January 10, 2020 Update

Governor’s Highlights:
The Illinois Department of Employment Security is now using a tax lien registry, replacing the old record search process. The online registry, operated by and shared with the Illinois Department of Revenue, provides a central, searchable database to locate all active liens and releases filed by IDES.  There is no cost and no sign-up required to search or use the registry.  To search the State Tax Lien Registry, visit MyTax.Illinois.gov and select the Businesses tab on the top of the webpage.
Gov. Pritzker made the following appointments:

  • Clarence Wyatt will serve on the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
  • Lazaro Lopez will continue to serve as Chair of the Illinois Community College Board.
  • Kahalah Clay will serve on the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
  • Vickie Smith will serve on the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
  • David Fletcher will serve on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board.
  • Patricia Canessa will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Rashmi Chugh will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Janice Phillips will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Julie Pryde will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Esther Sciammarella will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Susan Swider will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.
  • Sameer Vohra will serve on the Illinois State Board of Health.

CANNABIS ROUNDUP:
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced 11 more “Same Site” adult use cannabis licenses, which will allow an existing medical cannabis dispensary to obtain an adult use dispensing license. IDFPR also announced the first “Secondary Site” adult use cannabis license, which will allow an existing medical cannabis dispensary to obtain an adult use dispensing organization license within a limited geographic area. These recent approvals raise the total number of approved adult use cannabis dispensary licenses to 46.
The medical dispensaries that received early approval adult use licenses are:
Greenhouse Group
2400 W. US Route 6
Morris, IL 60450
NuMed Chicago
1308 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642
NuMed East Peoria
504 Riverside Dr.
East Peoria, IL 61611
NuMed Urbana
105 E University Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Windy City Cannabis Club
1137 W. 175th St.
Homewood, IL 60430
Windy City Cannabis Club
8340 S. Roberts Rd.
Justice, IL 60458
Windy City Cannabis Club
11425 S. Harlem Ave.
Worth, IL 60425
Windy City Cannabis Club
2535 Veterans Dr.
Posen, IL 60469
Trinity Compassionate Care Centers
3125 N. University St. Ste. B
Peoria, IL 61604
Rise – Joliet
**Adult Use Only; Secondary Site**
2903 Colorado Ave.
Joliet, IL 60431
Thrive Anna
87 Richview Dr.
Anna, IL 62906
Thrive Harrisburg
105 Veterans Drive
Harrisburg, IL 62946
In addition, the Illinois Department of Agriculture opened the application process for Cannabis Infuser, Transporter and Craft Grower Licenses, including for social equity applicants. The applications are available here.  IDOA will begin accepting completed applications on Friday, February 14 and all Cannabis Infuser, Transporter and Craft Grower applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. CST on Monday, March 16, 2020. In coordination with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, IDOA will be hosting informational workshops across the state to answer questions and assist applicants. Additional information about the timing and location of workshops will be available in the coming weeks.Licenses will be awarded to applicants by July 1, 2020.
COMPTROLLER HIGHLIGHT:
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced effective Feb. 6th her office will no longer assist municipalities in collection efforts for fines for red-light camera tickets. Read her announcement here.101st General Assembly:
Freshman Rep. Celina Villanueva was selected by local party leaders to replace former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, whose resignation took effect New Year’s Day. A replacement for Villanueva’s house seat will be selected at a local party meeting on Friday at 5pm.
Republican Sen. Chuck Weaver announced he is retiring and not seeking re-election.
Last year, the General Assembly passed legislation (SB1932 ) to create a bipartisan Property Tax Relief Task Force to review the Illinois property tax system and make recommendations for legislative change. Specifically, the task force was charged with: (1) examining the root causes of high property taxes; (2) assessing other states’ legislative solutions to reduce property tax burdens in both the short and long term and (3) proposing changes that will bring tax relief to Illinois homeowners. The Task Force, along with numerous subcommittees, met throughout the fall of 2019. A final report, which has not yet been issued, was due December 31, 2019. A copy of the draft report is here.   The draft includes several recommendations including consolidation of school districts and other local units of government and increasing the state’s share of funding for K-12 education. Republican legislators are critical of the draft report, arguing their ideas and recommendations were excluded from the draft report.
Coming up:
The Illinois Senate will convene on Sunday, January 19th at noon to formally elect a new Senate President. The 101st General Assembly will reconvene for the 2020 Spring Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 28th, 2020