GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor JB Pritzker signed a trailer bill –
HB2791 (Slaughter/Peters) – to the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), which established the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP). Community organizations looking to apply for state funding, should access the RPSA Violence Prevention Training, Technical Assistance and Support NOFO here. Read the Governor’s full press release here.
Also signed into law:
HB106 (Andrade/Villivalam) which creates emergency rulemaking authority for the Secretary of State to extend the expiration dates of driver’s licenses, permits, and identification cards. Makes changes to the Residential Sound Insulation Program. HB3372 (Didech/Johnson) which aligns state procedures and occasions with federal law and practices in which the United States flag is flown at half-staff. HB3490 (Hernandez/Hunter) which amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to specify that if a restaurant includes milk as a default beverage in a kid’s meal, it must be dairy milk and contain no more than 130 calories per container or serving.
HB3401 (Gabel/Castro) which allows for the licensure and certification of midwives in Illinois SB1040 (Harmon/Harris) which allows the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to make Medicaid adjustment payments to a hospital that has reopened a previously closed hospital within three years of the facility’s closure at the same rate payable to the hospital prior to its closure until new utilization data becomes available.
SB280 (Connor/Walsh) which allows for the creations of a Regional Water Commissions for Joliet and the surrounding communities. By authorizing the commission to purchase water from Chicago and Lake Michigan, the legislation will help ensure a sustainable drinking water source is available for communities in northeastern Illinois.
Executive Order:Executive Order 2021-32 reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through January 8, 2022.
Groundwater Quality Standards: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is proposing changes to administrative rules to update toxicity data for various chemicals, update exposure factors, and introduce groundwater quality standards for five Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) chemicals.
The proposed rule includes new groundwater quality standards for five PFAS chemicals: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). In addition, the proposal includes groundwater quality standards for nine new chemicals, three new atrazine metabolites, and procedures for selecting toxicity values consistent with current federal guidance among other updates. Individuals and stakeholders can receive updates on the proposed rulemaking by signing-up for electronic notifications here.
Disaster Proclamation: Governor Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for counties across central and southern Illinois that were impacted by last Friday’s storms and tornadoes. A disaster proclamation grants the State of Illinois the ability to expedite the use of state resources, personnel, or equipment, and allows the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to procure additional resources to help communities recover from the storms. Six tornadoes were confirmed across Illinois. An Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville was destroyed in the storms, killing 6 workers. Read more here.
Cannabis: Former State Senator Toi Hutchinson who is the Senior Advisor to the Governor on implementation of cannabis legislation is leaving the Pritzker Administration. She will serve as the new president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project.
Another $45 million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program funding is available to support community organizations that serve neighborhoods most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence, and the war on drugs. Managed by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), this latest round of grants is making $40.5 million available for organizations that provide services within the five priority funding areas: civil legal aid, economic development, re-entry from the criminal justice system, violence prevention, and youth development. Another $4.5 million is available for capacity-building grants to help small organizations expand. Organizations interested in applying for funding should visit R3.Illinois.gov.
JRTC Sale: The State of Illinois is in the process of finalizing the sale of the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago to developer JRTC Holdings, LLC. Under the plan, which is projected to be finalized by the spring of 2022, the state will sell the building for $70 million and then buy back one third of the renovated building for roughly $148 million, for a net cost to the state of $78 million. The Governor’s administration argues that this is a good deal for taxpayers because the state otherwise would have to purchase or lease another building to maintain a portion of its workforce in the Loop.
COVID-19 Update: On Thursday, Illinois health officials reported 11,858 new cases of COVID-19, making it the highest daily case count since December 1, 2020. Another 52 deaths from the virus were reported. As of Wednesday night, 3,725 individuals in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those, 772 were in the ICU. The 7-day case positivity rate is 4.7%.
ELECTION UPDATE:
The Illinois State Board of Elections released the official 2022 Candidate Guide. Candidates can begin circulating petitions January 13, 2022. Petitions must be filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections March 7 – 14, 2002. The Primary Election is June 28, 2022.
One United State Senate Seat, all congressional seats, all state constitutional officers, and all members of the General Assembly (both House and Senate) are up for election in 2022.
State Senator Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for Governor, announced former WLS conservative talk show host Stephanie Trussell will run with him as a candidate for Lt. Governor.
Republican State Representative Adam Niemerg is running for election in the newly drawn 102nd House District.
Republican State Representative Blaine Wilhour is running for election in the newly drawn 110th House District.
Republican State Representative CD Davidsmeyer is seeking reelection in the 100th District.
Republican State Representative Amy Elik is seeking reelection in the 111th District.
Democrat State Senator Melinda Bush is not seeking reelection. She was first elected to the Senate in 2012.
102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
Senate Democrats compiled a list of new laws that take effect in 2022. Read the list here.
Redistricting: Democrats in the House and Senate released a proposed map of new judicial subcircuits in Cook County. Redistricting committees in both chambers held hearings this week on the proposal. View the new maps here.
COMING UP:
The Illinois General Assembly convenes the 2022 Spring Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 4th.
Note that the deadline to file a request for bill drafting is January 7th in the Senate and January 14th in the House.