Rockford Sun

Two bills introduced and passed by State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, during the spring legislative session were signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker on Friday.

House Bill 5412 adds reporting and enforcement language to state law that requires companies benefiting from tax incentives to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, as well as semiconductors and microchips for auto manufacturing, to demonstrate that their work moves toward completion. This grants the State of Illinois the ability to “claw back” taxpayer funds from any incentives previously granted under the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV-Illinois) Act and the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Act from any company that does not fulfill the requirements.

The REV Illinois Act and MICRO Act are incentive programs created to bolster Illinois manufacturing. They aim to attract companies across the supply chain in the electric vehicle and renewables sectors, utilizing Illinois’ skilled workforce. These programs offer competitive incentives for companies that manufacture electric vehicles or aircraft, associated battery products, charging infrastructure, recycling products, renewables including solar, hydrogen, wind, energy storage, green steel manufacturing (REV-Illinois Act), or semiconductors and microchips (MICRO Act) to expand in or relocate to Illinois.

House Bill 1742 allows the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Service Boards (Metra, CTA, and Pace) to donate rolling stock, including locomotives and equipment, to museums in Illinois that are not-for-profit organizations. This new law will help the Illinois Railway Museum in Union acquire donations of surplus property such as vintage trains more efficiently.

“Accountability to taxpayers is always my top legislative priority,” Representative Sosnowski said. “Companies receiving a tax break to manufacture parts essential to the future of the auto manufacturing industry here in northern Illinois will not be allowed to fleece the taxpayer or our auto workers under the new law I passed. I am also pleased to have been able to pass a new law that removes hurdles for one of our local gems, the Illinois Railway Museum in McHenry County, and other not-for-profit organizations like them, to more easily acquire pieces and artifacts for public display and preservation that will benefit families for generations to come.”

Both new laws passed by Representative Sosnowski take effect on January 1, 2025.