State/ National Chamber Updates

April 2, 2019

Highlights from Today:

The House is in session Tuesday - Thursday. Whereas the Senate is in Wednesday - Friday.

SENATE
The Senate was not in today. However, will return tomorrow for 12 o'clock session.

HOUSE
HB 2643 (Mason) passed the House 96-9-0. This bill would amend the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Provides that a consumer age 65 and older has 15, rather than 3, business days within which to cancel a contract if the sale is made at the consumer's home. The bill previously applied to all contracts, however, with the limited scope of the bill as passed the House the Chamber went neutral.

April 3, 2019

Highlights from Today:

The House and Senate were both in session today. The Senate cancelled Friday. Tomorrow is the last day of the legislative week for both chambers.

SENATE
SB 7 (Steans) passed out of the Senate Executive Committee this week. This legislation is an empty shell bill creating the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act. This will be the vehicle bill for recreational cannabis.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a subject matter hearing on SB 1564 (McConhie). This bill seeks to fix many of the problems and abuses under the False Claims Act. The Chamber testified in support of the legislation.

HOUSE
HB 2838 (Gong-Gershowitz) passed the House today 70-41-1. This legislation provides that, for contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2019, a direct contractor making or taking a contract in the State for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work shall assume, and is liable for, any debt owed to a wage claimant or third party on the wage claimant's behalf, incurred by a subcontractor at any tier acting under, by, or for the direct contractor for the wage claimant's performance of labor included in the subject of the contract between the direct contractor and the owner. Provides for enforcement by the Department of Labor. The Chamber is opposed.

SB 1474 (Villivalam/Yednock) passed the House today 101-8-0. This legislation creates the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Provides that employers and labor organizations covered by the National Labor Relations Act may execute and apply agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment to the fullest extent authorized by the National Labor Relations Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that employers, employees, and their labor organizations are free to bargain collectively. Provides that the authority to enact laws or rules that restrict the use of union security agreements between an employer and a labor organization vests exclusively with the General Assembly. Prohibits local governments from enforcing any such law or rule. Changes a reference to federal law with respect to union security agreements from a reference relating to requiring membership in a union in conflict with state law to a reference relating to unfair labor practices in connection with membership in a union. Deletes provision making a violation of the Act by a local governmental official a Class A misdemeanor. The Chamber is opposed.

HB 2460 (Davis) Amdt 2 passed out of House State Government Committee. HB 2460 suggests that a state agency shall implement sustainable investment practices and incorporate those into new and existing investment decisions. This is an initiative of the Treasurer's office. The Chamber opposed the amendment, which adds contractor and responsible bidder practices to be considered along with other workforce practices such as employee health and safety and diversity and inclusion. We oppose the bill because we do not see a need for tthe State to codify this policy. The amendment passed 7-3-0.

April 4, 2019

Highlights from Today:

The House and Senate were both in today.

SENATE
SB 1379 (Hutchinson) passed the Senate today 36-16-1. This legislation is an initiative of the Cook County Assessor's Office that requires certain information to be filed by "taxpayers" that have"income producing property." The Chamber is opposed to this legislation.

SB 2140 (Ellman) passed the Senate today 36-16-0. This legislation repeals the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998. The Chamber is opposed.

Amendment 1 to SB 1624 (Glowiak) was adopted today in the Senate Telecommunications an IT Committee. This amendment seeks to amend the underlying bill by requiring entities that experience a data breaches of 500 or more Illinois residents to notify the Attorney General at the same time or after notification has gone out to the individual. The Chamber originally was opposed but with the adoption of Senate Amendment 1, we are neutral.
HOUSE
HB 1653 (Villanueva) passed the House today 69-43-0. This legislation Prohibits any person or business that violates the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, the Minimum Wage Law, the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Employee Classification Act, the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, or any comparable state statute or regulation of any state which governs the payment of wages to do business with the State or any State agency or enter into a subcontract that is subject to the Code for a period of 5 years. The Chamber opposed this legislation.

HB 2460 (Davis) passed the House today 66-46-0. This legislation suggests that a state agency shall implement sustainable investment practices and incorporate those into new and existing investment decisions. This is an initiative of the Treasurer's office. The Chamber opposed the amendment, which adds contractor and responsible bidder practices to be considered along with other workforce practices such as employee health and safety and diversity and inclusion. We oppose the bill because we do not see a need for the State to codify this policy.

HB 2472 (Burke) passed the House 74-39-0. This legislation amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Excludes from provisions of the Act making the Act inapplicable to actions or transactions specifically authorized by laws administered by a regulatory body or officer, the manufacture, distribution, or sale of a product that causes or contributes to cause bodily injury, death, or property damage. Members who have concerns with this legislation are encouraged to reach out to Tyler Diers.