November 16, 2018
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned its first week of the two-week Fall Veto Session. Both chambers return to Session on Tuesday, November 27th.They were busy this week overriding several of lame-duck Republican Governor Rauner’s vetoes. In total, the General Assembly overrode 18 amendatory vetoes and 28 total vetoes. All but one of those vetoes, which was approved by both chambers, will now go to the opposite chamber for consideration. The House moved to accept the Governor’s specific recommendations on just one bill, HB5177 (K. Burke/Cunningham) which deals with establishing credit in the Chicago Pension Fund. Both chambers failed to override a total of four vetoes.Failed Veto Override Attempts:The Illinois Senate failed by a vote of 34-5-1 to override SB2493 (Rose/Halbrook) which required a study on supplemental deer feed.The Illinois Senate failed by one vote, 35-21, to override the total veto of SB2273 (Raoul/Williams ) which provides that ERICS shall be the exclusive voter registration system for Illinois.The Illinois House failed by a vote of 67-44 to override the total veto of HB3792 (Lilly/Harmon) which amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act to provide that, beginning in grade 6, students should be introduced to the importance of developing and applying a work ethic in a variety of contexts.The Illinois House failed 61-45 to override the Governor’s total veto of HB 4882 HB4882 (Mayfield/Martinez) which makes changes to the Grow Your Own Teacher Act.Legislation Overridden in both chambers:The General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to override the Governor’s amendatory Veto of HB4515 (Swanson/Nybo) which creates the Lyme Disease Prevention and Protection Act. The Act creates a Task Force to develop policies regarding Lyme Disease education and allows physicians to treat outside of the CDC protocols. The bill now becomes law.Additional Legislation:
| The Illinois Senate approved two worker’s compensation trailer bills this week. HB3452 (Soto/Hastings) limits the ability to go to circuit court only for collection of the 1% interest and HB200 (Hoffman/Hastings) clarifies that the explanation of benefits that is required to go to the medical provider and the injured worker. Both bills now advance to the House for concurrence.The Senate approved legislation, SB 0279 (Koehler) which re-appropriates prior capital projects to allow those projects to continue. The bill now heads to the House. This bill will require three Readings in the House. |
The House approved legislation, HB5698 (Welch) to make term limits on local municipal officials, including home rule units, prospective in nature. The bill now heads to the Senate. This bill will require three Readings in the senate.The Illinois Senate approved legislation, SB515 (Haine) which creates the Statewide Relocation Towing Licensure Commission to evaluate the state’s current towing laws. The bill now heads to the House. This bill will require three Readings in the House.The House approved negotiated legislation, HB5769 (Conroy), which requires the Department of Insurance to develop a uniform electronic prior authorization form to be used by an insurer that provides prescription drug benefits when requiring prior authorization for prescription drug benefits. The bill now heads to the Senate. This bill will require three readings in the Senate.Other News:One week after winning her re-election as Illinois’ Comptroller, Democrat Susana Mendoza announced her candidacy for Mayor of Chicago. She joins a growing field of Democratic candidates seeking to replace retiring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel.Following Tuesday’s mid-term elections, the Conservative Party qualified as an established political party in over 80 Illinois counties by securing more than 5% of the vote. As an established political party, the Conservative Party candidates will require far fewer signatures than other third party candidates making it easier to secure a position on the ballot in 2020. For Congressional races, the threshold for minor party candidates is five percent of the total votes cast in the last election for that race, while established party candidates need only half of one percent. In State Senate and House races, established party candidates need only 1,000 and 500 signatures, respectively. Minor party candidates require five percent of the electorate. However, because party status is conferred with respect to districts and political subdivisions and not geographic areas that exist independently of districts and political subdivisions, it will not be until precinct level data is available to determine which Congressional, House and Senate districts confer party status to the Conservative Party.Governor Pritzker announced the formation of two more transition committees. The 19 member Serving Illinois Heroes Committee will be chaired by US Senator Tammy Duckworth. Committee members include Secretary of State Jesse White and State Representative David Harris. Prizker also formed the Healthy Children and Families Committee which will focus on how we should rebuild social services, identify ways we can help children and families build better lives, and expand health care. The Healthy Children and Families Committee will be chaired by state Sen. Heather Steans, Howard Brown Health President and CEO David Munar, and Children’s Home and Aid President and CEO Nancy Ronquillo and consist of 36 members.The 2019 Spring Legislative Calendar is expected to be released by the end of the month.