The House and Senate had their first third-reading deadline this week. Both Chambers were in Session Monday through Friday. The General Assembly will now take a one-week break and return to Springfield the first week of May.
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Most of this week was focused on developing stopgap budget bills that would prevent financial meltdowns at the State’s institutions for higher education. The State has now gone almost ten full months without a budget. Universities and colleges throughout the State have not been able to secure any funding for 2016. Some universities had indicated that they would close at the end of April. In response to these concerns, legislators worked on securing enough money to fund the universities and colleges for the next four months. SB 2059 (President John Cullerton, D-Chicago) was amended in the House to appropriate $600 million from the Education Assistance Fund to various universities and colleges throughout the State. The money will also be used to pay for student grants. The bill passed both houses and the Governor has indicated that he will sign it.
The Senate developed a bill to provide stopgap funding for social service providers in the State. SB 2047 (President John Cullerton, D-Chicago) was amended to appropriate millions of dollars for social service agencies. The bill passed the Senate and the Governor has indicated that he will sign it, but the bill has to be read on three separate days in the House to meet its constitutional requirements. With both Chambers on break next week, no funding for social services will be approved until at least early May.
Very little activity occurred on energy related issues this week. The Senate approved SB 3289 (Sen. Stadelman, D-Rockford). The bill would increase penalties for tree cutting on conservation land. The Illinois Energy Association worked with our members to ensure that utilities and transmission companies are exempt from the penalties in SB 3289.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Peru) did not move her amendment to SB 2674 that would cap water rate increases to no more than two and a half percent a year. The bill was filed in response to a series of double digit rate increases that have been approved to modernize the water and sewer system in Sen. Reizn’s district. The amendment was held in the Committee on Assignments.
Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) did not move her amendment on SB 551 that would impose nuclear storage impact fees. The amendment was intended to raise more revenue for the City of Zion. The Energy Association along with Exelon had expressed opposition to this unprecedented fee. The amendment was held in the Committee on Assignments.
- Monk
- Evans
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