Legislative Update Following are important bills that the Illinois General Assembly are looking at in the last days of Spring Session that were to be addresses by midnight last night. The House adjourned at 2:30 this morning and Senate is coming at in today at 11am to finish up. • Consumers & Climate First - Legislation that would mandate electric car chargers and allow munis to impose the Stretch Energy Code is still being worked on but is on life-support. The 950 page bill mostly covers issues with the public utilities and their carbon foot print. However, a little slice of heaven was carved out just for us regarding housing standards to lower global warming. No bill number to report, but we know the language we oppose is still in the draft being worked on. • HB2621 - This is the Affordable Housing bill that, in part, allows tax credits for developers constructing affordable housing. It also contains language for rental assistance, both items we support. The bill has passed the Senate and is on Concurrence in the House where it will likely get final passage today. • SB58 - This the Transportation Bill that has contained in it the lowering of registration fees on light weight hauling trailers from $118 down to $36. The fee went up two years ago from $18 to $118. Because so few trailer owners were willing to pay the $118, the fee was cut way back to $36 and it is estimated that this will be a revenue neutral tax cut as trailer owners will be willing to pay the new fee. • SB1847 is the Equal Pay bill, employers with 100 or more employees will register pay data to the state to determine if employers are abiding by equal pay laws. The original language had a 1% gross receipts tax for non-compliance, the new penalties are less severe. • HB3437 imposes Prevailing Wage mandates on industries considered to be dangerous for employees. Oil and gas refineries, chemical plants, and ethanol plants would be required to pay Prevailing Wage if HB3437 were to pass. While the bill moved last night from 2nd to 3rd reading, it has opposition from the Black Caucus and may not be called for lack of the votes necessary for passage. • And finally, the Constitutional Amendment to prohibit statutory passage of a Right to Work Law in Illinois has passed and voters will choose in November of 2022 whether Illinois needs this amendment or not. Page 7
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