State/ National Chamber Updates
Illinois Chamber of Commerce Rail Report
May 30, 2019
Highlights from Today:
Both the House and Senate were in session today.
The House just finished up Committee action as of 11:24 PM.
Tomorrow is the FINAL day of legislative session.
SENATE
HB 3394 (Welch/Belt) passed the Senate today 38-16-0. This bill, as amended, would require publicly traded companies to report if they have females or minorities on their board of directors. The Chamber is opposed.
HOUSE
This evening, the House passed SB 687 (Hutchinson/Zalewski) 67-48-0.
This bill would establish the rates under a graduated income tax, if SJRCA 1 is approved by the voters in 2020. The bill would raise the top rate on individuals and corporations to 7.99% (10.49% for corporations with the 2.5% replacement tax). The Chamber is opposed.
HB 1438 (Cassidy/Steans) passed the House Judiciary Criminal Committee tonight. This legislation legalizes recreational cannabis in the state. The Chamber worked closely with the sponsor to ensure the bill contained the strongest workplace protections in the nation and employer protections. Both of which are contained in the bill. The Chamber is neutral on the bill.
SB 2140 (Hastings/Walsh) passed the House Labor and Commerce Committee. The bill was amended to exempt companies that have an existing collective bargaining agreement from the provisions of SB1407, the Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act, should it pass. The Chamber is opposed to SB2140 and SB1407. SB1407 is on 3rd reading in the House. |
May 31, 2019
Highlights from Today:
Busy day (and evening) at the Capitol. Both the House and Senate were in session today.
The House has extended session until Sunday and the Senate has adjourned indefinitely until the call of the Senate President.
After an up and down start to the day, there was an agreement late in the evening between the four caucuses the the Governor.
Leader Durkin proclaimed a deal had been met on the budget and in exchange for the flowing business reforms:
- Data Centers (Chamber initiative)
- Elimination of the franchise tax
- Reinstating manufacturers purchasers credit
- Blue Collar Jobs Act
In addition, legislation on capital infrastructure was released today.
The transportation-related capital bill is HB 3096, Senate Amendment 1. The Chamber supports. A short summary is below:
- Language expressly stating all revenues are constitutionally protected,
- Dedicates the sales tax on motor fuel to transportation over time beginning in FY 2022
- Motor fuel tax increase of 19 cents
- Increased diesel differential 5 cents
- Counties with a population over 3 million may impose a 3 cent local motor fuel tax
- Repeals the commercial distribution fee
- Electric vehicle registrations equal to gasoline vehicle registrations plus a $100 electric vehicle fee
- $50 registration fee increase
- $100 registration fee increase for large trucks
- Certificate of Title fee increases
Other budget and capital bills are as followed:
HB 62 - Senate amendment 1 - capital bill appropriations bill
HB 142 -Senate amendment 1 - bonding authorization bill
SB 262 - House amendment 1 - FY 20 appropriations bill for the operating budget.
SB 689 - House amendment 2 - revenue bill for the operating budget appropriations bill (SB 262)
SB 1814 - House amendment 1 - budget implementation bill (BIMP)
SENATE
HB 3394 (Welch/Belt) passed the House Labor Committee today 19-10-0. This bill, as amended, would require publicly traded companies to report if they have females or minorities on their board of directors. The Chamber is opposed.
HB 1639 (DeLuca/Mulroe) passed the Senate today unanimously. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code in an Article concerning accident and health insurance. Provides that "policy of individual or group accident and health insurance" does not include any coverage or policy that provides an excepted benefit, as defined in the federal Public Health Service Act. The Chamber supported this bill.
HOUSE
HB 1438 (Cassidy/Steans) passed the House today. This legislation legalizes recreational cannabis in the state. The Chamber worked closely with the sponsor to ensure the bill contained the strongest workplace protections in the nation and employer protections. Both of which are contained in the bill. The Chamber is neutral on the bill. The bill heads to the Governor's desk.
SB 690 (Rita) passed the House Executive Committee today. This legislation sets up gaming expansion in the state. The bill also contained over revenue provisions including limitations on trade-in allowances against sales taxes. The Chamber was opposed to the bill but is working with the sponsor on language to address this issue.
SB 75 (Bush/Williams) passed the Senate Executive Committee. This legislation provides extensive changes to limiting unilateral employment agreements for sexual harassment and employment discrimination related to NDAs and arbitration. The legislation requires disclosure by any employer of a final adverse administrative or final judicial ruling to the Illinois Department of Human Rights. And, all Illinois employers will be required annually to have all its employees trained regarding sexual harassment. More details will be forthcoming. The Illinois Chamber led the negotiations on behalf of employers and is neutral on the bill. |
June 1, 2019
Highlights from Today:
BIG day for the business community and Illinois Chamber members. The House wraps up session and passes a capital infrastructure program and several other major pro-business reforms. The House adjourns until October veto session.
The Senate returns tomorrow for a 3PM session to concur with the House's motions.
SENATE
The Senate was not in today.
HOUSE
SB 1939 (Hoffman) passed the House today 83-29-1. This legislation is the horizontal capital bill. The program ensures long term, sustainable revenues for transportation that allows IDOT, mass transit, and local roads to significantly improve maintenance and begin to address some of the needed congestion mitigation projects. Total funding is about $11 billion in bond revenue and $9 billion in pay as you go over 6 years. The Chamber supported this measure.
SB 689 (Harris) passed the House today 107-9-0. This legislation, among other things, reinstates the manufacturers' purchasing credit, phases out the franchise tax, and creates the Blue Collar Jobs Act. The Chamber supported this measure.
SB 690 (Rita) also passed the House today 87-27-0. This legislation is the vertical capital revenues and gaming expansion legislation. In addition, the Chamber's initiative to create a data center tax incentive program was included in this legislation. The Chamber supported this measure.
HB 3394 (Welch/Belt) passed the House unanimously today. This bill will require companies to report who serves of their corporate boards by filling reports with the Secretary of State on annual forms. The Chamber opposed this bill. |
June 2, 2019
Highlights from Today:
Today marked the final day for the legislative session. In short, the Senate voted on the measures passed by the House last night. Both houses will return to town for fall veto session in October (See below for the calendars).
House Veto Calendar
Senate Veto Calendar
The Chamber will release our End of Session Report to members tomorrow morning.
House
The House had adjourned for the summer.
Senate
SB 1939 (Hoffman/Sandoval) passed the Senate today 48-9-1. This legislation is the horizontal capital bill. The program ensures long term, sustainable revenues for transportation that allows IDOT, mass transit, and local roads to significantly improve maintenance and begin to address some of the needed congestion mitigation projects. Total funding is about $11 billion in bond revenue and $9 billion in pay as you go over 6 years. The Chamber supported this measure.
SB 689 (Harris/Hutchinson) passed the Senate today 49-8-1. This legislation, among other things, reinstates the manufacturers' purchasing credit, phases out the franchise tax, and creates the Blue Collar Jobs Act. The Chamber supported this measure.
SB 690 (Rita/Link) also passed the Senate today 46-10-2. This legislation is the vertical capital revenues and gaming expansion legislation. In addition, the Chamber's initiative to create a data center tax incentive program was included in this legislation. The Chamber supported this meas |
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