Bill Tracking
Legislative Bill Tracking Latest Update November 10, 2020
Legislative News Section
Legislative Bill Tracking
Public Act Highlights
Session News/2020 House & Senate Session Calendars
COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
For Federal/State/Local Government News & References click here
UCCI Newsletter
Other News of Interest
Illinois Connected Communities/Broadband News
Legislative Bill Tracking
United Counties Council of Illinois (UCCI) tracks legislation pending before the Illinois General Assembly that is of interest to county government. Access to currently proposed legislation being tracked is available through the reports listed below. A schedule, by date, of those pieces of legislation being tracked by UCCI that are currently set for committee hearing is provided for your review and information, as well as, a listing of all bills that have passed both chambers.
NACo Legislative Analysis: U.S. House Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act 
On June 4, 2020 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), introduced H.R. 7095, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act. The five-year, $494 billion surface transportation reauthorization contains an extension of current law (P.L. 114-94) for highway and transit programs – plus some additional Highway Trust Fund contract authority – for FY 2021, followed by new and existing authorizations for these programs from FY2022 to FY2025. It also includes new, five-year reauthorizations for the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Current law, P.L. 114-94, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, is set to expire on September 30, 2020.
NACo has completed a comprehensive analysis of the legislation that can be found here. The bill itself can be found here.
2020 U.S. Census … Your Response Matters
The Census is more than a population count.
It's an opportunity to shape your community's future.
Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. Here's a look at some of the key dates along the way, as they are currently scheduled:
- By December 31, 2020: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President as required by law.
- April 1, 2021: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to the states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.
Click here to learn more
Public Act Highlights
UCCI Tracked Legislation Recently Signed into Law
Public Act 101-0640 (SB2135)
Government Emergency Administration Act
Public Act 101-0631 (HB2682)
Allows restaurants and bars to serve cocktails-to-go to provide establishments with financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 challenges
Public Act 101-0593 (SB1557) Recreational Cannabis
(Clean-up language on previously passed recreational cannabis legislation)
Public Act 101-0177 Illinois Equal Pay Act NOTICE
Public Act 101-0544 (SB1236) Legislation Summary
Public Act 101-0419 (SB1806) Audits
Session News/2020 House & Senate Session Calendars
FALL VETO SESSION is cancelled for November 17-19 (the week before Thanksgiving) and December 1-3 (the week after Thanksgiving).
Members of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly will be sworn into office on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPRING SESSION …
‘2020 SPRING SESSION RECAP’
Spring Session AGENDA
As a result of the medical crisis that is currently gripping our nation, very little legislative activity had taken place prior to Wednesday, May 20th, when lawmakers returned to Springfield for the 2020 Spring Special Session.
The Speaker of the House and the Senate President identified in a Joint Proclamation the issues to be undertaken during the scheduled 'special session' were the COVID-19 pandemic or other disasters; the State Budget and its implementation; economic recovery, infrastructure projects and funding thereof; the explanation, arguments for and against, and the form for constitutional amendments as required under the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act; laws or authority scheduled to be repealed prior to June 1, 2021; the 2020 General Election and the State Board of Elections; and, the hospital assessment program.
The three-day scheduled session extended into a fourth day, on Saturday. Lawmakers worked into the early morning hours of Sunday to reach agreement on the FY2021 State Budget; and, following final approval of the FY2021 Spending Plan, the 2020 Spring Session adjourned.
With the adjournment of the 'highly abbreviated' Spring Session of the 101st Session of the Illinois General Assembly, the State of Illinois now has a patchwork series of revenue and expenditure proposals that will carry the state through the balance of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic havoc left in its wake.
The links below summarize the legislation passed that deals with The Operation Budget for FY2021, The Capital Expenditures for FY2021, the Supplemental Appropriation for FY2020 for the emergency relief due to COVID-19, and the FY2021 education expenditures; and, also the FY2021 Budget Implementation Bill (HB357 as amended by Senate Floor Amendment #1).
Spring Session Recap (May 25, 2020)
Spring Session Recap HB64 State Budget Summary (May 25, 2020)
Spring Session Recap HB357 BIMP Summary (May 25, 2020)
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Relevant points within the FY2021 budget legislation include:
(1) Creates programs for the disbursing of Federal CARES Act funds.
(2) Programs for counties under 500,000 population.
(3) THE EVENTUAL CREATION OF EMERGENCY RULES BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE DISBURSAL OF THESE FUNDS. (UCCI is involved in this process)
Lawmakers most likely will not return to Springfield until the Fall Veto Session.
Budget Address … Governor Pritzker delivered his Budget Address on February 19th, providing additional details on his administration's plans and proposals.
State of the State Address, January 29 … Governor Pritzker reflected on the accomplishments of his first year in office, reported on the current fiscal condition of the state, and provided a look into the priorities of his administration in the coming months … ethics reforms for Illinois General Assembly members and the lobbying community; property tax reforms; renewable/clean energy programs; and, social/criminal justice system reforms.
Harmon Elected as Senate President ... The Senate convened on Sunday, January 19, 2020, and elected Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) to replace retiring Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago).
Harmon was first elected to the Senate in 2002, and now serves as the 39th President of the Illinois State Senate.
President Harmon announced his leadership team on the first day of the 2020 Legislative Session.
See the 2020 Session Calendars below for a complete listing of both the House and Senate Session events.
SENATE 2020 Fall Veto Session Calendar HOUSE 2020 Fall Veto Session Calendar
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) ... Impacting County Boards
Obviously, the Coronavirus is a fluid and rapidly developing situation, so it is best for County Boards to be familiar with the guidelines and adjust accordingly to specific scenarios as they arise.
Get the latest Federal, State and Local Government COVID-19 information here.
UCCI Newsletter
2020 Newsletter
January Issue
February Issue
March Issue
April Issue
May Issue
June Issue
July Issue
August Issue
September Issue
October Issue
Other News of Interest
'CONNECT ILLINOIS' News & Updates
Office of Broadband
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
President Trump Commutes Sentence of former Governor Blagojevich