Learn how the bills MPC supports have progressed, and take action to ensure their success
As state leaders debate how best
to craft a new state budget, big-ticket items including school funding reform,
pension obligations, property tax relief, and universal healthcare are
dominating the headlines. However, hundreds of less high-profile bills
supporting everything from bike safety to animal welfare are garnering the
support necessary to become laws – including a few bills supported by the
Metropolitan Planning Council. For more information on our legislative efforts
to improve economic development, quality of life and economic opportunity in our
region, contact MPC Vice President of External Relations Peter Skosey. To contact your
legislators in support of these bills, visit MPC’s e-advocacy center.
Green Neighborhood Award Act (SB 135)
The Green
Neighborhood Award Act is designed to allow the Ill. Dept. of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity to issue grants to developments that are consistent with
the LEED for
Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) standards of the U.S. Green Building
Council, Congress for the New Urbanism, and Natural Resources Defense Council.
This bill has been approved by both the
House and the Senate, and is expected to be signed by Gov. Blagojevich in a matter
of weeks.
Good Housing Good Schools (SB 220)
Good Housing Good
Schools creates a school funding bonus for school districts in communities
that approve multifamily housing developments to advance the goals of
Illinois
’ Comprehensive
Housing Plan. The annual amount of the school funding bonus for eligible
developments would be $1,120 for each two-bedroom unit, with $560 awarded for
each additional bedroom. Based on this formula, the state’s annual estimated
cost for the bonus is less than $5 million per year.
The bill passed through the
Senate on March 27, with a vote of 50 – 6 – 1, and was approved by the Executive
Committee of the House on May 23. The bill is currently sponsored by Rep. Karen
A. Yarbrough (D-Broadview). With the strong show of support in the Senate, the legislation is
anticipated to progress successfully through the remaining steps of the
process.
Path to Prosperity: 1 Percent for Planning
(HB 2473)
Path
to Prosperity would set aside funds for towns in need of planning
assistance, by providing a revenue source for the Local Planning Fund (created
by the Illinois General Assembly through the Local Planning Technical Assistance
Act in 2002, but as-yet unfunded). Through the Local Planning Fund,
municipalities receive state support to create comprehensive plans necessary for
achieving their community vision. Path to Prosperity would use 1 percent of the
Hotel Operators Tax that was previously diverted to the General Revenue Fund to
expand the Local Planning Fund, enabling
Illinois
to provide more municipalities with
planning technical assistance.
Path to Prosperity has enjoyed
strong support from both chambers: the bill was approved unanimously by the
House on May 15, and was referred to Rules in the Senate on May 16. The
legislation is presently sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), and is expected to continue its
strong showing. Please contact
Senator Harmon and express your support.
Public-Private Partnerships for
Transportation Act (SB 378)
Illinois needs the authority to create
Public-Private Partnerships for developing quality multi-modal transportation
infrastructure statewide, while minimizing the state’s need to raise additional
public revenue or take on hefty new debt. Public-Private
Partnerships for Transportation Act addresses this need, and would enable
Illinois
’
transportation agencies to tap the abundant private resources currently
available for these investments.
The bill remains in the Senate as
details are worked out with several stakeholders. MPC remains committed to
working with lawmakers and others to develop a consensus that would allow
Public-Private Partnerships statewide. Please email Peter Skosey to offer your
support for this effort.
Illinois Capital Investment Accountability Act (HB
801)
In order to maintain and expand
our transportation network – the backbone of our economy – and capitalize on the
limited pool of federal funding for transportation available through SAFETEA-LU
(the 2005 federal surface transportation package), the Illinois General Assembly
needs to develop a major capital package plan that:
·
Uses an accountable and transparent planning process;
·
Invests in transit, roads and freight;
·
Is supported with dedicated revenue; and
·
Emphasizes innovation, strengthening the tie between land
use and transportation decisions.
The
Illinois Capital Investment Accountability Act addresses several of these
points by requiring the establishment of statewide criteria and processes for
reviewing, prioritizing and selecting surface transportation project.
At this time, the Illinois
Capital Investment Accountability Act is awaiting a second reading in the House,
where it was introduced. MPC will continue to work closely with key policymakers
to improve the way
Illinois
plans and funds major transportation
investments.