Senate Moves All Work Online in February
The State Senate chamber in Springfield.
The Illinois Senate was scheduled to return to Springfield next week. Instead, all committees will meet virtually in February.
An e-mail from Senate President Don Harmon’s spokesman, John Patterson:
The Illinois Senate will move online for February, conducting virtual committee hearings in an effort to both maximize public health and safety and embrace available technology.
The early part of any new session is dominated by committee action. Given the ongoing pandemic, it makes sense to utilize the Senate’s remote committee meeting authority to continue doing the work of the people.
The Senate intends to move online for the Feb. 9-11 and 16-18 dates to conduct committee hearings and meetings.
We anticipate hearings being announced soon on key issues in addition to all standing committees having the opportunity to meet online during February.
All committee posting notices will be followed. They will be available on www.ilga.gov.
Meanwhile, the Senate President and staff continue reviewing workplace protocols with the goal of having a testing and safety process in place when in-person Senate floor action resumes.
The next scheduled session date is March 2.
Senators are allowed to vote remotely, but that’s only if a majority of the Senate is in meeting in person. Committees can meet and vote remotely. The House is scheduled to return February 10 for a one day session to adopt rules that will allow virtual meetings. Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget address was scheduled for February 17. It’s unclear what will happen with that speech.