103rd ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene November 12-14 and November 19-21 for the two-week Veto Session.
Madeline McCune will replace Endra Curry as Director of Research and Appropriations for the House Democratic staff effective October 28. Madeline served as an Analyst in the Research & Appropriations Unit from 2016-2021, specializing in education policy and appropriations. For the last three years, Madeline has served as the Director of Governmental Relations for the Illinois Association of School Administrators and Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
The House Mental Health and Addiction Committee will hold a joint subject matter hearing with the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee on November 7 at 10 am to discuss the administrative and funding barriers to substance use disorder treatment, recovery, and harm reduction and on December 10 at 1 pm to discuss psychedelics as behavioral health treatment - HB 1 and beyond. Both hearings will take place in the Bilandic building in Chicago.
The House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee will hold a subject matter hearing on December 3 at 10:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss wholesalers, pharmacy service administrative organizations, and the long-term future of Independent Pharmacies.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Disaster Tax Relief: Individuals and businesses in parts of Illinois affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on July 13, 2024, are eligible for certain disaster tax relief. Affected taxpayers now have until February 3, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Relief is being offered to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This includes Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago counties. Individuals and households that reside or have a business in any one of these localities qualify for income tax relief. The same relief will be available to any county added later to the disaster area.
IDFPR Launches New Professional Licensing System: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced the launch of the Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment (CORE), its new online licensing system. The system is currently in a pilot phase and will be utilized initially for new applicants seeking licensure as clinical psychologists, nail technicians, and music therapists. According to the Department, the new online process eliminates the need for paper applications, gives applicants more control over their application materials, and helps prevent deficient applications from being submitted. In addition to creating a streamlined online application process, CORE features a simplified review process for all license applications received by IDFPR.
The system will be rolled out for all 300 license types over the next two years. Subsequent phases will transition the Department's remaining manual and paper-based processes, starting with healthcare professions. Eventually, CORE will handle the full regulatory processes for IDFPR's Divisions of Professional Regulation, Real Estate, Banking and Financial Institutions.
Prospective licensees will be notified directly within the system when applications are received, reviewed, and licenses are issued by the Department—eliminating the need for paper mail and email responses from the Department. In addition, enforcement services (including complaint intake and review, document tracking, and investigations) will be transitioned to CORE. IDFPR will make user guides available online as more services are added to CORE. Read more here.
Non-Profit Security Grant Program: The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security on October 28, 2024, of two grant opportunities for non-profit organizations in Illinois. Nationally, $210 million in funding is available for this Fiscal Year 2024 Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) grant opportunities.
As the State Administrative Agency, IEMA-OHS will issue competitive grants of up to $200,000 to applicants approved by FEMA's Grants Program Directorate. Eligible non-profit organizations with a single site may apply for up to $200,000. Those with multiple sites may apply for up to $200,000 per site, for a maximum of three sites and $600,000 per sub-applicant, per funding stream. The period of performance for these grants is 36 months. Read more here.
New Phase of Three-Year Transformation Initiative Will Increase Mental Health Beds: The Illinois Department of Human Services has announced the expansion of mental health services at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois. Effective November 1, 2024, the facility's civil units will add up to 25 new beds, increasing the total capacity from 50 to 75 patients.
This expansion is a critical component of the three-year transformation initiative unveiled by Governor Pritzker and IDHS in March 2023. The initiative aims to repurpose portions of the Choate campus and reshape the state's approach to caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
OTHER NEWS:
Mayor Johnson’s FY 25 Budget Proposal: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson submitted his $17.3 billion FY 25 budget proposal on Wednesday, the second budget of his tenure. The city is facing a projected $982.4 million shortfall in 2025. The plan includes a $300 million property tax increase, the largest such increase in almost a decade. Also included is sweeping tax increment financing funds and eliminating hundreds of vacant positions across city government. Fourteen aldermen have signed a letter indicating they will not support a budget that includes a property tax increase. The budget will require 26 votes for passage. State law requires approval of the new budget by year's end.
The budget briefing is here. The full budget address is here. The Chicago Tribune offers more here.
SOS Pilots Driver’s Kiosks in Supermarkets: The Illinois Secretary of State is implementing a pilot program to install 15 kiosks in supermarkets to give residents an opportunity to renew their driver’s licenses or other state IDs and obtain vehicle stickers while grocery shopping or running errands. The kiosks will be primarily located in the Chicago area. Read more here.
Illinois Report Card: The Illinois State Board of Education released The Illinois Report Card which provides insight into how Illinois’ 850-plus school districts are performing. The data includes information on hundreds of metrics such as test scores, enrollment data, chronic absenteeism, high school graduation rates, student participation in career and technical education programs, enrollment in advanced classes, and teacher retention rates. The full report is here. Read more here.
