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It’s almost Halloween. My daughters like me to take them trick or treating and prefer me to do it in costume. Sadly, I’ve procrastinated this year and need some last-minute options. Anybody have an idea?
This week’s newsletter comes a day early as I’m headed up to Libertyville tomorrow for Tech Council member EVBox’s grand opening event. It should be a great event with the Governor and numerous legislators in attendance to celebrate the impact of this new facility.
Veto Session Recap
This was a very quiet first week of Veto Session. Only minor vetoes, like school lunch policies, were handled this week. No tech related measures were moved this week. Veto Session resumes November 7-9.
Committee Updates
There were no tech related committees this week.
On November 2nd at 10 am, their will be a joint hearing of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Cybersecurity Committee. This will be a subject matter hearing on AI. I’m told there will be at least two panels of witnesses: one will focus on business and legal issues and the other on entertainment.
New Bill Filings
SB 2631 (Morrison) - Amends the Illinois Century Network Act. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2028, the Department of Innovation and Technology must offer free internet access through the Illinois Century Network to park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation districts, and soil and water conservation districts.
SB 2618 (Rose) - Creates the Construction Zone Safe Detour Act. Establishes that a company that provides GPS travel services in the State is required to ensure that at least one person is available to receive official requests 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from emergency services, Illinois State Police, or the Department of Transportation for the purpose of implementing proper detours in the event of construction or emergency. Requires a GPS service provider to upload the detour and routing information provided by emergency services, Illinois State Police, or the Department of Transportation into its navigation system to properly route users of the GPS service provider's systems. Provides that a GPS service provider that fails to implement proper detour routing on an ongoing and emergency basis may be liable for treble damages. Allows an affirmative defense for GPS service providers if emergency services, including the Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police, fail to notify the GPS service provider with routing information.
HB 4195 (Buckner) - Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires a contractor or person employed to deliver goods from a store or restaurant through a third-party delivery service to use a non-carbon emitting mode of transportation while making such deliveries. Provides that a contractor or person who fails to comply with the provisions may be subject to a fine of $250 or suspension of the contractor's or person's driving privileges. Restricts the provisions to counties with a population of 3,000,000 or more. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.
Rulemaking of Note
INFO TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS The ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION proposed a new Part titled Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program (23 IAC 2750; 47 Ill Reg 14754) implementing Public Act 103519. The Act and this rulemaking establish the iGROW scholarship program for students pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees in computer science or information technology-related fields. For students enrolled at public institutions, the scholarship will cover tuition and fees, plus room and board at the standard undergraduate rates, that are not covered by other financial aid available to the student. Recipients enrolled at private institutions will receive no more than the maximum amount that would be payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program at a public institution. In return, the student must agree to work in Illinois at a qualifying job in the computer science or information technology field for at least one year for each year of scholarship assistance received (minimum 2 years).
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