The Illinois General Assembly returned to Springfield for the first week of the annual two-week fall session. 

• THANK YOU for the tremendous response to our Call-to-Action alert this week on legislation that sought to grant the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation the power to “borrow” money from dedicated funds- like the Real Estate License Administration Fund (funded by your licensing fees) to pay the regulatory bills of other professions whose funds are insolvent, in part due to past fund sweeps into the state’s general fund.  An amendment granting this power was drafted to House Bill 1511 and sent to the House Executive Committee but WAS NOT CALLED due our strong opposition, prompting thousands of emails to legislators, along with other regulated groups.  The purpose of dedicated funds is to have regulated persons and entities pay for the actual costs of regulating their profession for the protection of consumers.  We will remain on alert to any further efforts by the IDFPR to pursue legislation.

• The House approved two measures related to quick-take eminent domain powers.  Illinois law requires that the State grant this power to a local government.  House Bill 2022, sponsored by Representative Al Riley, authorizes the city of Country Club Hills to use quick-take eminent domain for no longer than one year for the acquisition of land for the purpose of building streets or other public improvements in the I-57/I-80 Tax Increment Financing District.  The measure was approved on a roll call vote of 71-37-2.  Senate Bill 2878, sponsored by Representative Mike Tryon, authorizes the village of Johnsburg to use quick-take powers for no longer than one year for the construction of a METRA rail station and rail storage yard. This measure was approved on a roll call vote of 84-25-1.  The IAR is neutral on both of these bills   which are specific as to the purpose of the use of the powers and limited in timeframe.  Both measures have been sent to the Senate for their consideration.

• House Bill 1617 was approved by the House this week on a roll call vote of 77-33-0 to create another port district authority in Illinois-- the Ottawa Port District Authority.  This measure, sponsored by Representative Frank Mautino, is an economic development tool for the city.  The bill has been sent to the Senate for their consideration.

• House Bill 5635, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose, was approved this week in the House on a roll call vote of 103-7-0.  The bill extends the life of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District in the city of Charleston for an additional 12 years.  A duplicate bill, Senate Bill 3952, is currently pending in the Senate. 

• Senator David Koehler filed an amendment this week related to property tax assessment appeals.  The amendment to Senate Bill 458 seeks to add language to the Property Tax Code to permit a board of review to enter into discussions with a petitioner to reach a “stipulated revised assessment” upon the property either prior to or after receipt of the completed petition from the Property Tax Appeal Board.  The new language specifies materials that must be submitted and timeframes.  No action occurred on this measure this week and the deadline for consideration is January 11, 2011 (the last day of the current General Assembly).

• The House accepted the Governor’s amendatory veto of legislation originally passed in the spring session which delayed the effective date of the new provisions until January 1, 2011.  House Bill 5055 makes changes to Illinois law for processing foreclosure sales.  In a typical scenario, a home loan that is in foreclosure goes from the court system to the sheriff’s office which schedules a foreclosure auction.  If no one purchases the home at the sheriff’s sale, the property reverts to the lender.  Proponents of HB 5055 pursued the changes in Illinois law because they felt that due to the increased number of foreclosed properties on the market that this process was slow and that Illinois law should be clear that financial institutions have the authority to hire a private company to conduct the foreclosure sale.  Some county sheriffs have expressed opposition to this legislation.  The acceptance motion was approved in the House on a roll call vote of 72-42-0 and sent to the Senate for their consideration. 

• Senator Dan Cronin has resigned his seat in the Illinois Senate due to his election as the DuPage County Board Chairman.  He will be sworn in as the Chairman on December 6, 2010.  The mayor of Downers Grove, Ron Sandack, was selected to replace him in the Senate. 

UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE FOR YOUR CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 29, 2010          House returns to Springfield

NOVEMBER 30, 2010          Senate returns to Springfield

JANUARY 10, 2011             Inauguration of Constitutional Officers

JANUARY 11, 2011             Last day of the 96th General Assembly

JANUARY 12, 2011             Inauguration of the 97th General Assembly

JANUARY 25-27, 2011        IAR Public Policy Meetings (East Peoria)