103rd ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene November 12-14 and November 19-21 for the two-week Veto Session.
Madeline McCune will replace Endra Curry as Director of Research and Appropriations for the House Democratic staff effective October 28. Madeline served as an Analyst in the Research & Appropriations Unit from 2016-2021, specializing in education policy and appropriations. For the last three years, Madeline has served as the Director of Governmental Relations for the Illinois Association of School Administrators and Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
The House Mental Health and Addiction Committee will hold a joint subject matter hearing with the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee on October 28 at 10 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss special funding for behavioral health and cannabis revenue and opioid settlement funds.
Additional hearings are scheduled for November 7 at 10 am to discuss the administrative and funding barriers to substance use disorder treatment, recovery, and harm reduction and December 10 at 1pm to discuss psychedelics as behavioral health treatment – HB 1 and beyond. Both hearings will take place in the Bilandic building in Chicago.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Disaster Tax Relief: Individuals and businesses in parts of Illinois affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on July 13, 2024 are eligible for certain disaster tax relief. Affected taxpayers now have until February 3, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Relief is being offered to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This includes Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago counties. Individuals and households that reside or have a business in any one of these localities qualify for income tax relief. The same relief will be available to any county added later to the disaster area.
Minority Health Conference: This week, the Illinois Department of Public Health hosted a three-day Minority Health Conference in Naperville. IDPH is currently working to implement the Healthy Illinois 2028 State Health Improvement Plan, which includes addressing racism as a public health crisis.
The conference at Northern Illinois University’s Naperville campus assembled experts and health practitioners from across the state to share knowledge on health disparities and social justice issues; build competencies among healthcare professionals; and develop collaborations with service providers and community partners aimed at more effectively serving groups in Illinois that have been historically marginalized.
More information about IDPH’s 2024 Minority Health Conference, including the full agenda, is available here.
DoIT Hosting Industry Day: The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology, Office of Supplier Diversity, will host an Industry Day Event where technology industry leaders will showcase their innovative solutions and discuss their expertise in various areas such as improving resident experience, digitization, accelerating loud adoption, and automation and modular solutions. The event will take place December 10 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield.
The event will provide a platform for current and prospective partners to engage with key decision-makers and stakeholders within the state. Attendees will have the opportunity to present their cutting-edge technologies, share successful projects implemented in other states, and network with both large and small vendors.
75th Street Corridor Improvement Project: The Illinois Department of Transportation was awarded $81 million via a competitive federal grant for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, helping to leverage a combined investment of $485.3 million from other public partners as well as the freight railroads. The investment is the single largest in CREATE’s history and will modernize one of the country’s worst freight and commuter rail bottlenecks.
St. Catherine of Siena Ribbon Cutting: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held this week for a new temporary housing program: Maryville’s St. Catherine of Siena. The program will serve up to 10 youth in care who are ready to be discharged from intensive medical facilities but are still in need of transitional care due to their complex medical needs. The new facility, located at 2608 W. Addison, will provide a safe and supportive environment for up to 10 youth in care aged birth – 21.
Next Gen Capacity Building Initiative: Affordable housing developers can now apply to participate in the latest round of the Next Gen Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen), a program designed to expand the talent pipeline and increase diversity within the housing development field and related industries. Next Gen provides capital, training, and technical assistance to reduce barriers to accessing funding resources administered by the state, with a focus on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Read more here.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced that the 19 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics participating in a federal Medicaid Demonstration Program are now offering expanded mental health and substance use treatment services. This new model significantly increases access to comprehensive behavioral health care, including crisis services, for individuals who may have previously faced barriers to obtaining the care they need. Read more here.
OTHER NEWS:
Chicago Public Schools Board: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Rafael Yanez as the seventh member of the Chicago School Board. Yanez serves as a hate crimes investigator with the Chicago Police Department. Read more here.