By Andrew Cunningham, Executive Director of Infrastructure Council & Director of Legislative Relations
In mid-November, Illinois lawmakers returned to Springfield for the fall veto session. After a somewhat raucous national election, the Illinois state legislature was quiet as it concerned official action. Part of that is because the Illinois General Assembly will maintain exact same partisan breakdown in the 104th General Assembly as it did in the 103rd. That is, a 78-40 (Dem Supermajority) in the House and 40-19 (Dem Supermajority) in the Senate. With no vetoes to consider, there were very few reasons for the legislature to act on substantive legislation.
There was some floor action of note throughout the week with impact on the business community (highlighted below) but it was relatively minor. Ultimately, veto session can be described as a time that was used for agenda-setting and party caucusing.
We are now watching to see what “big ticket” legislative items may emerge during the lame-duck session as a response to the new presidential administration. We hear that there may be legislative movement on three topics: the environment, healthcare, and immigration. Specifics are unclear at this time. We’ll keep Chamber members informed as that time approaches.
Both chambers have released their spring session calendars. View the House here. View the Senate here. As of now, the lame-duck session is expected to be busy. Mark January 2nd-7th on your calendars as potential dates for legislative activity. January 8th is the inauguration of the 104th General Assembly.
Legislative Activity of Interest
HB 793, 14(c) Certificate Transition passed the Senate 43-11-0 and has now passed both chambers. Among other things, this bill requires the Department of Human Services to eliminate on December 31, 2029 the use of active or pending certificates authorized under Section 14(c) the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities authorized under the Social Security Act to increase the rates for the following waiver services: Supported Employment – Small Group Supports. Requires the amendment to be filed by January 1, 2025.In provisions requiring the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force to create a multi-year plan to eliminate Section 14(c) certificates, requires the Task Force to create the multi-year plan with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and an academic partner with relevant subject matter expertise. Provides that the multi-year plan shall help the State to successfully eliminate the use of Section 14(c) certificates on December 31, 2029.
HB 4636 Revenue Omnibus Technical Fixes passed the Senate 47-8-0 and passed the House 72-38-0 on concurrence. As amended, this bill is a gut and replace that consists of technical fixes to the tax omnibus, as identified by the Department of Revenue.
SB 507, First Responders/Non-Competes passed the Senate 55-0-0. Last Spring, SB 2737 made covenants not to compete unenforceable for mental health professionals specifically when they want to service veterans and first responders. This bill provides that the definition of “first responders” means any persons who are currently or formerly employed as: (i) emergency medical services personnel, (ii) firefighters, and (iii) law enforcement officers.
SB 2703, TIF Extensions passed the Senate 48-3-1 and passed the House 90-20-0. This bill amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the estimated dates of completion of redevelopment projects and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs for various ordinances adopted by the Village of Melrose Park, City of Knoxville, the City of Chicago, and the City of St. Charles. Creates tax increment allocation financing extensions to the 47th year (currently, the 35th year) for various ordinances adopted by the Village of Melrose Park, Village of Lansing, and Village of South Holland.
SB 3410 Unemployment Insurance Speed Bump/Sunset Extensions passed the House 74-38-0 and passed the Senate 39-17-0 on concurrence. Among other things, this bill extends the unemployment insurance speed bumps. The unemployment insurance extension provisions within the bill prevent UI taxes from increasing and employee benefits from being reduced while the fund is stable. This will be revisited in two years. The bill also extends a number of sunset extensions including Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging, Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force report, and the deadline for behavioral health services to use grants under the Reimagine Public Safety Act.