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State legislative update: mass-transit funding debate and stalled bills on county control of wind and solar
Summary
Will County’s legislative consultants warned the county that mass-transit funding and local control over wind and solar remain unresolved in Springfield; committees are watching potential sales-tax measures and several jurisdictional bills have not advanced out of holding committees.
Will County’s state legislative consultants told the county’s Legislative Committee that two long-running policy fights in Springfield remain unsettled: how to raise roughly $750 million in year-one funding for mass transit, and whether to restore counties’ authority over wind and solar siting.
At the committee meeting, Matt and Anne of Mac Strategies said the governor’s budget assumed improved revenues but offered only limited spending increases and no general tax increases. That leaves mass-transit funding in flux: consultants said legislators are discussing options that include expanding sales taxes to services or other revenue proposals, but “we don't anticipate that [a mass-transit funding package] will come together this session” until late in May, if at all.
On county authority over wind and solar projects, consultants said numerous bills were filed to restore local control but most remain in holding committees. Anne said the only wind- or solar-related bill that had moved was House Bill 1420 by Rep. Dave Vela, which is assigned to the counties and townships committee and would allow counties to take public comment into account; she added that the bill’s practical impact appears limited.
Why it matters: Will County officials said local authority over siting and meaningful input on large renewable-energy projects directly affects land use and constituent complaints. Consultants recommended that the county consider submitting a resolution to Springfield with concrete examples of adverse outcomes since the legislature narrowed county authority.
Key details from the briefing: - The governor’s office earlier projected a roughly $3.2 billion deficit, then reported improved revenues; the administration proposed a cautious budget with limited spending increases. - Mass-transit reform comprises two challenges: oversight structure (how RTA, CTA, METRA and PACE interact) and raising immediate operating revenue (roughly $750 million expected year one). Consultants said oversight talks have seen some movement but the revenue piece is the harder negotiation. - Multiple bills on wind and solar were filed; most are stuck in the House Rules or Senate Assignments (holding) committees. House Bill 1420 was the only bill reported to have moved; it was described as allowing counties to “take into account public comment.”
Local direction and next steps: Committee members discussed drafting a county resolution to send to Springfield that would either seek to restore limited county authority over siting or to clarify the scope of local input. Consultants urged the board to be precise and provide narrow examples of “worst-case outcomes” tied to the loss of local authority.
Ending: Consultants said the legislative calendar will grow hectic approaching the March 21 committee deadline and possibly again in May; county leaders were advised to prepare specific policy language and examples if they want to press for changes in state law.
