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Kane County

KC Legislative Committee

Meeting Minutes

GUMZ, LINDER, Bates, Daugherty, Gripe, Molina, Strathmann, ex-officios Roth (County Vice

Chair) and Pierog (County Chair)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

10:30 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Gumz called today's meeting to order at 10:40 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Michelle Gumz

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Mavis Bates

PRESENT

Board Member Jon Gripe

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Board Member Gary Daugherty

Board Member Myrna Molina

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

REMOTE

ABSENT

Also present: Co. Bd. members Allan*, Arroyo, Kious*, Penesis*, Tepe*; OEM Dir.

Buziecki; Deputy. Dir. of Transportation Rickert; McGuireWoods Consultant Bales*;

KCHD Exec. Dir. Isaacson; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Gumz announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Members Daugherty

and Molina attending remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: February 19, 2025

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Mavis Bates

Public Comment

Kane County resident Marc Avelar spoke on the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM).

He referenced three affordable pharmacies including CVS Caremark, Express Scripts,

and Optum RX. All three pharmacies are owned by insurance companies. He stated

that in 2019, he attended a round table meeting hosted by then Congressman Sean

Casten, discussing prescription drugs and affordability. During this time, Avelar stated

that the House leadership was to pass the legislation for prescription drugs with Big

Pharma. On April 4, 2025, Avelar stated that Senate Bill 709 was amended with Senate

Amendment 1, and has been renamed the Prescription Drug Affordability Act. This is a

significant set of reforms to regulate PBM's. Avelar requested that the Legislative

Committee monitor this Bill, and if necessary, report it to the May 7 Executive

Committee meeting in order to help Kane County residents afford their prescriptions.

Lastly, Avelar highlighted that the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)

issued a letter co-signed by a bipartisan group of 39 State Attorney Generals, in order

to ask Congress to pass this legislation.

Legislative Update

McGuireWoods Consultant Greg Bales stated that the House passed the Senate

budget resolution for the Budget Reconciliation Process. Last week, the House passed

the Senate Budget Resolution. He explained that the chambers pass a resolution that

instructs committees to develop plans to reduce or increase taxing authorities, and

spending plans. Bales anticipates public hearings in early May. Once committees start

having public hearings, more information will be provided. Secondly, Bales reported

that Members of Congress and the respected appropriation committees in the House

and Senate are starting to solicit fiscal year 2026 requests for congressional directive

spending for community project funding. He reminded the committee of the continuing

resolution for fiscal year 2025, which was passed, and extends federal spending for

fiscal year 2025 through September into October 1. Unfortunately, when a CR was

passed, mass congressional directive spending was eliminated nationally. Currently, all

requests for FY25 are re-submitted and ideally selected for FY26. Bales stated that

Senate Bill 1909, which is a Quick-Take authorizing a bill, was passed unanimously

through the Senate. The bill will move to the House, with no expected oppositions.

House Bill 2442, which is a traffic signal preemption bill requested by emergency

management, was passed unanimously through the House with bipartisan sponsors.

Senate Bill 1424, which is the leasing of county property legislation, currently has an

extension on the bill, along with a third reading in the Senate. Lastly, Senate Bill 71,

which a school safety bill with local and state emergency management offices

developing safety plans with school districts in case of a derailment incident, is being

negotiated with Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Dir.Scott Buziecki, and the

City of Aurora. The Bill is expected to move forward smoothly. Bales addressed

questions and comments from the Committee. Much discussion took place.

Deputy Dir. of Transportation Rickert thanked the lobbyists for all their efforts in

assisting with projects to go smoothly. He stated that the Community Funding Project is

currently being worked on, with assistance from Exec. Dir. of Planning and

Transportation Heidi Files. Applications have been submitted. The project at Randall

Road and Big Timber is an ongoing federal project. Rickert reported that to be eligible

for federal funds for the "Safe Streets for All" aspect, it is required to be adopted at the

regional level by the end of May. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

(CMAP) is engaged with the Kane County Transportation department to submit

applications by the end of June.

Kane County Health Department (KCHD) Exec. Dir. Isaacson explained that a lot of

federal funding goes into local health initiatives. He stated that the federal freezes on

grants has negatively impacted the health department and multiple positions. Isaacson

hopes to continue to work with the state health department, representatives at the state

and federal level, as well as lobbyists for legislation assistance.

New Business

Legislative Budget, Bills & Webpage

Chairman Gumz suggested having a legislative breakfast for a meet-and-greet with

legislators and elected officials to discuss the legislative budget and high priorities for

the county. She asked the committee and department heads to share their experience

with participating at the breakfasts, and provide their input.

ITD staff Blair Peters shared his most recent experience with setting up the legislative

breakfast. He stated that legislative committee members attended a breakfast in

Springfield, Illinois, where boxed lunches were delivered. He noted that for several

years, the legislative breakfast was held in the auditorium at the government center.

Legislators and Elected Officials would normally attend, with the meeting lasting about

an hour.

McGuireWoods Consultant Greg Bales stated that he remembers attending a

legislative breakfast as a staffer for Senator Durbin. The meetings were conducted

smoothly with great conversations and questions amongst all members and legislators

who attended.

Deputy Dir. of Transportation Rickert commented that the legislative breakfasts were

occasionally set up as a panel where questions were directed, and county priorities

were highlighted. He indicated that these breakfasts helped to unify the county's

position on high priorities.

Committee Chair Gumz took all recommendations into consideration. The committee

came to an agreement to set up a small legislative breakfast. Further discussion took

place. Gumz announced that the legislative draft agenda is being developed. She is

collaborating with Public Information's Officer (PIO) Julie Mann to create a designated

legislative webpage. The draft legislative agenda will be presented at the next meeting.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Dir. Scott Buziecki referenced the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and explained how the grant process works.

He reported that a mitigation grant was recently applied for to assist in developing a

emergency recovery plan. Buziecki reminded the committee of the passing of the Kane

County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan earlier this year, which will be due for approval

in year 2029. Much discussion ensued.

Old Business

Removal of Legislative Co-Chair

Chairman Gumz reviewed the suggestions that were made at the last committee

meeting on the removal of the Co-Chair language. Specific language is currently being

edited in the resolution. Once a draft resolution is created, it will be presented at the

next meeting.