The House and Senate returned to Springfield this week. The Senate was in Session Tuesday through Thursday with the House in Session Monday through Friday. The third reading deadline for bills in their chamber of origin was this Friday.
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The House Renewable Energy and Sustainability Committee met this past Tuesday to consider an amendment to HB 3523 (Rep. Adam Brown, R-Champaign). Amendment two to HB 3523 represents an agreement with the wind developers in Illinois. The amendment would require certain steps be taken to help mitigate the agricultural impact created by developing wind farms. The amendment was approved by the committee, adopted on the floor, and HB 3523 passed the House 91-1-0.
The Senate Environment and Conservation Committee met Wednesday evening to consider an amendment to SB 544 (Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake). Amendment two to SB 544 would impose a new impact fee on nuclear power plants that have been decommissioned. The Illinois Energy Association, Exelon and numerous business groups were opposed to the measure, but the committee approved the amendment on a partisan roll-call. On Thursday, SB 544 passed the Senate 36-20-0.
The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee met Wednesday night to consider an amendment to SB 418 (Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill) that is an initiative of the Community Action Agencies. The amendment would eliminate certain caps in the Energy Assistance Act when unspent funds have been reallocated from a previous year. The caps that have been in place on weatherization, and administrative expenses could impede the operation of the LIHEAP program. The amendment was approved on an agreed bill list, and SB 418 was unanimously approved by the Senate.
The State is still struggling with an underfunded 2015 budget that has prompted the Governor to make severe cuts to human services funding throughout the State. This week, the Senate responded to the budget cuts by authorizing the Governor to take money from designated funds for the purpose of easing cuts to human services. SB 274 (Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge) would allow the Governor to transfer up to $26 million out of special funds during the remainder of the 2015 fiscal year. The State’s supplemental LIHEAP fund is one of the many special funds that may be affected by this bill if the House decides to consider the initiative.
The House and Senate return to Springfield next week. They are in Session Tuesday through Thursday.
- Monk
- Evans
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