102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is set to return to session next week to consider clean energy legislation and possibly other legislation that did not pass both houses during the final days of the spring session. The Senate will convene on Tuesday, June 15th. The House will convene on Wednesday, June 16th. Legislative leaders indicated the intent is for both chambers to conduct a one-day session. In addition to consider energy legislation, Speaker Welch indicated that the House will consider a measure to transition to an elected Chicago School Board and an omnibus bill to address issues with Illinois’ unemployment insurance.
The energy legislation has not been formally filed at this time. The Sun Times offers more details on the plan here. Two drafts are currently circulating at this time. The Senate President’s office draft is here. The governor’s new draft is here.
The Senate Human Rights Committee will hold a subject matter hearing on June 18th at 1pm to discuss SB1565 (Villanueva) which requires the State Board of Education to create a voter registration affidavit that shall be the exclusive means by which a noncitizen of the United States may register to vote in school board elections.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker signed several bills in the past week. ·SB 2661 (Harmon/Hernandez) creates the Cook County Board of Review Redistricting Act of 2021.
· HB 2777 (Hernandez/Harmon) creates the General Assembly Redistricting Act of 2021.
· SB 642 (Harmon/Tarver) creates new district boundaries for the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts.
·SB 104 (Feigenholtz/Zalewski) extends the cocktails-to-go bill passed last May; allows the use of credit cards when retailers purchase from distributors; changes timing of sales tax payments for restaurants; and permits the delivery of wine. The bill also includes “shot and a beer” language which allows bars to offer a free alcoholic beverage to individuals who show proof of receiving the COVID vaccine.
·HB 3743 (Walsh/Hastings) represents the 2021 telecom package. The bill includes a sunset extension for small cell and includes language to reconstitute the small cell act if it expires on June 1st and the Governor signs the bill after that date. Extends the sunset of the Telecommunications and Cable and Video competition Acts for 5 years. The sunset extension of 911 is extended for 2 years with agreed technical changes. Included in the bill is a limited expansion of prevailing wage, applicable to private third-party private work.
·SB1360 (Fowler/Hoffman) requires casino owner applicants to provide evidence that that they have entered into a project labor agreement which conforms to requirements of the Project Labor Agreements Act.
Redistricting: Republican leaders in the House and Senate filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the newly drawn legislative districts. The lawsuit argues that the use of American Community Survey (ACS) estimates violates the federal law, including well established “one-person, one-vote” principles under the U.S. Constitution. Read the full lawsuit here.
The Illinois Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will delay its transition to implement new appellate court boundaries that were created by a recently approved judicial district map until further notice. According to the court order, “Appeals and other matters shall continue to be filed in the judicial districts as they existed on June 3, 2021, until further order of the Court”.The five judicial districts that are used for electing the seven Illinois Supreme Court justices are the same district boundaries used to elect judges within the five appellate court districts. The court is delaying transition to the new map “in view of the numerous changes to the processing of appeals and the administration of the justice system in Illinois necessitated by (the new judicial map),” according to the order. That includes changes to e-filing and case management systems, redistribution of staffing and judicial resources, training for judicial stakeholders and education of the public and members of the bar.
Capitol News has more information on the delay here.
COVID 19 Update: Today, June 11th, Illinois enters Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan – which fully reopens the state and lifts capacity and other restrictions that have been in place for over a year. Under new guidance issued by the Governor, businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and seated-spectator venues, among others, will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State is also lifting the outdoor mask requirement in schools in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control.
Upon entering Phase 5, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask except where required by federal, state, or local laws. The State will continue to recommend masking for unvaccinated persons, and require it for all people while traveling on public transportation, in congregate settings, in health care settings, as well as in schools, day cares, and educational institutions pursuant to the Illinois Department of Public Health and CDC guidance. Businesses and local municipalities can put in place additional mitigations, including requiring masking, as they deem appropriate.
Learn more about Phase 5 recommended public health practices by visiting IDPH’s website.
On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 366 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 18 additional deaths. As of Wednesday night, 764 individuals were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 209 patients were in the ICU and 103 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary 7-day statewide case positivity is 1.0%.
More than 68% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 51% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated.
Gubernatorial Appointments: The Governor appointed the following:
· Tiffany Mathis will serve on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees.
· Mona Noriega will serve as Chair of the Human Rights Commission.