SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois moves toward a full reopening following the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) wants to ensure the legislature is involved in the decision-making process by reinstating the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission.

“The Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission gives legislators a chance to raise and address not only our own concerns, but the concerns we’re hearing from individuals in our communities,” Murphy said. “Our involvement in the reopening process is critical to ensuring Illinois’ families and businesses make a full recovery.”

Murphy’s proposal would reenact the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission, a bipartisan, bicameral commission created last May to monitor and help shape the state’s economic recovery plans after the COVID-19 crisis.

The commission met from July through December 2020, joined by representatives from a variety of state agencies to ask questions and offer feedback to help advance the state’s recovery.

The commission originally sunset on Dec. 31, 2020, but in light of the continuing challenges of the pandemic, Murphy’s initiative would extend the operation of the commission by two years to Jan. 1, 2023.

“From the vaccine rollout to the relaxation of capacity limits, the state faces a lot of important decisions over the next few months,” Murphy said. “The executive branch doesn’t work in a vacuum—the people of Illinois must be heard when plans are being made.”

Senate Bill 632 passed the Commerce Committee Thursday and now heads to the full Senate.