Advocacy Initiatives

The SBAC has a unique ability to tap the bipartisan nature of the often hyper-partisan political environment in the Illinois State Capitol. The following items are state level initiatives the SBAC is prioritizing in Springfield.

THE SAFER COMMUNITIES & SMALL BUSINESS ACT
Supporting Small Businesses and Formerly Incarcerated Citizens (HB 3418)- This initiative will provide wage subsidies to businesses that hire formerly incarcerated individuals and increased tax incentives to small businesses that hire returning citizens.

Child Care Tax Credit (HB2327) -  This bill will provide a tax credit for working families that will allow parents struggling to afford childcare to reenter the workforce.

Procurement Bidding Reform (SB 2192) - The Procurement Bidding Reform will inform a bidder who has failed to be awarded a contract after 4 consecutive bids with a written explanation from the chief procurement officer for the agency's rejection of the submitted bids.

Transparency Bill (HB2368)-The Transparency Bill would require all state agencies to report transparently the total number of contracts given to minority-owned businesses in a year.

Vacancy Fraud Act (SB2027) & (HB3014) - The Vacancy Fraud Act provides taxpayers the opportunity to bring a complaint when commercial property owners make knowingly false representations to the Cook County Assessor’s Office to procure a reduction in property taxes based on full or partial vacancy.

The SBAC is also fighting for small businesses in the City of Chicago with our current Chicago Action Plan.

Zoning Reform- One of the most complicated barriers a prospective business owner must face is finding a commercial space properly zoned for the use of the business. Chicago and surrounding communities have overly complicated and outdated zoning requirements that must be adjusted for the new economy that exists today.