GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
------------Report

December 8, 2023


This Week in Illinois

Illinois Chamber President & CEO Lou Sandoval kicks off statewide tour in Central and Southern Illinois 


On Wednesday, recently appointed Illinois Chamber President & CEO Lou Sandoval had the opportunity to meet with many Chamber members and elected officials in the central and southern portions of the state. In the morning, Sandoval took part in a breakfast hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce in Mount Vernon.

This first stop opened the first leg of a statewide listening tour to meet members and learn of their business growth needs. Later that day, the Effingham County Chamber and the Illinois Chamber co-sponsored a luncheon in which Sandoval spoke on the evolving landscape for Illinois businesses and share the vision for the role of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in driving the growth of commerce in our state. The day was closed with a Springfield reception hosted at the facilities of Hanson Professional Services.

 

We appreciate our partnership with

local chambers across the State and the opportunity to meet with members in

their local communities.

Release: Illinois awarded more than $95 million to improve passenger rail throughout the state

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that Illinois has received $95.1 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to invest in passenger rail, highlighted by almost $94 million to improve and modernize Chicago’s Union Station. 

 

Amtrak and IDOT have been awarded two grants totaling $93.6 million under a federal-state partnership to deliver key components of the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, a portfolio of projects that will improve rail service and operations in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. In addition to making Union Station more accessible to riders with disabilities, the grants will renovate the building’s outdated ventilation system as well as repurpose, renovate and expand station platforms to increase capacity for the nearly 120,000 riders that use Amtrak and Metra trains daily.

 

Also, under the FRA’s new Corridor Identification and Development Program, IDOT was awarded $1.5 million in planning funds for three state-supported rail corridors: Chicago to Carbondale, Chicago to St. Louis and Chicago to Quad Cities. The grants will support efforts to develop a scope, schedule and cost estimate for enhancing and expanding service, making each route eligible for future federal funding opportunities for construction and implementation. The city of Peoria also received a $500,000 grant from the program for proposed passenger service to Chicago. 

Illinois’ Draft State Digital Equity Plan Posted for Public Comment


On December 4, the Illinois Office of Broadband published the draft Illinois State Digital Equity Plan. The plan draws from Illinois’ ambitious 54-stop statewide listening tour, integrates thorough data analysis, and builds upon years of community outreach and engagement. The draft is included among other planning documents we have created to meet National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requirements for Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. Public comment can be submitted here throughout December 2023 and January 2024.


Questions regarding the plan or public comment process can be directed to broadband@illinois.gov.

Session Update

 

The House and Senate both returned to Springfield last month for the conclusion of veto session. 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.

Bills of Interest Signed into Law


HB 2394Licensing-Support was signed into law. This bill provides that, if the Secretary of Professional Regulation finds that there is a significant operational need to do so or that it is necessary to do so to avoid undue hardship on a class of individuals whose professional licenses, registrations, or certificates are issued by the Department, then the Secretary shall extend the expiration date or renewal period of those licenses, registrations, or certificates of those individuals for a period not to exceed the standard renewal period of those licenses, registrations, or certificates. Provides that the Secretary may consider specified factors when determining whether to extend the expiration date or renewal period of the license, registration, or certificate of those individuals. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall identify a method of source selection that will make it possible to implement a software solution to support the Department's mandates to enforce the professional licensing Acts that it administers and rules adopted under those Acts. Provides that the software solution selected by the Department shall satisfy specified criteria. Provides for additional requirements concerning the source selection process. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking.


HB 2473Nuclear-Support was signed into law. This bill makes changes concerning the circumstances under which construction may commence on nuclear power plants and nuclear power reactors. Removes the definition of "high-level nuclear waste". Amends the Nuclear Safety Law of 2004. Requires the Illinois Emergency Management and Office of Homeland Security to adopt rules for the regulation of small modular reactors, including rules regarding decommissioning, emergency preparedness, and fees. Sets forth provisions concerning inspections of small modular reactors. Authorizes the Governor to commission a study on regulatory gaps for the development of small modular reactors in the State. Requires the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to lead the study by researching and developing small modular reactors. Provides that the Agency shall finalize the study and publish a publicly available copy on its website and submit a copy to the General Assembly. Sets forth the requirements of the study. Repeals the provision requiring the study on January 1, 2027. Provides that the Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act and the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act do not apply to small modular reactors.


SB 1699, Energy Omnibus was signed into law. This bill makes changes to the Adjustable Block Grant program, requires IPA to conduct a policy study, includes trailer language for the renewable energy project siting bill, requires a thermal energy network workshop by ICC.


SB 1769Govt. Zero Emissions Vehicles was signed into law. This bill, as amended, provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on January 1, 2030, all passenger vehicles, except law enforcement vehicles, purchased or leased by a governmental unit must either be a manufactured zero-emissions vehicle or a converted zero-emissions vehicle. Provides that "passenger vehicle" does not include vehicles purchased by the Department of Transportation as part of their consolidated vehicle procurement program.

Save the Date: Chamber Day 2024


When: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM CDT


Where: President Abraham Lincoln A Double Tree by Hilton

701 East Adams Street

Springfield, IL 62701

Connect with the Chamber
If you have questions about the Government Affairs Report, contact Clark Kaericher at ckaericher@ilchamber.org. Do not reply to this email.