Andrew Cunningham l Executive Director, Infrastructure Council l 217-520-2345

One Week Until 2023 Annual Meeting and Council Reception - Register Today!

The Illinois Chamber 2023 annual luncheon is taking place in less than one week. The Chamber team has been working hard to deliver a meaningful event as we look forward to welcoming elected officials and member companies from across the state. It is our biggest event of the year and I can't wait to see many of you there. The pre-event Council reception will begin at 10:30 am and is a great opportunity for members of the Infrastructure Council to meet each other or catch up.

The 2023 annual luncheon will be held on September 28 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook. Just like every year, we invite you to join us for a wonderful lineup of speakers and activity in support of the Illinois business community.

We are thrilled that Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza will help us kick off the annual meeting with a fireside chat with Secretary of the Chamber Board, Kelly Edwards - State Counsel for Illinois and Indiana at State Farm Insurance Companies. After lunch has been plated, our keynote speaker, Vice Chair of Inland Real Estate Group and President of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, Joe Cosenza will address attendees. The event will also feature a time of remembrance and a tribute to Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch who we sadly lost earlier this summer. 

Register for the Luncheon HERE!

Please reach out to me for further event information or sponsorship details at acunningham@ilchamber.org

Release: Rail Safety Week

On Monday, Governor Pritzker proclaimed September 18-24, 2023, Rail Safety Week in Illinois, marking the 10th year of the statewide awareness initiative. In recognition, the Illinois Commerce Commission and Operation Lifesaver, a national rail safety non-profit, conducted a week-long safety blitz across the state to share rail safety facts, tips, and resources to keep motorists and pedestrians safe around railroad tracks. 

Illinois’ efforts are supported by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) partnered with Amtrak, BNSF, CN Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Metra, Belt Railway of Chicago, and Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad and supported by the American Automobile Association, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Operation Lifesaver, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway Authority, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Truck Enforcement Association, Illinois High School and College Driver’s Education Association, Illinois Pupil Transportation Advisory Committee, DuPage Rail Safety Council, local and railroad law enforcement, first responders and area railroad companies. All are committed to partnering together to educate residents on all aspects of railroad safety and to enforce applicable state laws.

Read more about Rail Safety Week and some of the events that took place over the past few days here.

Bills of Interest

HB 4144, Water Supply Disruption was filed. This bill provides that a "disruption event" includes any planned or unplanned work on or damage to a fire hydrant. Changes the term "health care facility list" to "disruption notification list". Requires a public water distribution entity to also notify all affected fire departments and all affected dispatch centers on the public water supply's disruption notification list not less than 14 days before any known, planned, or anticipated disruption event or that are served by the public water supply and affected by any unplanned disruption event in the public water supply's water distribution system. Requires a fire department and a dispatch center to designate an email address to receive electronic notifications from the public water distribution entity concerning planned or unplanned disruption events.

Rulemaking

There was no rulemaking of note for this Council in the September 15th edition of the Illinois Register.

Session Update

The General Assembly adjourned in the early morning of Saturday, May 27th. Per SJR 42, the House and Senate have adjourned until the call of the Speaker and the Senate President.

The 2023 fall veto session has been announced for October 24th-26th and November 7th-9th. View the calendar here.

BIPA Is Turning 15 - Register Today

Date/Time: Friday, October 6, 2023 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: The Security Innovation Hub | 1302 South Kilbourn Ave. Chicago, IL 60623

What will you learn? Delve into the present legal, political, scientific, ethical, and technological aspects of BIPA. Acquire insights from industry experts on how to proactively maintain and oversee your onboarding, access control, data and compliance protocols, ensuring their ongoing effectiveness to help avert a BIPA lawsuit.

Who should attend? Businesses of all sizes – small, medium, enterprise, and mega-tech – can gain valuable insights into BIPA compliance. We suggest that individuals with the following roles consider attending: Owners, CISOs, CSOs, Human Resources personnel, Legal departments, Accounting professionals, IAM staff, Operations and Facility Managers.

Why participate? With class-action payouts surpassing 1 BILLION dollars (and still rising), Illinois has earned the reputation of being “a cottage industry for BIPA lawsuits.” Now is a pivotal juncture for businesses across diverse sizes and sectors to grasp the significance of BIPA and actively engage in discussions. BIPA's impact has been felt across a wide spectrum, cases range from chicken processors, roofing distributors, retailers, restaurants, and amusement parks to mega tech corporations. It's imperative for all of these entities to comprehend the intricacies of the BIPA law, which encompasses both digital and physical implications.

More information here: bipabuzz.com (squarespace.com)

Articles of Interest  

John Deere marking 75th anniversary

REPORT: Illinois clean energy and transportation jobs are growing

UAW to Strike at More GM and Stellantis Sites, Will Spare Ford

Where’s the Signal? Warehouse Robots Are Searching for Stronger Internet Connections

Carbon-Disclosure Rules for U.S. Companies Are Coming Sooner Than Expected

Not a member and want to learn more about the Illinois Chamber - click here to contact Danielle Blake. Click here to contact Jack Bernhardt.