ISACo

June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, when we raise awareness, provide resources, and offer support to those challenged with the symptoms of PTSD. Currently, 12 million people in the United States are diagnosed with PTSD. Veterans are more likely to experience PTSD, particularly those who have been deployed to a war zone or are struggling with their transition to civilian life. To protect our veterans, we must raise awareness and engagement in recovery.

Did you know that in a recent survey of pet owners who had to evacuate their homes in a disaster, nearly half left at least one pet behind? And 83 percent of those pet owners reported living in a community that faces a natural disaster? These statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ACPCA) show how important it is to include your pets in your evacuation plan and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS) has tips on how to do that. This is a good time to do that because June is National Pet Preparedness Month.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of the 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $6 million was awarded to 260 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

Senate Floor Amendment 2 to House Bill 1700 brings significant shifts to local governance by granting counties the optional authority to adopt the Illinois Stretch Energy Code while significantly narrowing local zoning controls over disputed renewable energy facilities. Click on the title to read a policy breakdown of this ISACo-opposed amendment.

Following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, the Illinois General Assembly is considering changes to property tax enforcement. Click on the title to read this article about how House Bill 4537, supported by ISACo, transitions the state away from "absolute forfeiture" to protect private property equity and what this means for county administrative responsibilities.