ISACo

A House committee has advanced legislation aimed at converting underutilized commercial properties into housing, signaling continued momentum around affordability solutions in Illinois. While lawmakers expressed interest in the concept of adaptive reuse, concerns remain about statewide mandates and the need to preserve local control. The bill now heads to the House floor as discussions continue, with potential implications for local governments, zoning authority, and local infrastructure planning. Click on the title to read the story.

Stay informed on the latest legislative developments from Springfield. This report highlights ISACo-tracked bills that successfully cleared House committees from March 24-27, 2026. Click on the link to read the report.

On Thursday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2027-2031) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings. The plan authorizes $376 million in funding for grade crossing safety improvements and highway-rail grade separations at approximately 387 crossing locations.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology. IDOA secured a $7 million USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant to launch the program, which offers cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or who utilize new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. I-COVER is a three-year program for cover crops planted in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Illinois voters are sending a clear message: housing affordability is a growing concern, and they want action. A new poll highlighted by Capitol Fax shows strong, bipartisan support for increasing housing supply and lowering costs—while also raising important questions about the balance between state initiatives and local zoning authority. Click on the title to read more about what this could mean for counties and local decision-making.