104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1562 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately. LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1562 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately. LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1562 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately. LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b A BILL FOR SB1562LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b 1 AN ACT concerning State government. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. 6 Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that: 7 (1) As a result of the Brexit agreement following the 8 United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, Northern 9 Ireland uniquely now has access to both the United 10 Kingdom's market of 67,000,000 people and the European 11 Union market of 450,000,000 people. 12 (2) There are 950 United States companies based in 13 Ireland, using it as a gateway to the European Union. 14 (3) Ireland is the 9th largest investor in the United 15 States. 16 (4) International trade is critical for the economic 17 growth and prosperity of the State of Illinois, supports 18 well-paid jobs in Illinois, raises Illinois living 19 standards, and helps Illinoisans provide for their 20 families with affordable goods and services. 21 Section 10. Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. The 22 Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission is created to build on the 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1562 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately. LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b A BILL FOR New Act LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562- 2 -LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 2 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 2 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b 1 2-way relationship between Illinois and Ireland to promote 2 economic growth, trade, and education. The Commission shall be 3 composed of the following members: 4 (1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President of 5 the Senate; 6 (2) one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority 7 Leader of the Senate; 8 (3) one member of the House of Representatives appointed 9 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 10 (4) one member of the House of Representatives appointed 11 by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; 12 (5) the Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy or his or 13 her designee; 14 (6) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or 15 his or her designee; 16 (7) the Consul General of Ireland in Chicago or his or her 17 designee; 18 (8) the Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber of 19 Commerce or his or her designee; 20 (9) the President of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce 21 or his or her designee; 22 (10) the President of the Illinois Retail Merchants 23 Association or his or her designee; 24 (11) the President of the Illinois Manufacturers' 25 Association or his or her designee; and 26 (12) the President of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging SB1562 - 2 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562- 3 -LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 3 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 3 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b 1 Association or his or her designee. 2 Section 15. Chair and Vice-Chair. The President of the 3 Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among 4 Commission members. 5 Section 20. Administrative support. The Department of 6 Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative 7 support for the Commission. 8 Section 25. Reimbursement for expenses. The members of the 9 Commission shall serve without compensation but may be 10 reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their 11 duties on the Commission. 12 Section 30. Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least 13 twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. 14 Section 35. Funds; gifts. The Commission may raise funds, 15 through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, 16 alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and 17 bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, 18 governmental agencies, and public and private organizations 19 and institutions. Funds shall only be used to carry out the 20 duties of the Commission. SB1562 - 3 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562- 4 -LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 4 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b SB1562 - 4 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b 1 Section 40. Annual report. The Commission shall file a 2 report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions 3 made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations 4 between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the 5 General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic 6 Opportunity. SB1562 - 4 - LRB104 10124 SPS 20196 b