Governor Pritzker Plans to Extend Stay at Home Order with Modifications     Modified Order Extends Stay at Home Provisions, Will Require Face Coverings in Public Yesterday afternoon, Governor JB Pritzker announced that he will extend the stay at home order, with some modifications. The modified order will go into effect on May 1 to continue through May 30. An actual copy of the Executive Order is not expected until May 1, but the Governor's press release indicates what we can expect.   The modified order will permit some increased activity, but will require the use of face masks in certain situations. Starting on May 1, the following provisions will have the most direct impact on motor vehicle dealers: FACE COVERINGS: Individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can't maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate a face-covering or a mask.   ​​​​​​​ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND MANUFACTURING: Essential businesses and manufacturers will be required to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing, as well as follow new requirements that maximize social distancing and prioritize the well-being of employees and customers. This will include occupancy limits for essential businesses and precautions such as staggering shifts and operating only essential lines for manufacturers. Your employees in the showroom and other public portions of your dealership will need to be provided with face masks for use when meeting with customers. The Executive Order will also permit certain elective surgical procedures, outdoor recreation, and sales by non-essential businesses via curbside pickup.  The Executive Order will also expand the list of essential businesses to include garden centers and dog grooming businesses and make provisions for educational institutions to permit students to retrieve personal belongings.   A copy of the press release announcing the modified Executive Order can be found here.     President Signs Small Business Funding Bill into Law     The House passed a nearly $500 billion coronavirus response package (Phase 3.5), which increases funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by $310 billion. The bill, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, also requires that $60 billion of the increased PPP loan level is reserved for loans to small businesses by smaller lenders, including credit unions and minority-owned banks. The bill also includes another $50 billion for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help support emergency loans and an additional $10 billion for associated disaster grants to small businesses. The current package only addresses funding levels, not loan program changes or eligibility rules to receive a PPP loan. The President did sign the bill into law earlier today. The President and Congress are already focusing on the next stimulus package (Phase 4), which is expected to be much broader. This legislation will probably be considered in late May or June. There are likely to be efforts to create additional transparency for recipients of the existing PPP loans. Also, if additional PPP funds are sought in Phase 4, there may be efforts to change the eligibility rules for small businesses to receive future PPP loans.    NADA continues to strongly advocate for swift action to replenish PPP funding and the broadest possible business relief to help dealerships continue in operation, as well as to assist state dealer associations by seeking additional relief for 501-c-6 organizations. Thank you for all of your efforts, and we will continue to keep you updated. Source: NADA Legislative Office