Welcome to 2026!
There is an old saying in politics that says, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you might end up on the menu”. With that in mind, I hope you will take this opportunity to resolve to be involved in the new year.
Here are some ways to deepen your involvement in 2026:
At NACC
If you have an interest in government affairs, our Business Works committee meets monthly, typically on the second Tuesday of the month at 3:00 PM (preferably at the chamber office, but we typically offer a link to join remotely). The committee is our forum to receive updates and discuss issues that can impact your business. We sometime feature guest speakers to deepen your understanding of issues. The committee is currently chaired by Matt Shipley. If you are interested in joining us, please feel free to contact the chamber.
At the Local Level
The Naperville City Council typically meets twice a month (once a month in the summer). Meetings are usually held at 7:00 PM on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 South Eagle St. Meetings are open to the public, and individuals can sign up in advance to address the council and provide testimony on issues being discussed.
At the State Level
The Illinois General Assembly typically meets on scheduled session days in Springfield. Spring session usually lasts from January through May. State Representatives and State Senators are typically back in their district during the summer, and then return to Springfield for a shortened veto session in the fall. This is the second year of the two-year general assembly. The Illinois Senate will re-convene on January 13th, and Illinois House of Representatives will re-convene on January 20th.
NACC is a Member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and works closely with their staff on issues of impact. We participate in Chamber Day, an opportunity to travel to Springfield to receive an inside look at your state government in action. This year Chamber Day will take place in April. I will provide more details as they become available.
At the Federal Level
NACC is also a Member of the United States Chamber of Commerce. We also do an annual trip to DC to receive briefings for national expert, and to meet with our Members of Congress. More information to come on our 2026 trip.