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Have you caught World Cup fever yet? Big USA game tomorrow morning. Quick, someone give me a reason to temporarily dislike the Dutch.
Veto Week 2
The second week of Veto felt more like a normal session week. It was nice to return to in person committee meetings in both legislative chambers.
The big news of this week was a compromise on Unemployment Insurance between business and labor using the agreed bill process. The process, which has been around for nearly four decades, requires business and labor leaders to sit down with legislators in all four caucuses to work out a deal. This negotiated solution will save employers $913 million over the next five years.
Make no mistake, the UI program was in trouble. The trust fund was facing a $4.5 billion deficit, a loss of more than $6 billion since the pandemic forced layoffs. The Chamber identified this as the biggest business issue facing the state at the start of the year. We are thankful for this solution and grateful for the legislative leaders and the people participating in the process. Over 30 employer groups participated in the process including the Chamber, IRMA, and IMA. We hope the successful outcome of this process serves as a model for tackling more of the state’s problems.
For more information on this compromise, the position paper of the joint employers can be found HERE.
Committee Updates
No tech related committees were held, but one major tech issue advanced out of Executive Committee (more on that immediately below).
Transportation Network Providers Act Given Extension
The Transportation Network Providers Act (TNPA) is the enabling statute, which allows ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber to operate in Illinois. Ridesharing companies are vital for the state’s economy. They create tens of thousands of well-paid jobs. They help both business travelers and tourists get around Illinois. More importantly, they are public safety tools, having kept thousands of potential drunk drivers off the roadways.
The TNPA was scheduled to expire on January 1st of next year. This would have been a disaster for Illinois. You’d think an extension would have been a no brainer. Unfortunately, the trail lawyers sought to sabotage the Act by removing essential liability protections. Illinoisians faced a New Year’s Eve without a safe ride.
The Chamber sought a one year, clean (i.e. unaltered) extension of the TNPA. We drafted a letter to the legislative leaders to that end and you can read the letter HERE.
We ended up getting three-quarters of what we wanted. HB 2406 (Stuart-Hunter) contained several sunset extensions, including for the TNPA for a period of nine months.
I expect this to be a major issue this Spring.
Illinois Chamber New BIPA Amicus Brief: Walton v. Roosevelt
The Illinois Supreme Court has accepted the Illinois Chamber’s Amicus Brief in the BIPA case, Walton v. Roosevelt. In this case, the issue is whether the federal Labor Management Relations Act preempts BIPA. We argue that it does. You can read the full brief: HERE.
A hearty thanks to Matt and Melissa and all our friends at Shook, Hardy & Bacon for their work on this critical issue.
New Legislation Filed
No new bill introductions of note
Senate Announces Spring Session Calendar
The Senate has released its session calendar for 2023. Lawmakers will return January 4th for the beginning of lame duck session.
New Tech Grant Opportunity
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced $5 million in state-funded matching grants for businesses who have received federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The federal SBIR & STTR programs provide grants for research and development (R&D) to small businesses to encourage private sector innovation in emerging technologies. R&D represents a critical business expense that can be costly and presents a potential risk for small businesses that don’t have large sums of capital. By providing grants that support R&D, the programs encourage innovation in emerging technologies that could benefit the federal government as well as the commercial marketplace.
DCEO is currently accepting applications from businesses who have received a Phase I federal SBIR/STTR grant award. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in matching grants, with the option to re-apply and receive up to five awards for each federal Phase I award received (one per fiscal year). Awards will be granted on a first come-first serve and rolling basis. Interested companies can learn more here.
Upcoming DeVry Programs
Tech Council member DeVry has a couple of upcoming programs I’d like to highlight:
The Future of Cyber: Activating Underutilized Talent
December 8 | 1 pm CT
Who this event is for: All
There is no one-size-fits-all pathway to cyber, it’s unique to each person and organization. Curating, reskilling and upskilling cyber corps should be a creative endeavor. Join a panel of experts as they debate ways to close the cyber workforce gap with diverse perspectives and experiences.
Save My Spot
Sample A Class: Project Management
February 8, 2023 | 1 pm CT
Regardless of your position, project management skills are used in every field. Project management strategies and tools can help you to meet goals and deliver work more efficiently and effectively. Join a DeVry professor as they share some of the most useful tactics and how you can apply them to your own role.
Save My Spot
Articles of Interest
Illinois plans to pay off rest of pandemic unemployment debt
Caterpillar Successfully Demonstrates First Battery Electric Large Mining Truck and Invests in Sustainable Proving Ground
$226 million construction on capitols in Springfield continues
Chris Welch reflects on growing state House majority
Job growth continues statewide, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security
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