2024 Policy Agenda

We support and promote a competitive tax climate that encourages entrepreneurship, investment, and job creation.

The Chamber opposes overly burdensome regulations and government overreach that add to the complexities and costs faced by businesses and employers.  This includes but is not limited to issues related to employment law, workers compensation costs, and unemployment insurance.

The State must act to address its fiscal crisis.  Illinois, at a minimum, must cap spending for several years while implementing a long-term strategy towards addressing the structural budget deficit, including unfunded pension liabilities.  Without significant reforms pension costs will continue to eliminate core government services, encourage additional tax increases, and do irreversible damage to Illinois’ finances and economy.

Illinois lawmakers have lost the public trust.  The Chamber supports meaningful ethics reform which can provide a foundation for targeting corruption and begin the long process of restoring the people’s trust in state government and our elected officials.

The way districts are drawn is one of the most important functions of government as this determines how elections will be handled for ten years.  Allowing the legislators to draw their own districts has shown electoral consequences of politicians and political parties choosing their voters instead of voters choosing their elected officials.  The Chamber supports the ongoing effort to amend the Illinois Constitution and turn the process over to an independent nonpartisan panel.

The Mid-Illinois Medical District (MIMD) is a one-square mile designation in the heart of Springfield just to the north of downtown.  Established in 2003 by an act of the Illinois General Assembly, the MIMD is a vibrant environment that supports patient care, bio-medical research, new medical technologies, and advanced medical-related activities.  The Mission of the MIMD is to promote the orderly development and expansion of health care facilities and medical-related industries.  The Chamber supports an annual appropriation by the State of Illinois to provide funding for the MIMD.

The State of Illinois needs to adequately invest in our transportation network in the most efficient way possible.  Between the ongoing Rebuild Illinois capital program and new federal resources, the Chamber recognizes that 2024 presents great opportunities for infrastructure investment in the State of Illinois.  The Chamber encourages state leaders to take advantage of these resources by moving projects forward expediently and seeking new competitive funding to leverage the State’s investments.

Carbon Capture Storage Regulatory Framework: HB 2202 (Hoffman) / SB 2153 (Cunningham) Illinois can build upon the historic CEJA legislation by positioning itself as a leader in carbon capture storage, unlocking new opportunities for manufacturing, spurring job creation by decarbonizing industries, and greening our economy.  We intend to support efforts such as HB 2202 and SB 2153 to create a carbon capture storage regulatory and legal framework to enable future CO2 storage projects across Illinois.