(The Center Square) – A panel of state legislators Monday offered a preview of the priority issues they hope to address during the upcoming fall veto session and lame-duck session before the next term of the General Assembly begins in January.
DATA CENTER REGULATIONS
A top priority for lawmakers in both chambers and from both parties is passing some form of legislation that would regulate data centers – particularly ones known as “hyperscale” data centers, which are often used by AI companies and are significantly more strenuous on things like public utilities and water.
Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, explained that she and her colleagues want a bill that addresses the polarizing projects that addresses a number of issues, and that ties local property tax relief directly to new projects.
“We agree there needs to be a regulatory framework in place looking at water – regulating how much water is used, how it’s used, transparency, ethics, all of those things. And then also, most importantly is the power that goes along with it,” Rezin said.
As for the Democratic side, Rep. Edgar González Jr., D-Chicago, said he thinks the previously considered POWER Act just has parts that “need to be tinkered out,” and he really hopes to see the proposed legislation pass before the end of session.
Another House Democrat leader recently told The Center Square regulations could be better addressed in January.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
A legislative package – the Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD plan – seeks to make housing more affordable statewide.
While partly passed in the fall, specifically increased funding for existing financial assistance programs, the package’s proposed “red tape cutting” in new housing construction hasn’t passed.
Pritzker said in recent weeks that BUILD could be delayed to the next term to leave more time for negotiations and to put more work into the specifics of the bill.
Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said while he has disagreements with the legislation put forward by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, there are some ways the legislature can cut the price of new homes further.
“I have to applaud the governor for bringing this forward, saying that we need more housing, not just affordable housing, but we call it middle income housing,” Spain said. “Some of the governor’s solutions, I think missed the mark a little bit, you know, aiming on how to take away certain elements of local control that may not be the best solution, but there’s a lot of things.”
EDUCATION FUNDING
The $9.96 billion Chicago Public Schools budget this year relies on $150 million in state taxpayer funds that were promised after the state budget passed by outgoing Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch to address the district’s deficit.
Retiring Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, said appropriations legislation historically isn’t brought up until a new legislative session, and it would be unlikely to pass without offering additional funds statewide.
“We should find a way to afford it, but it has to go through the EBF funding formula. For the city of Chicago to get $150 million from that formula, about $500 or $600 million have to be poured through the top of the funnel,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said it’d be unlikely they could find enough funds before the next session, meaning CPS might have to make cuts to personnel and in other parts of its budget this year.
SMALLER PRIORITIES
Among other priorities, González said House Democrat leaders are also prioritizing some sort of government or legislature-specific ethics reforms during the veto session, though he said specifics are unclear.
Cunningham said he’d be more than happy to take up any ethics reform bills from the House.
The lawmakers also discussed potentially still passing a bill pertaining to major economic projects and state subsidies for them, which was initially part of a package meant to address a new Chicago Bears stadium – another key issue expected to come up next week.
Rezin also said she wants I-80 named after Pope Leo, the first American Pope who hails from Chicago.
Lawmakers return to Springfield Tuesday for their first week of their veto session.
