2019 Advocacy Updates

One of The Chamber’s four core functions is our role as a leading voice OF and FOR business, promoting and influencing pro-business, pro-growth policies and procedures while opposing those that are not.

We track local, state, and federal legislation and inform members of how it may impact their business and our community. We inform and guide members when action is needed, and provide the necessary information and most effective ways to take such action.

December 10, 2019 - The Board of Directors of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce adopted The Chamber's 2020 Policy Agenda which can be found on our website.

October 10, 2019 - The Chamber informed its members of the new overtime rules released by the U.S. Department of Labor that take effect January 1, 2020.  To see details in a recent article from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), click HERE.

October 8, 2019 - The Chamber hosted a Legislative Roundtable with U.S. Representative Darin LaHood focused on the benefits of The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO). The roundtable, which included a number of professionals involved in the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, discussed important changes to the Historic Tax Credit. To see details of the legislation, click HERE.

July 31, 2019 - The Chamber advised its members of proposed overtime rule changes released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).  To see details of the proposal, which will likely be implemented in early 2020, click HERE.

June 10, 2019 - The Chamber informed its members of recreational marijuana legislation that had passed in the Spring 2019 Session and how employers would be affected.   To view the email, click HERE.

May 2, 2019 - The Chamber informed its members of legislation to be considered in the remaining weeks of the 2019 session. It included a call to action for members to contact their House Representative and other House Representatives asking them to oppose a graduated or progressive tax structure.  To view the email, click HERE.

March 29, 2019 - The Chamber provided its members with an update on the latest local and state legislative issues.  To view the content of the email click HERE.

March 20, 2019 - As a part of our Advocacy efforts, Chamber President and CEO Chris Hembrough represented our members and the local business community at Chamber Day, an advocacy event hosted by The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and The Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Pro-business advocates from across the state gathered in Springfield on March 20 for legislative updates on critical issues regarding the business climate, the regulatory environment, and the state of our State.

March 18, 2019 - The Chamber recently asked Mayor Jim Langfelder and his challenger, Frank Edwards questions relevant to the business community. Please click HERE to view the questions and their written responses. Responses shown appear exactly as submitted by the candidates.

March 6, 2019 - A new minimum road standards ordinance was approved at the March 5 City Council Meeting.  This ordinance replaced a previous ordinance created in the mid-1990’s referred to as the “Developer’s Agreement”.  The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce through the leadership of its Development Policy Council worked with the City of Springfield, specifically the Department of Public Works, and the private sector development community to reach an agreement that resulted in this new ordinance.

Under the previous ordinance, developers building a subdivision could pay cash up front or submit a letter of credit to the city showing they could pay for road improvements once the city was ready to build a road. The new road standards ordinance ensures that the appropriate roads will be built as new subdivisions are built.

The new ordinance is better for the City of Springfield, its taxpayers, and the development community than the ordinance it replaces.

February 13, 2019 - Chamber President & CEO Chris Hembrough joined a coalition of other Chamber executives at the State Capitol to meet with House Representatives and hand deliver survey results of the impact a minimum wage increase would have on their member businesses.  To view a copy of the results, click HERE.

February 11, 2019 - The Chamber informed its members that Democratic members of the Senate approved a $15 hour minimum wage bill over opposition from a broad coalition of business community partners, and that SB 1 was now moving to the House of Representatives for a vote that would likely come within the week. To view a copy of the email click HERE.

February 6, 2019 - The Chamber surveyed its members regarding the impact on their businesses of a minimum wage increase.

February 1, 2019 - The Chamber informed its members that efforts to raise the minimum wage were moving quickly, as Governor Pritzker campaigned in favor of an increase to $15 per hour.  This would represent an 82 percent increase from the current wage and negatively impact employers in many ways, including a variety of other costs that would be driven up, like workers compensation insurance and various payroll taxes. To view a copy of the email click HERE.

It’s the Chamber’s position that if a minimum wage hike is going to happen it should reflect geographic cost differences rather than a one-size-fits all approach and have a long phase-in timeline. It’s also the Chamber’s position that a tax credit for employers to help mitigate the cost should be expanded to include more companies rather than just those with 50 or less employees.

Members were urged to contact local legislators and/or those statewide.  Contact information can be found on the Chamber's website HERE or statewide by linking to the House of Representatives and Senate.

January 17, 2019 - The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce joined with hundreds of Chambers of Commerce, sending a letter the President of the United States and Congress urging them to end the government shutdown. Click HERE to view the letter.

December 11, 2018 - The Board of Directors of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce adopted The Chamber's 2019 Policy Agenda.