The House and Senate returned to Springfield this week. Both Chambers wrapped up substantive committee work, with the committee deadline of the spring session on Friday the 13^th.  Next week, the focus will shift towards floor action as the last 3^rd reading deadline quickly approaches on May 27^th.

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Efforts to provide stopgap funding for essential services intensified this week.  Both Chambers worked to develop funding for human services.  SB 2038 (President John Cullerton, D-Chicago) was amended in the House to include $700 million in appropriations for social services agencies.  The bill appropriates money from designated funds and does not use any general revenue money.  The stopgap measure is designed to provide social service agencies with emergency funding to help them through the summer.

The State is now approaching eleven months without a comprehensive budget and many businesses that rely upon state funding are starting to shut down. The Governor has not indicated whether or not he will continue to support stopgap budgeting efforts.

Last week, Exelon and ComEd introduced “The Next Generation Energy Plan” as amendment #2 to SB 1585 (Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago). This week amendment #3 was filed to SB 1585 and it clarifies the benefits for renewable energy in “The Next Generation Energy Plan”.   The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee has now posted a subject matter hearing for Thursday, May 17^th at 2:00 pm to discuss SB 1585 floor amendment #3.  SB 1585 is on third reading in the Senate with a deadline of May 31^st.   Amendment three is in the Committee on Assignments.

The House Public Utilities Committee is scheduled to meet Next Tuesday.  The Committee will consider SB 2522 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park). SB 2522 is an initiative of the Illinois Power Agency.  The Agency is seeking changes to law that will resolve several recurring audit findings.  There are no known opponents to SB 2522.

Next week, the House and Senate are scheduled to be in Session Tuesday through Friday.

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