Lobbyists updating the Will County Board on state matters told members that Illinois lawmakers will meet for a two-week veto session beginning Oct. 30 and that high-profile items including transit funding and an energy bill remain unsettled.

The board’s MacStrategies lobbyist said the so-called transit “fiscal cliff” estimate the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) had used in spring—about $771,000,000—has declined in short-term estimates after higher-than-expected sales-tax revenue and intra-agency transfers, and now is being discussed as “at best half that and actually maybe less.” He said leaders nonetheless are trying to resolve transit issues in veto session but that the odds of passage in veto session are “probably less likely” than not.

Why it matters: transit funding proposals under discussion have included several revenue measures—most notably a per-delivery fee (the Senate-passed bill initially carried a $1.50 fee, later discussed at a lower amount such as $0.50) and a suburban transfer tax to mirror Chicago’s transfer tax. Board members raised concerns about the compliance burden on small businesses and restaurants if a delivery fee requires vendors to collect and remit a new tax.

On energy, lobbyists said legislators are still negotiating a bill that would limit county and municipal authority over siting and standards for solar and battery-storage projects. The county’s presentation cited specific provisions under discussion that would constrain local screening, setbacks and decommissioning requirements—for example, a five-foot screening cap was cited as an example members found too low, and an eighteen-month removal window for decommissioned equipment was questioned by board members.

MacStrategies noted multiple related bills and approaches in play: House Bill 4116 and House Bill 4120 were mentioned as filings that carry energy-related language and procedural amendments; staff also referenced an approach of amending a senate bill (Senate Bill 25) in the House to speed the process. Lobbyists cautioned that some technical provisions (for example, clarifying the county’s authority over solar screening and decommissioning) may reappear in spring even if not finalized in veto session.

Other issues discussed included possible proposals to tax vehicle miles traveled in the longer term as a replacement for declining gas-tax revenue, and continuing negotiations around kratom and Delta-8 regulation, which lobbyists said remain entangled with larger cannabis/hemp debates.

Quotes and context: MacStrategies’ presenter said, “If the house were to vote on a bill in the senate as well, that had an immediate effective date … they need a supermajority vote,” explaining procedural hurdles. On the delivery fee, the lobbyist said the statute in the senate-passed version was “at a dollar fifty in the bill,” but negotiations have been fluid and the amount being discussed later was smaller.

Board reaction: Several board members pressed for specifics the county could use in advocacy—asking for clarifications on vendor compliance costs, surety-bond amounts and decommissioning timeframes, and whether the state’s language effectively prevents counties from setting higher screening heights or stronger decommissioning guarantees. Some members emphasized local control: “Who better than the people that live here to be able to inhibit how that property is being used?” one member said in debate.

What’s next: Lobbyists advised the board to consider a clear statement of the county’s priorities—e.g., higher screening heights, stronger decommissioning surety—so legislators in Springfield have specific language to consider. Lobbyists also said they would monitor the veto session and the spring session if bills are not resolved in late October.

Ending note: Board members requested follow-up detail on several technical items—exact RTA shortfall estimates, delivery-fee compliance burdens on small businesses, proposed screening/setback numbers, and surety-bond mechanics—so the county can take a position or seek amendments with state lawmakers.