Budget, Coronavirus Crisis On Agenda As Illinois Lawmakers Return

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois lawmakers plan to meet next week in Springfield for the first time in more than two months. The Senate will meet at the Capitol, while the House will convene at the Bank of Springfield center for a three-day special session with strict social distancing measures in place aimed at limiting the potential spread of the new coronavirus, legislative leaders announced.

Speaker Mike Madigan said Republican and Democratic state representatives have been working remotely for weeks to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in a bipartisan fashion.

"I have always been certain that especially in times of crisis, the important work of the General Assembly must continue," Madigan said, announcing the special session.

"We will focus our efforts on passing essential legislation that protects our most vulnerable residents, including a responsible state budget that prioritizes all Illinoisans and provides some stability for our state's economy," he said.

The state's fiscal year ends June 30. Illinois lawmakers can pass a budget with a simple majority vote until the end of May. After that, it would require a supermajority of 60 percent for approval.

Madigan said he asked all House Democrats to sign a pledge approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health to abide by certain health precautions. He said he also sent the pledge to House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, asking him to seek the same commitment from Republican state representatives.

The recommendations from state public health officials include:

• Getting tested for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, and self-quarantining should they test positive;
• Getting temperature checks before the start of any session;
• Wearing a face mask and any other required protective equipment at all times in session and whenever near colleagues and staff;
• Travelling alone and staying alone;
• Avoiding any non-essential meetings, shared meals or drinks;
• Taking another test, or self-quarantining for at least seven days, after the end of the session.

Related:

• Illinois Lawmakers Weigh In On Upcoming Pandemic Special Session
• Poopy's v. Pritzker: Business Owners Sue Governor Over Stay-At-Home Order
• No Timetable For 'Essential' Illinois Lawmakers To Return To Work
• Second Illinois State Rep Sues To Overturn Pritzker's Stay-At-Home Order

State lawmakers have not convened since prior to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's March 9 disaster declaration. Two days later, leaders of the both houses of the General Assembly announced the cancellation of upcoming sessions.

Although legislators had already been scheduled to work through the end of May, making next week's session a "special" one allows Madigan and Senate President Don Harmon to limit its scope to specific topics. Special sessions can be called by the governor or, as in this case, by a joint proclamation of the leaders of both houses.

According to their joint proclamation, only legislation concerning the following can be considered:

• The COVID-19 pandemic or other disasters;
• The budget and its implementation;
• Economic recovery, infrastructure projects and funding them;
• Arguments involving planned constitutional amendments, namely the amendment to abolish the state's flat income tax;
• Laws set to expire in the next year;
• Matters concerning the November election and the State Board of Elections;
• The hospital assessment program.

It did not appear that changing state law to allow for remote voting, "virtual" committee hearings or other forms of electronic meetings in response to the pandemic would be on the agenda.

Madigan and Harmon's call for lawmakers to return to Springfield comes as local officials in areas with fewer infections call for modifications to the details of the governor's phased "Restore Illinois" plan to relax restrictions on business and activities contained in his statewide stay-at-home order. Two Republican state representatives and several business owners have filed lawsuits in state court asking judges to overturn the order, in part, because the governor has repeatedly extended it without explicit legislative approval.

Read full Illinois General Assembly COVID-19 Safety Precautions: