This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes an update about General Assembly Third Reading deadlines, provides a list of ISACo-tracked bills approved by the House and Senate during the week of March 20-24, links to a report with recently-filed amendments pertinent to counties, includes information about a bill signed into law by the Governor concerning the Local Government Taxpayer Bill of Rights, shares an announcement about the appointment of a new Deputy Governor, conveys information about grants and resources intended to address carjacking, supportive housing and non-profit organization security, announces an opportunity for public comment regarding abandoned mine land and water reclamation projects, shares an upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunity, highlights ISACo corporate partner Harbour Contractors and invites counties to join ISACo.

House and Senate Third Reading Deadline Frenzy

The House and Senate were in session from Tuesday through Friday of last week. March 24 was the House Third Reading deadline. The Senate Third Reading deadline is March 31. Both chambers reconvene on March 28.

The Senate compiled an agreed bill list for non-controversial legislation that will be considered on a single roll call this week. The complete list is available via this link.  

Hundreds of amendments were filed in both chambers to position legislation for final passage out of the originating chamber. A report with amendments filed last week that are pertinent to counties is included within this e-newsletter. Despite all the amendments filed, several bills passed, particularly in the House, with promises to continue negotiations and fix problems in the other chamber. The House passed 403 bills last week while the Senate approved 68 bills.

Last week the Senate issued deadline extensions through March 31 for 122 Senate bills still pending at the committee level. Even though there was still more work to do, the House abruptly adjourned around 10pm Friday night when it became apparent there were not enough Democratic members in attendance to pass more controversial legislation. Additional deadline extensions for some bills awaiting final action in the House remain likely.

Bills Approved by the House/Senate

The following ISACo tracked bills* were approved by the House/Senate during the week of March 20-24:

House Bills

HB 217 - Eminent Domain Act-Will County (Support)

HB 277 - Clerk of Court-Notifications (Support)

HB 475 - Community Mental Health Act (No Position)

HB 1067 - Superintendent of Public Works (Support)

HB 1076 - Counties Code-Lease of Farmland (Support)

HB 1153 - Counties - Office of Auditor (No Position)

HB 1236 - Counties - Competitive Bidding (No Position)

HB 1286 - Equitable Restrooms-All Gender (No Position)

HB 1294 - Juvenile Court-Fitness (No Position)

HB 1363 - Gender Violence-Employer Duty (No Position)

HB 1364 - 9-8-8 Task Force (Support)

HB 1370 - Solid Waste-Event Facilities (No Position)

HB 1399 - Criminal Code-Lewd Sexual Display (No Position)

HB 1434 - Juvenile Court-Hospital and Agency Records (No Position)

HB 1635 - Land Transfer-Lake County (No Position)

HB 1727 - Counties Code-Bid Exemption (Support)

HB 1740 - Rescue Squad Districts (No Position)

HB 2039 - Access to Public Health Data (No Position)

HB 2054 - Code of Corrections-Department of Juvenile Justice (No Position)

HB 2102 - Health Care Worker-Background (No Position)

HB 2154 - Local-Battery-Charged Fences (No Position)

HB 2224 - RUUPA-Local Government/State Agency Monies (No Position)

HB 2246 - Expressway Highway Camera Act (No Position)

HB 2278 - Environmental Response Project (No Position)

HB 2332 - Coroner and Medical Examiner Fees (Support)

HB 2418 - Expungement-Trafficking Victim (No Position)

HB 2443 - Insurance-Hearing Aid Coverage (No Position)

HB 2487 - Justice40 Oversight Committee (No Position)

HB 2526 - Opiate Antagonist Fund (Support)

HB 2619 - Nursing Home-Transfer Notice (No Position)

HB 2622 - Downstate Forest Preserve-Fund (No Position)

HB 2624 - Court Document Accessibility (No Position)

HB 2767 - Code of Corrections-DJJ Ombudsman-County Juvenile (No Position)

HB 2776 - EPA-Notice of Lead Pipe Replacement (No Position)

HB 2788 - EPA-Compliance Agreements (No Position)

HB 2831 - Task Force on Homelessness (Support)

HB 2845 - Prevailing Wage-Biosolids (Oppose)

HB 2861 - Juvenile Court-Residential Treatment (No Position)

HB 2954 - Civil Liability for Doxing Act (No Position)

HB 2972 - Rescue Squad Districts-Fees (No Position)

HB 3055 - Prisoner Religious Rights (No Position)

HB 3129 - Equal Pay Act-Pay Scale (No Position)

HB 3203 - Prevent Fentanyl Exposure (Support)

HB 3230 - Behavioral Health Crisis Care (Support)

HB 3249 - Public Safety-Health Insurance (Oppose)

HB 3322 - Gang Databases-Use-Evidence (No Position)

HB 3351 - Illinois Solar for All-Prevailing Wage (No Position)

HB 3396 - Labor Dispute-Violation (No Position)

HB 3406 - Vehicle Code-Emergency-Police Vehicles (Support)

HB 3414 - Juvenile Court-Code Corrections-Minor Prosecute (No Position)

HB 3491 - Prevailing Wage-Contractors (No Position)

HB 3508 - PFAS Reduction-Forever Pathway (No Position)

HB 3584 - Clerks-Crime Victims-Reporting (No Position)

HB 3595 - EPA-Environmental Justice (No Position)

HB 3641 - Capital Development Board-Local Government Regulation (No Position)

HB 3720 - MWBE-Goals and Reports (No Position)

HB 3755 - Code of Corrections-Transfer to Sheriff (Support)

HB 3792 - Prevailing Wage-Light Poles (No Position)

HB 3808 - Utility-Video Service Definition (Oppose)

HB 3819 - Local Deflection Programs (No Position)

HB 3890 - Hospital License-Notify Rights (No Position)

