LEGISLATIVE BRIEFS

Update on Campaign-led and Supported Legislation

September 6, 2007
This session, Illinois passed legislation in support of regional planning and livable communities.

State budget proposal threatens regional development, transit system

August 17, 2007
Campaign for Sensible Growth opposes budget without new transit revenues.

Campaign Supports Senate Bill 1201 and Co-chair CMAP's Regional Comprehensive Plan

June 13, 2007
Senate Bill 1201, which gives CMAP regional planning authority, passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly and now awaits the Governor's support.

Spring Session Legislative Update

May 30, 2007
Read about the progress of these pertinent bills, including SB 135-The Green Neighborhood Award; SB 220-Good Housing, Good Schools; HB 2473-Path to Prosperity; and HB 728/SB 445-Open Doors, Open Lands.

Comprehensive Planning Success in Wisconsin; Illinois Falls Short

April 2, 2007
Announcement from Wisconsin governor reaffirms that local communities benefit from state planning legislation when their efforts are funded.

Coalition Members Launch Trainings for Stormwater Management Planning

February 28, 2007
Goals of the Stormwater Management Act of 2005, a Campaign initiative, are becoming a reality for several Illinois counties. Coalition partners recently held the first of many workshops aimed at assisting municipal leaders plan for sustainable, coordinated stormwater management.

Campaign-Supported Water Supply Initiative Gets Public Launch

June 5, 2006
Advocates for a clean, abundant, reasonably priced water supply available throughout Illinois gathered at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Monday, June 5, to celebrate the launch of a new state program, the Illinois Water Supply Initiative, which marks Illinois ’ first step toward developing a comprehensive statewide framework to manage water resources.

Governor Recognizes Illinois' Troubled Waters

January 10, 2006
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich issued an executive order recognizing the concerns addressed in Troubled Waters, a report prepared by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands in conjunction with the Campaign for Sensible Growth on the need for watershed planning.

Drought to continue in northeastern Illinois; driest March-Nov. on record

December 6, 2005
Water shortages are predicted to persist, increasing the need for statewide water supply planning.

New Regional Planning Board to consolidate existing agencies, coordinate development, transportation in region

November 2, 2005
Under state legislative authority, a new Regional Planning Board has been formed to merge the functions of NIPC and CATS.

Congress approves federal transportation bill; new state spending plan needed to ‘bring the money home'

September 2, 2005
Federal passage of transportation legislation is only the first step -- the state has to find the matching funds.

Governor Signs Stormwater Management Bill

August 24, 2005
Counties can now institute stormwater committees to help prevent flooding and protect precious rivers and streams.

U.S. Supreme Court decision on eminent domain prompts calls for clarification

August 11, 2005
Illinois Senate hearing brings comments, diverse views about Kelo v. New Haven and impact in the state

Legislative Victories Despite Budget Shortfalls

June 24, 2005
A listing of bills that passed the General Assembly that the Campaign supported.

Wetlands "destruction" act dies; affordable housing bills pass on to governor

May 16, 2005
A roundup of legislative action, with good news for Campaign supporters on stormwater, wetlands and affordable housing

Stormwater Management in Urbanizing Counties Passes Illinois Senate

April 21, 2005
MPC and its partners break-through 16 years of logjam to allow counties and municipalities to plan together to protect water quality and prevent flooding

Governor releases first ever comprehensive state housing plan

January 25, 2005
The new state plan kicks-off a multi-year agenda to promote housing affordability and choice for all Illinois households and create and preserve the state's supply of workforce housing, engaging local and state leaders in advancing housing solutions.

OSLAD, NAAF funding upheld in State budget

July 26, 2004
Following a massive lobbying effort by the Partners for Parks and Wildlife coalition, the Legislature retained funding for open space aquisition

Campaign Contributes to IEPA Water Quality Management Report

July 13, 2004
Proposal aims to improve, coordinate watershed planning in Illinois

Campaign, NIPC win APA-Illinois Award

June 3, 2004
Campaign's Sustainable Development guidebook takes home Public Education award honors

APA Planners meet to talk about affordable housing

April 13, 2004
Panel discusses new legislation, Governor's Task Force on Housing at Highland Park meeting

Gov. Blagojevich announces marketing tool for business growth

March 5, 2004
DCEO opens Web site section with community profiles and available real estate sites throughout the state to increase community exposure.

State plan for economic development on its way

February 6, 2004
DCEO's Lavin unveils hints of what's to come in Governor's "Opportunity Returns" economic plan for Chicago-area region

DCEO Director Lavin calls brownfield redevelopment keystone to governor’s economic development plans

January 21, 2004
Regional economic development plans to include brownfield infill and redevelopment

Importance of planning brings county officials and state leaders to Peoria

November 7, 2003
"Growing Together" is theme of Nov. 12 Partners in Planning conference

Momentum builds for Wetlands Protection bill

November 4, 2003
Openlands Project researcher Richard Acker reports that support is building for the Wetlands Protection bill in the Illinois General Assemby veto session.

Governor signs executive order creating Illinois housing policy

September 19, 2003
The Executive Order creates a housing task force to prioritize the housing needs of underserved constituencies.

