MML The Review MarchApr 2021 Magazine

THAT’S A WRAP 100TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION FINALIZED

By Chris Hackbarth

W ith the expiration of 14 days on the governor's desk, the last bills presented from 2020’s lame duck legislative action brought the 100th Legislative Session to an official close. All told, nearly 300 bills were introduced following the November 2020 election. A total of 402 bills became new Public Acts (PAs) in 2020—and 158 were finalized during lame duck, mainly in December. In addition to the volume of new laws, the governor leaned heavily on her veto pen during the final days of the legislative session. At the end of the session, 36 bills were either directly vetoed or expired without signature, resulting in a pocket veto. The legislative action of 2020 stands in stark contrast to 2019, where only 178 new PAs were signed, and no bills were vetoed.

The following summaries represent the main issues League staff were engaged with during lame duck and those we expect to see returning in the 2021-22 term.

Signed by the Governor

COVID Extension to Boards of Review: HB 5824 and 5825 (PAs 251 & 297 of 2020) —Codifies the governor’s now nullified Executive Order that extended the March 2020 Boards of Review and allowed certain additional appeals and valuation changes during the July 2020 Boards of Review. Poverty Exemption: SB 1234 (PA 253 of 2020) —Amends the current residential property tax poverty exemption to assist with various COVID-related impacts that low-income residents face as they attempt to apply for the exemption.

MARCH / APRIL 2021

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THE REVIEW