GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Inauguration: All six constitutional officers will be sworn into office on Monday, January 9.
New Laws: As expected, Governor Pritzker swiftly signed trailer legislation to the SAFE-T Act, HB 1095 (Peters/Slaughter). Read the Governor’s press release here.
Governor Pritzker also signed the unemployment insurance agreement, SB 1698 (Holmes/Hoffman). The bill addresses the $1.36 billion shortfall in the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and shores up the Fund in the event of future economic downturns.
Executive Order: Executive Order 2022-23 extends previous COVID-19 Executive Orders through January 6, 2023.
Emergency Shelters: The Illinois Department of Human Services is offering an additional $5 million to support the expansion of access to emergency shelters during the winter months. Read more here.
IDOT Disparity Study: The Illinois Department of Transportation is inviting the public to participate in a webinar on the upcoming disparity study to update the goals of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program and review current programs and policies regarding participation of minority- and woman-owned businesses on state contracts.
The disparity study will examine the current participation of all contractors on IDOT contracts, including minority- and women-owned firms, and local marketplace conditions for such businesses. Results of the study will help IDOT develop updated data on the availability of minority- and female-owned businesses and set overall goals.
As part of the study process, IDOT will host a public information webinar on Tuesday, December 13 from 2 – 3:30 pm. Register here.
Funding to Support Small Businesses: The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Illinois will receive up to $354.6 million to administer four programs as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The expanded program offering through SSBCI will enable Illinois to support small businesses across the state – helping them attract more capital investment and expand or launch business operations. All of the new programs will launch in the coming months.
Illinois’ four programs include the existing Advantage Illinois program, which provides favorable funding terms through a loan participation model; a new Advantage Illinois loan guarantee model, which will support businesses that have had difficulty receiving loans in the past; a new venture capital direct equity program that will support emerging technologies and industries; and a Climate Bank Finance program to issues loans to small businesses in the clean energy sector.
102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
Republican State Senator Jason Barickman announced he is resigning from his position at the end of his current term – January 10, 2023. Barickman served in the Illinois House from 2011-2012 and in the Senate from 2013 to the present. Republican State Representative Tom Bennett has expressed an interest in replacing Barickman in the Senate. Local Republicans will select Barickman’s replacement for the 103rd General Assembly within the next month.
State Representative Bob Morgan, who chaired the House Democratic Caucus’ Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group and was at the Highland Park mass shooting, filed the Protect Illinois Communities Act – HB 5855. The bill makes several changes to Illinois’ gun laws including:
· Assault Weapons: Bans assault weapons immediately, requires registration of existing weapons, prevents future sales of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds, and prohibits rapid-fire devices;
· Manufacturer/Retail Liability: Makes gun manufacturers and retailers responsible for deceptive marketing practices;
· Statewide Strike Team: Creates an interdisciplinary state-wide strike team within the Illinois State Police to combat the influx of illegal guns into Illinois;
· Raises Age for Gun Ownership: Removes the ability for people under 21 years of age to own firearms and ammunition – exceptions are granted for those serving in the military, as well as allowing hunting and sports shooting for minors with guardian supervision;
· Firearms Restraining Order: Makes changes to existing Firearm Restraining Order laws in an effort to restrict dangerous persons from accessing firearms.
Representative Morgan noted he intends to hold several subject matter hearings on the legislation. The first hearing is in the House Judiciary Criminal Committee on December 12 at 11:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago. The hearing will be a hybrid format and also available in Virtual Room 1.
A new not for profit group – Protect Illinois Communities – was created to support the passage of gun reform laws and the newly filed Protect Illinois Communities Act. More information on the organization is here.
Democrat State Senator Scott Bennett was hospitalized Thursday with an apparent stroke. Updates on his condition were not available.
New member biographies are here.
Pension Report: The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability issued their Pension Briefing detailing the status of the state’s five state funded pension systems. The report notes the unfunded pension liability across Illinois’s five retirement systems rose 7.5% to $139.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2022. Read the full report here.
November Revenue Report: General Funds base receipts increased $277 million in November. Personal income tax receipts grew $228 million ($193 million net); sales taxes were up $134 million ($91 million net); and corporate income tax revenues grew $85 million ($69 million net).
As a result of multiple interest rate hikes, interest on State Funds and Investments increased $18 million in November. Other increases came from the inheritance tax (up $23 million); miscellaneous state tax sources (up $3 million); cigarette taxes (up $2 million) and insurance taxes (up $2 million).
Public utility taxes, liquor taxes and corporate franchise taxes each declined $1 million in November.
Transfers from receipts were mixed in November. Lottery transfers were up $10 million and casino gaming transfers were up $4 million. These gains were offset by a $39 million drop in miscellaneous transfers. All combined, transfers in were $25 million below last year. Federal Sources were also down $96 million from the previous year. Read the full report here.
2023 Key Dates and Deadlines:
January 9: Inauguration of Constitutional Officers
January 11: Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly
January 27: Deadline – Senate LRB Requests
February 3: Deadline – House LRB Requests
February 10: Deadline – Introduction of Substantive Senate Bills in the Senate
February 17: Deadline – Introduction of Substantive House Bills in the House
February 15: Governor’s State of the State/Budget Address
February 28: Consolidated Primary Election
March 10: Deadline – Substantive Bills Out of Committee in both chambers
March 24: Deadline – Third Reading Deadline – Substantive House Bills in the House
March 31: Deadline – Third Reading Deadline – Substantive Senate Bills in the Senate
April 4: Consolidated Election
April 28: Deadline – Substantive Bills out of Committee in both chambers
May 11: Deadline – Third Reading Substantive House Bills in Senate
May 12: Deadline – Third Reading Substantive Senate Bills in House
May 19: Adjournment
OTHER NEWS:
The US Department of Homeland Security issued another two-year extension of the federal REAL ID deadline from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025. With this extension, current standard Illinois driver’s licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports for domestic air travel until May 7, 2025.
Illinois Regional Transportation Authority released its draft regional transit strategic plan. The new plan Transit is the Answer is available for public comment through January 9 and will be voted on in February 2023.
The Illinois Supreme Court created the Supreme Court Committee on Domestic Violence. The Committee is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations on matters affecting domestic violence, human trafficking, and the court system.