Governor signs bill to create regional transportation task force

August 7, 2003
Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law the Act establishing a regional transportation task force to study and make recommendations on creating an integrated transportation system for the Northeastern Illinois region.

Progress evident in sensible growth and housing bills in spring session

June 17, 2003
The spring 2003 legislative session saw encouraging movement on housing policy and environmental protection related legislation, despite a bleak fiscal situation. A summary is available here.

Local Legacy Act awaits governor's signature

June 6, 2003
Act promotes coordinated county-municipal planning, which emphasizes protecting natural, historic, agricultural resources.

House passes Illinois Wetlands Protection Act, HB 422

June 6, 2003
Wetland protection takes a step forward with House vote; faces hard fight in Senate in the fall.

A Sensible Plan for Growth in Illinois

April 7, 2003
MarySue Barrett's monthly column in Crain's Chicago Business deals with sensible growth.

Illinois Local Planning Technical Assistance Act: What Is It and What's Next

March 13, 2003
Two experts present an overview of the State's new planning act and urge planners to advocate for funding to implement it.

Study on Illinois economic development finds incentive programs encouraged sprawl

January 17, 2003
A recent study for Good Jobs First analyses five recent projects and determines that state resources have been inefficient at promoting economic development and actually subsidize sprawl. The study makes several recommendations to the new state administration.

Romney selects environmentalist to head new cabinet post; Links transportation, environment housing under one authority

January 9, 2003
Massachusetts' new governor's moves on smart growth could be model for Illinois.

Illinois EPA preserves Facility Planning Areas

October 2, 2002
After a spirited debate on whether the FPA process was the appropriate place to make community growth decisions, the IEPA agreed not to dispense with the process.

IHDA OKs McHenry County, North West Housing Partnership for employer-assisted housing programs

July 12, 2002
The Illinois Housing Development Authority approved the first two applications for tax credits for employer-assisted housing on June 21, 2002.

Smart growth plays in Peoria, but not Springfield ... yet

May 30, 2002
A new report from the American Planning Association praises Illinois' smart growth victories and looks at smart growth trends around the country.

Illinois Land Preservation Initiative pushed by state park districts

May 1, 2002
The Illinois Land Preservation Initiative would increase the state sales tax minimally in order to fund land purchase and recreation use. A November advisory referendum is planned.

What's Ahead for Sensible Growth Legislation

April 2, 2002
Four key state lawmakers rate legislative chances of Sensible Growth in 2002

Illinois Growth Task Force Final Report

February 28, 2002
Executive Summary

Campaign Special Membership Meeting: After the Illinois Growth Task Force: What's Next?

February 27, 2002
State legislators and administrators discuss what's ahead for advocates of sensible growth.

Three environmental bills begin trek through General Assembly

February 26, 2002
Three bills of concern to the Campaign's Environmental Working Group on wetlands, Local Legacy and agricultural land protection are introduced in Illinois House.

Growth Task Force ends work, sets recommendations

February 7, 2002
After two years of meetings, the Illinois Growth Task Force on Feb. 4 agreed to a series of recommendations, findings and universal principles that will be presented to the General Assembly.

Growth Task Force works on shaping final document

January 16, 2002
Illinois Growth Task Force members have further refined their final report to the General Assembly and the Governor.

Growth Task Force grapples with Findings, Recommendations of Final Report

January 9, 2002
At a lengthy meeting Jan. 8, the Illinois Growth Task Force began working on its final report for the General Assembly.

Illinois Growth Task Forces winds up affairs

January 4, 2002
State Sen. Steven Rauschenberger sets two January meetings to formulate a final report for the Illinois Growth Task Force.

Growth Task Force focuses on transportation

October 29, 2001
The Illinois Growth Task Force met Oct. 25 to hear reports of the Economics and Transportation Working Group and gather information on transportation around the region.

Southwest mayors condemn state policies against sensible growth

October 10, 2001
The Southwest Conference of Mayors urges the General Assembly to rethink policies including tax caps and unfunded mandates because they stifle sensible growth planning.

APA panelist identifies 7 national sensible growth trends

October 9, 2001
Jason Jordan, American Planning Association legislative liaison, identifies trends in planning legislation today, and believes that passing legislation is more important than ever in light of Sept. 11 events.

Growth Task Force meets in Champaign, focuses attention on natural resources

September 25, 2001
The Illinois Growth Task Force, the bipartisan legislative committee looking into growth issues, heard reports on water, farmland preservation and development rights.

Illinois Growth Task Force reappointed ... and back at work

August 28, 2001
At its July 18 meeting, members of the Illinois Growth Task Force looked back at the past year's accomplishments, and ahead to goals for the future.

Sensible Growth legislation dies in Senate

June 21, 2001
After a year of polls indicating that Americans were tired of traffic congestion and willing to invest more in developed areas, after a national survey reminding us that Illinoisans waste more than one week per year in their cars, sitting in traffic and after Governor George Ryan himself indicated that the time had come for action on balanced growth initiatives, some consensus proposals that would have provided needed tools to local communities failed to pass the Senate.

Near-Term Priorities to Recommend to Illinois Growth Task Force

December 1, 2000
Prepared by Campaign for Sensible Growth