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

Session Update

The House and Senate both returned to Springfield last week for the conclusion of veto session. Activity for the week wrapped up last Thursday afternoon. Per HJR 45, both chambers will return to Springfield on January 16th at the call of the Speaker and Senate President. The 2024 Spring session calendar is now available. Click to view the House and Senate calendars.

IDOT 2023 Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment

Per the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, all states are required to develop a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment as part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program. The VRU Safety Assessment is a process to identify safety trends, policies, rules, and procedures pertinent to safe travel by vulnerable road users and identify steps to improve them. A VRU is a non-motorist who may include people walking, biking, or rolling as well as highway workers on foot in a work zone.

According to IDOT, the vision of the VRU is "a future where no one loses their life or is seriously injured while biking, walking, and rolling so that IDOT can achieve the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on public roadways in Illinois."

I think Section 4 is particularly valuable as it summarizes the common factors in VRU crashes as well as some of the strategies the Department believes could address each of the situations. For example, When "nighttime" is a common factor in pedestrian crashes, the Department lists improved lighting, improved education on clothing choices, and high visibility crosswalks/signing as countermeasure strategies.

View the VRU here.

Release: $7.2 Million in Funding for New Emergency Vehicles in Illinois

Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera and Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) Executive Director Chris Meister issued nearly $7.2 million in no interest or low interest loans to emergency responders across the state. The loans are made available through the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program.

The Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program (FTRL) and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program (ARLP) are designed to assist departments or cities in purchasing emergency vehicles that they may not otherwise be able to afford. Under the FTRL program, fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments may apply for up to $350,000 in low interest or no interest loans for purchase of a fire truck or brush trucks. The loans must be repaid within 20 years.

Under the ARLP program, units of local government (city, town, village, township, fire department, fire protection district) and not-for-profit ambulance service providers can apply for no interest or low interest loans of up to $200,000. These loans must be paid back in 10 years.

View here for a list of recipients.

Bill Action of Note:

No bills of note have been introduced or acted upon this week.

Rulemaking

There was no rulemaking of note for this Council in the November 13th edition of the Illinois Register. There was adopted rulemaking of note in the November 17th edition.

The Pollution Control Board adopted amendments to Primary Drinking Water Standards (35 IAC 611; 47 Ill Reg 9557) effective 11/2/23, implementing drinking water regulations adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the second half of 2020 and first half of 2021. These amendments include new federal regulations requiring drinking water fixtures to be certified as lead-free and prohibiting any use of lead pipe, fittings or solder in plumbing designed to carry water for human consumption. Other federal requirements implemented in this rulemaking include revisions of the lead and copper rules and approval of additional alternative test procedures for analyzing contaminants in drinking water. The rulemaking also includes changes to the Board's current Radionuclides Rule and removes rules for unfiltered system suppliers using surface water sources and groundwater under the direct influence of surface water. Changes since 1st Notice clarify or update various provisions and incorporated documents. Municipalities and businesses that supply or receive drinking water are affected.  

Illinois Chamber Legislative Initiatives

As we approach the end of the year, the Illinois Chamber is finalizing its legislative strategy for the Spring of 2024. If you have any legislative ideas or proposals that you'd like the Chamber to consider supporting or drafting please don't hesitate to reach out.

You can email me at acunningham@ilchamber.org or give me a call at (217) 520-2345.

Save the Date: 10th Annual Illinois Chamber New Laws Forum

The New Laws Forum focuses on the new laws and legal developments that will affect ALL Illinois employers in 2024 and beyond. The forum features Illinois attorneys and experts speaking about Illinois laws – as well as representatives from government agencies talking about the latest changes and your peers, a panel of Senior HR professionals discussing how the laws have and will affect their businesses. It's already been a busy year, and more regulation is coming.

When: December 5, 2023 | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Where: Doubletree Hilton l 3003 Corporate West Drive

Lisle, IL 60532

Register Here.

Articles of Interest  

Chamber: Proposed warehouse regulations could hinder smaller Illinois companies'

Lawmakers approve lifting Illinois moratorium on new nuclear reactors

Why the Biggest Roadblock for Driverless Cars Is Driver Distrust

Hydrogen Fuel Is Gaining Traction With Truckers

Exxon Makes Lithium Play in Long-Term Bet on EV Demand

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