BCN Strategies, LLC
103RD ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly remains adjourned until the Fall Veto Session. Note that all legislation passed during the 2024 Spring Legislative Session has been forwarded to the Governor for consideration. The Governor has 60 days from receipt of the legislation to take action.
The House Health Care Licenses Committee will hold a hearing on July 12 at 11:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago (and virtually) to discuss pharmacists’ scope of practice.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
New Laws: Governor Pritzker signed SB 1 which creates the new Department of Early Childhood. The new agency will focus exclusively on early childhood programs and services that are currently housed in three separate state agencies: the Department of Children and Family Services’ Day Care Licensing; the Department of Human Services’ Child Care Assistance Program, home visiting programs, and Early Intervention Services; and the State Board of Education’s Early Childhood Block Grant which funds Preschool for All and the Prevention Initiative Programs. The programs will remain under their existing agencies until FY 2027 (July 1, 2026) while the state works with stakeholders to design the framework and roll out for the new agency.
Governor Pritzker also signed HB5005 which represents the 2024 omnibus business incentive package. The legislation is designed to incentivize corporate development and increase Illinois’ competitive edge for attracting new businesses and capital investments.
The omnibus bill includes investments in tax credit programs for the film industry, research and development projects, and the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) and Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) programs. The billalso builds on Illinois’ growing status as a tech hub and reducesred tape for the Blue Collar Jobs Act. Also included is a recodification of eligibility for the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) program.
Specifically, the law codifies quantum computing, semiconductor, and microchip companies in the R&D phase as eligible for the program while reducing initial investment requirements to allow smaller businesses to enter the market. The omnibus bill also creates a Quantum Enterprise Zone which is designed to help position Illinois’ proposed quantum campus (funded through a $500 million bonded capital request introduced in the FY25 budget)to attract up to $11 billion in CHIPS and related federal funding and an estimated $20 billion in private investment.
New State-Supported Migrant Shelters: Illinois will offer two new state-supported shelters to serve newly arriving migrants in Chicago. The two new shelters, which will operate as part of the City of Chicago’s existing shelter system, will prioritize families as they transition to independent living. The new sites will be located in a former hotel shelter in the Hyde Park area and a former hotel near Midway. The state currently operates a shelter in Little Village. The three shelters will serve a total combined capacity of 2,000 people.
Illinois Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Awarded: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency awarded an additional $649,482 in grant funds to seven units of local government through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The EECBG Program supports municipalities and counties with the development or revision of existing strategic energy or climate action planswhich help prepare local governments for future federal or state project funding opportunities. Read more here.
OTHER NEWS: BIPA: A former employee of Party City in Naperville has filed a class action lawsuit against his former employer for allegedly violating the Biometric Information Privacy Act. The plaintiff alleges Party City used biometric data (in this case voice recognition technology) without obtaining proper consent. Read more here.
SOS Issues Grants to Combat Car Jackings and Car Thefts: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias awarded $11 million in grants (through the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council) to assist six law enforcement agencies throughout the state in protecting against the surge in carjackings and vehicle thefts. Read more here.
Pollution Control Board: A group of health and environmental organizations is asking the Illinois Pollution Control Board toban the sale of all new gas-powered cars and most diesel trucks by 2035. The group wants to see more electric cars and trucks on the road with the goal of selling only new electric cars and trucks by 2035. The plan is modeled after California policy. Read more here.
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