governments and local government employees who provide EMS services from being required to implement alternative staffing models.
HB 3136 Gaming passed the House on concurrence by a vote of 100-11-1. Allows raffle licenses to be issued to fire protection agencies and associations that represent fire protection officials. Creates a sales agent and broker license to solicit or receive business from current or potential establishments licensed under the Act. Allows a qualified fraternal organization and a qualified veterans organization that derive their charters from a national organization to apply for a license allowing video gaming if the proposed establishment meets specified criteria. Makes changes concerning the fees that may be imposed by units of government and distribution of license fees. Changes the renewal period for a supplier license from one year to 4 years. Provides that beginning 4 years after issuance of the initial supplier license, a holder of a supplier license shall pay a $150,000 annual license fee. Until July 1, 2023, allows tier 1 sports wagers that are not related to an individual athlete's performance and are made in person on Illinois collegiate teams. Provides that the requirement that an individual create a sports wagering account in person at a facility to participate in sports wagering over the Internet or through a mobile application applies until the issuance of the first master sports wagering license issued to an online sports wagering operator or March 5, 2022, whichever occurs first. In the definition of "sports facility" in the Sports Wagering Act, provides that the exception for a facility that holds a seating capacity of greater than 10,000 persons is applicable in a municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000. A home rule municipality that has adopted an ordinance imposing an amusement tax on persons who participate in the playing of video gaming terminals before November 1, 2021 may continue to impose such amusement tax pursuant to such ordinance but shall not increase, expand, or extend the tax or tax rate on such persons participating in playing video gaming terminals in excess of that tax or rate set forth in such ordinance and shall not otherwise impose any other tax upon certain entities or persons.
HB 3293 Contractors Wage Payment Liability passed the House Executive Committee by a vote of 9-6-0. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 40-17-0 earlier in the week. For all contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2022, a primary contractor making or taking a contract in the State for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work in the State, shall assume, and is liable for, any debt owed to a wage claimant incurred pursuant to the Act by a subcontractor at any tier acting under, by, or for the primary contractor for the wage claimant's performance of labor included in the subject of the contract between the primary contractor and the owner. Provides exemption from liability for a property owner who acts as a primary contractor related to the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of his or her primary residence where the aggregate costs of the project amounts to less than $100,000 (Democrats resisted Republican calls to increase this threshold). The primary contractor's liability under the new provisions shall extend only to any unpaid wages, including interest owed and reasonable attorney's fees, but shall not extend to wage supplements, penalties, or liquidated damages. The obligations and remedies provided in the new provisions shall be in addition to any obligations and remedies otherwise provided by law, except that nothing in the new provisions shall be construed to impose liability on a primary contractor for anything other than unpaid wages, interest owed and reasonable attorney's fees. The Chamber opposes this bill.
HB 3490 Child Beverages passed the House on concurrence by a vote of 112-1-0. In provisions concerning default beverages for children's meals, provides that nonfat or 1% dairy milk containing no more than 130 calories per container or serving as offered for sale (rather than nonfat or 1% milk with no added natural or artificial sweeteners) is a default beverage. Provides that a beverage listed or displayed on a restaurant menu or in-store advertisement (rather than displayed on a restaurant menu or advertisement) for a children's meal shall be one of the default beverages. Provides that an executive officer of a certified local public health department (rather than a local public health director), or his or her designee, may charge and collect certain civil penalties.
HB 3666 Energy Package Trailer Bill passed the House on concurrence by a vote of 83-33-0. This bill provides that the Illinois Power Agency must require that any grant or rebate applicant comply with the requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act (rather than may not award rebates or grants to an organization or company that does not pay the prevailing wage) for any installation of a charging station for which it seeks a rebate or grant. Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that records made by each contractor and subcontractor who is engaged in and executing a High Impact Business Construction jobs project must include information concerning worker's race and ethnicity and gender. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes a provision that exempts specified wind energy and solar energy suppliers from submitting an annual report on all procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Resolves a conflict in Public Acts 102-16 and 102-176 regarding the starting date for the assessment of a monthly Energy Assistance Charge.
SB 217 Utility Sunset Extension of prohibition on taxing electric generating facilities by home rule communities passed the House by a vote of 109-2-1. This bill provides that a home rule preemption concerning taxes or fees related to electricity is repealed on January 1, 2023 (currently, January 1, 2022). Property that is owned or leased (currently, owned) by a non-profit trust fund and used exclusively for the purposes of educating and training individuals for occupational, trade, and technical careers and is certified by the United States Department of Labor as registered with the Office of Apprenticeship is exempt from taxation under the Code. Provides that, after filing a petition to obtain a tax deed, the owner of a certificate of purchase must file with the clerk of the circuit court (currently, the county clerk) the names and addresses of persons who are entitled to service of notice. Under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code "redevelopment project costs" include costs payable to businesses located within the redevelopment area that have experienced business interruption or other adverse conditions directly or indirectly attributable to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Amends the Corporate Fiduciary Act to create the Special Purpose Trust Company Authority and Organization Article. A corporation that has been or shall be incorporated under the general corporation laws of the State for the special purpose of providing fiduciary custodial services or providing other like or related services as specified by rule may be appointed to act as a fiduciary with respect to such services and shall be designated a special purpose trust company. The Chamber supports this bill.
SB 1169 HCRCA Changes passed the Senate on concurrence by a vote of 31-24-4. This bill amends the Healthcare Right of Conscience Act so that it does not apply to COVID-19 vaccinations or testing requirements for religious or personal reasons.
Illinois Chamber Annual Holiday Survey
The Illinois Chamber’s annual holiday survey is now open until November 10, 2021. Please take a few moments to complete the survey to compare the paid holidays for companies in Illinois for 2022.
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Register Today for Chamber Women in Business Conference
The Illinois Chamber welcomes you to our women's conference as we come together to discuss and further dreams of our already strong women for a stronger Illinois.
The event will take place at Elements in Naperville, Illinois on November 5th, 2021. The conference will begin at 8:30 am. Hybrid and virtual options are also available. This year's keynote speaker is Lori Healy, Senior Vice President and Operations and Implementation Lead for the Obama Presidential Center (OPC), Obama Foundation. Register here!
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If you have questions about the Government Affairs Report, contact Clark Kaericher at ckaericher@ilchamber.org. Do not reply to this email.
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