SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers are set to return to Springfield Tuesday for a two-week veto session. The six days of the session will be jam-packed with discussions on Chicago transit, energy and criminal justice reform.
The spring session ended with Illinois House leaders pumping the brakes on a massive funding and reform plan for Chicago transit companies. Many representatives and advocates were concerned about the potential $1.50 tax on all retail deliveries with motor vehicles.
The delivery tax would have impacted everything from Amazon deliveries and DoorDash orders to medication shipments. Every Senate Republican voted against the idea.
"I am even more convinced that the people of Illinois will rise up in opposition to this," said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). "They will rise up, as they should."
The fiscal cliff for CTA, Metra and Pace is much smaller than the expected $770 million shortfall, with experts saying the Regional Transportation Authority needs roughly $200 million. Still, downstate leaders argue any transit plan needs to include funding for Central and Southern Illinois.
"There is no Sunday service in the capital city of Illinois," said Springfield resident Steven Simpson-Black. "This presents a challenge for many people, especially individuals with disabilities. Rideshare and taxis tend not to be ADA compliant."
Lawmakers are also reviewing multiple bills to help lower utility costs and increase energy capacity. The state could create virtual power plants by having solar-powered batteries installed at homes and commercial buildings. People would receive rebates if they purchase a battery and agree to let the state access the stored energy during some of the hottest days.
"With the help of this legislation, we can get a lot of storage online fast," said Bryan McDaniel from the Citizens Utility Board. "Large-scale battery storage can be deployed very quickly compared to traditional sources of power. This speed to market attribute is really important, as we are already experiencing the cost of inaction."
Democrats and clean energy advocates want to see more solar and wind projects brought online, along with battery storage and geothermal energy. Yet, GOP leaders argue Illinois needs to ensure there are protections for consumers paying high energy bills.
"We have had a tough go of it here, and our constituents are feeling it," said Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria). "Our ability to engage in any meaningful economic development is significantly hindered downstate because of our energy crisis."
The Illinois Senate could pass a bill this month to automatically seal records for people convicted of nonviolent felonies. Felony convictions currently eligible for expungement could be automatically sealed by a circuit court judge or the Illinois State Police.
Lawmakers passed legislation in 2017 to allow certain offenders with nonviolent felony convictions to apply for expungement. Although Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) said each of the state's 102 counties has addressed the record sealing process differently.
She stressed it is past time for a streamlined system to open doors to job opportunities and allow people who served time to rebuild their lives.
"We have over two million people in Illinois that are living with old criminal records, keeping them locked out of our state's economy," Gordon-Booth said. "Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in this country and one of the highest in the Midwest region. Old criminal records reduce the likelihood of finding a job. They depress wages, and it causes an early exit from the labor market."
House Republicans argued this plan could cost the state $18 million to implement. However, sponsors said multiple numbers are floating, and the exact cost will not be known until closer to the effective date in 2028.
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Illinois Manufacturers' Association support the proposal. It is also rare to see law enforcement organizations and grassroots advocates working together to get the clean slate bill across the finish line.
Senate Bill 1784 passed out of the house on an 81-28 vote on May 30.
Democrats also plan to pass a bill banning ICE officers and other law enforcement from wearing masks on the job. Some hope to see lawmakers vote on the Decatur racino proposal, but that plan would need to gain support from the Senate Democratic caucus before it could move to the floor for a vote.
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