The House and Senate were in Session Tuesday through Thursday of this week. The House and Senate both canceled their scheduled Friday Session.

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The House met as a Committee of the Whole on Tuesday to hear testimony on Workers’ Compensation Reform. The Governor has made Workers’ Compensation Reform a key component of his “Turnaround Agenda”. The House took testimony from a series of workers’ compensation recipients, as well as attorneys and the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association.

The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee met this Wednesday to consider all the major energy issues that have been filed this year. The Committee took testimony on SB 1485 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park), which is an initiative of the environmental community to modify renewable energy, energy efficiency and emission standards in the State. The Committee also took testimony on SB 1879 (Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Chicago) which is ComEd’s proposed “Smart Plan for Illinois’ Energy Future”. Finally the committee heard testimony on SB 1585 (Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago) which is the Senate bill for Exelon’s proposed Low Carbon Energy Standard.

The House Energy Committee also met Wednesday to take testimony on HB 2607 (Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove) which is identical to SB1485 and is an initiative of the environmental community.

The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee met this Thursday to consider Senate Amemdment #5 to SB 1726 (Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Champaign) which would increase the notice requirements for siting new electric transmission facilities. Amendment #5 is an initiative of the Illinois Farm Bureau. The Committee unanimously approved Amendment #5 and SB 1726 was later unanimously approved by the Senate and sent to the House.

Next week, the House Energy Committee is scheduled to take testimony on HB 3328 (Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island) which is ComEd’s proposed “Smart Plan for Illinois’ Energy Future”. HB 3328 would modernize electric utility regulations in the State to enhance opportunities for energy efficiency, solar energy, electric cars and demand response programs.

Next week, the House and Senate are in Session Tuesday through Friday. This past Thursday was the deadline to move Senate Bills out of the House Committees, but that deadline has been extended. Next Friday is the Senate deadline to move House Bills out of Senate Committees. Both chambers have a 3rd reading deadline of May 22nd.

J. Monk
P. Evans

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