Bringing Your Business Needs to Springfield

Last week, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jessica Linder Gallo and Vice President of Operations Madeline Herrman traveled to Springfield to connect with members of our legislative delegation and share what we’re hearing from businesses across our region. 

While each day had a distinct purpose, our mission remained the same: to strengthen the connection between your business and our broader business community with state leadership. 

Day One: Leadership in Action 

Day one brought our Community Leadership School (CLS) participants to the State Capitol for conversations centered on leadership and the role the public sector plays in shaping strong communities. The annual Springfield visit is a seminal moment for each cohort, and this year’s experience delivered real-world insights into leadership, public service, and decision-making. 

Participants had the opportunity to hear directly from Senator Li Arellano Jr., Representative Sharon Chung, Representative Bill Hauter, Representative Ryan Spain, and  Representative Travis Weaver. 

Creating these connections and seeing leadership in practice is vital as we continue to invest in and grow the next generation of leaders in our community. 

Day Two: Advocacy in Action 

On day two, the focus shifted to advocacy. The Chamber team met with legislators to ensure that the business community’s experiences—your experiences—are part of the decision-making process. Our advocacy is rooted in telling your stories and communicating how new laws and regulations may impact your business. 

We met with Senator Li Arellano Jr., Representative Sharon Chung, Representative Bill Hauter, Representative Ryan Spain, and Representative Travis Weaver. We also connected with the offices of Senator Dave Koehler and Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth. 

A consistent theme throughout the day was the challenge businesses are facing in keeping up with new legislation. Employers across industries are working hard to stay compliant, but many shared that certain laws can create burdensome regulations that inhibit their ability to do business in Illinois. That feedback framed much of our discussion, as we asked how policies can achieve their intent without creating unintended obstacles for businesses. 

One key topic was the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. While many businesses support the intent, many have found implementation challenging, particularly small businesses. We highlighted potential legislative solutions that could provide additional flexibility, including exempting businesses with fewer than 15 employees and modifying violation protocols. 

We also discussed longer-term concerns, including the ongoing conversation around minimum wage. While formal legislation is not expected to move this session, businesses are thinking ahead. With discussions of potential increases reaching as high as $27/hour, many employers shared concerns about maintaining their bottom line while continuing to operate and grow. We made sure those concerns were clearly communicated to decision-makers 

Legislators are also exploring ways to modernize incentives for employer-supported childcare, which we see as a meaningful step toward addressing one of the most persistent barriers to workforce participation. We were happy to bring additional business perspective to this challenge. When childcare is inaccessible for employees, businesses feel the ripple effects in their workforce. 

We also had productive conversations around biometric data regulations and the need for targeted, practical updates that reflect real-world use cases like workplace safety and security. It was encouraging to hear that this issue remains under review with additional stakeholder input expected. 

Beyond policy, we shared updates on our emerging community development initiatives like Main Street Futures as we begin pursuing multiple sources of grant funding. More to come soon on this project. Building awareness and support at the state level is an important step in moving initiatives like this forward. 

Moving Forward 
Overall, the visit reinforced the value of businesses’ voices being at the table, sharing real experiences, and maintaining strong relationships with our elected officials. Our advocacy work for you doesn’t end when session adjourns or when we head home. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to continuing to being your advocate and helping make sure our business community is a central part of any conversation. 

For more information on our advocacy work, please contact Chamber President & CEO Jessica Linder Gallo at jlindergallo@peoriachamber.org.