HB 3940 - Emergency Telephone Systems (Support)

HB 3955 - Hospitals-Emergency Room Copayment (No Position)

Senate Bills

SB 74 - Property Tax - Installment Payments (No Position)

SB 1402 - DHS-Naloxone Kit Pilot Program (Support)

SB 1476 - Affordable Housing Plans (No Position)

SB 1504 - Video Gaming and Criminal Code-Gambling Device (No Position)

SB 1534 - Property Tax-Veterans (No Position)

SB 1824 - Pension Code-IMRF-Various (No Position)

SB 2175 - Criminal Procedure-Cost Assessment (No Position)

SB 2197 - Code of Corrections-DJJ Ombudsman-County Juvenile (No Position)

SB 2264 - Pension Code-Cook County-Military Service (No Position) 

SB 2324 - County School Facility Revenue (No Position)

SB 2356 - Property Tax-Wastewater (No Position)

*An ISACo tracked bill includes bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations, bills that may be of interest to county officials for the performance of their duties and legislation presented "for your information." ISACo positions of "support" or "oppose" are usually reserved for bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations. ISACo also supports member county initiatives that are consistent with ISACo's County Platform.

Amendments Filed Last Week

A list of amendments filed for ISACo tracked bills during the week of March 20-24 is available via this link. In some cases, an amendment includes provisions that, if adopted, make the legislation an ISACo-tracked bill.

Governor Signs Bill Amending Local Government Bill of Rights into Law

Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 1794 into law (P.A. 102-1144) on March 17. The bill was approved by the House on November 30, 2022, and the Senate on January 5, 2023.

Deputy Governor Appointed

Governor JB Pritzker appointed Bria Scudder to serve as Deputy Governor for Public Safety, Infrastructure, Environment and Energy. Scudder previously worked in the Governor’s Office as First Assistant to Christian Mitchell, the former Deputy Governor who stepped down from his role earlier this month. She will begin her new role on April 10.

Law Enforcement Grants  

On March 23, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that his office will award $21 million in grants to police departments and task forces across the state to address armed carjackings. The money will be used to supplement police budgets for license plate readers, helicopters, tracking devices, GPS software and other technology to track down carjackers, as well as to help cover salaries for additional investigators.

The Illinois State Police Expressway Safety Enforcement Group will receive $10.3 million; the Chicago Police Department’s Major Auto Theft Investigations Unit will receive $1.5 million. Other grants are going to the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force, which is led by Secretary of State police ($3.4 million); the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force ($2.5 million); the Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force ($2.1 million); and the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force ($1.8 million).

The grants are funded through a combination of a $1 assessment on auto insurance policies that are deposited with the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council and $30 million in state funding targeted towards addressing carjacking.

Additional information is available via this link.

Supportive Housing Resources

On March 20, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Board announced the agency is conditionally awarding almost $39 million in state and federal resources to finance the creation or preservation of permanent supportive housing across the state. Awarded under Round IX of IHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program, the awards will support the construction and rehabilitation of 5 developments containing 100 units of affordable housing for persons at risk of homelessness, residents with physical challenges or mental health needs and other vulnerable populations.

Additional information is available via this link.

Non-profit Security Grant Program  

On March 23, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) announced that $20 million in grants have been awarded to 116 non-profit organizations across the state through the 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program . The funding will be used to help organizations strengthen efforts to protect against public safety and security threats. Many of the grantees are places of worship, reproductive health providers, cultural institutions and education centers who were deemed at high-risk of a terrorist attack.

Additional information is available via this link.

Land and Water Reclamation Grants - Public Comments  

On March 24, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting public comment through May 22 regarding abandoned mine lands reclamation projects that have been selected for work through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

IDNR’s Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Division was awarded $75.7 million for land and water reclamation work at 55 abandoned mine sites throughout Illinois during the first year of the grant. IDNR is eligible to receive $75.7 million per year for a total of 15 years through IIJA to address additional reclamation projects.

States may use the federal grants to address coal abandoned mine land problems, including hazards resulting from legacy coal mining that pose a threat to public health, safety, and the environment; water supply restoration; and coal abandoned mine land emergencies.

Additional information is available via this link.

Upcoming NACo Webinar

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunity. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.

County Strategies to Provide Supportive Housing for Familiar Faces

(Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 1:00pm-2:00pm CDT)

What does it take to house and support familiar faces? Familiar faces are individuals who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis services. Familiar faces often have complex health and behavioral health conditions that can result in overuse of these costly services without improving their situations, leaving communities paying for poor outcomes. In response, many counties are developing coordinated continuums of care to address the systemic and individual challenges associated with multiple systems involvement. One of the most important tools for counties to effectively improve long-term outcomes is housing, and in particular supportive housing. Join NACo for a panel discussion with experts and county leaders who have developed innovative funding models to support housing programs and facilities for familiar faces within their communities.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

CORPORATE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Harbour. 

Harbour Contractors strives to provide exceptional general contracting and construction services for our clients. We continue to grow by ensuring our customers achieve superior value from their investments.

Our success is driven by our extensive professional experience and by our adherence to our founding principles. These principles shape our clients’ experiences and thus drive our reputation of quality and dedication.

Honesty: We will always be truthful with one another, our clients, and our business partners.
Integrity: We will remain consistent in all actions, values, measures, principles, and will endeavor to maintain sound character.
Honor: We will treat people with respect and do what is right.
Commitment: We will work to strengthen our relationships with one another, our clients, and our business partners.
Community: We will be good corporate neighbors by actively supporting the communities in which we live and do business.
Safety and Environmental Stewardship: We will protect the safety of people and facilities and will keep protection of the environment behind all of our actions and decisions.

Additional information about the services provided by Harbour is available via this link.

Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.