This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter provides a summary of the 2023 spring legislative session following the General Assembly's May 27 adjournment, links to ISACo's Bills Approved by Both Chambers: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2023 report, includes a link to register for the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference in Travis County, Texas, highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.

2023 SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION SUMMARY

The 103rd Illinois General Assembly completed its work for the spring on Saturday, May 27, 2023. The scheduled adjournment date was May 19, but a few additional days were required to reach a budget agreement between the Governor's Office and both legislative chambers. 

During the 2023 spring legislative session, almost 6,700 bills were filed. This excludes resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments.

In total, 567 bills were approved by both chambers. Put another way, 8.4% of introduced House and Senate bills made it to the Governor's desk.  

ISACo tracked almost 1,000 bills and took official positions of support or opposition on legislation 125 times during the 2023 spring session. 

This report provides a general overview of the more consequential and relevant legislation approved during the first year of the 103rd General Assembly. 

Our more comprehensive report of legislation approved by both chambers that affects or is of interest to counties is available in our Bills Approved by Both Chambers: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2023 report. 

State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024 Budget

The SFY 2024 state budget appropriates $50.6 billion in spending and anticipates revenue collections of $50.7 billion. The bills are as follows:

SB 250 (P.A. 103-0006) is the appropriations bill. 

HB 3817 (P.A. 103-0008) is the Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill. 

The new state fiscal year begins on July 1, 2023.

State Shared Revenues

Counties Receive LGDF Increase - ISACo Priority Issue!

The county share of Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) revenue as a percentage of state income tax collections will increase from 6.16 percent of state income tax collections to 6.47 percent for SFY 2024. This is a win for counties and municipalities!

The increase will yield an estimated $112 million distributed on a per capita basis. For counties, the population is predicated on the number of residents in unincorporated areas. While we did not see a return to the 10 percent share received prior to 2011, ISACo and our municipal association partners are appreciative of the General Assembly and Governor for allocating additional LGDF revenue to counties and municipalities in SFY 2024.

We would like to recognize our coalition partners and express appreciation for their collective effort in successfully advocating for the LGDF increase. The coalition partners are listed below:

ISACo will continue to work with our coalition partners to advocate for a restoration of LGDF distributions to the full 10% received by counties and municipalities prior to 2011. ISACo has prepared more information about LGDF in a Policy Brief.

Personal Property Replacement Tax

ISACo will publish additional information about how the SFY 2024 state budget impacts Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT) distributions at a later date following further analysis. ISACo has learned that changes in the tax code created an overpayment of PPRT that will need to be rescinded over the next two fiscal years (beginning with the SFY 2024 state budget) and shifted to income tax allocations.

KEY OMNIBUS LEGISLATION

The Generally Assembly considered and approved several sweeping omnibus bills during the final days of the spring session. Those of interest to counties are included below. Please click on the links for additional information about each bill:

SB 1963 (P.A. 103-0009) is the omnibus revenue bill.

SB 2123 (P.A. 103-0467) is the omnibus elections bill.

HB 2507 (Amendatory Veto) is the omnibus property tax omnibus bill.

HB 2518 (P.A. 103-0315) is the omnibus Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bill.

HB 3445 (Amendatory Veto) is the energy omnibus bill. (Includes changes to wind and solar siting policy).

An omnibus cannabis bill (SB 1559) still awaits consideration in the House.

HIGHLIGHTED BILLS OF INTEREST TO COUNTIES

The following noteworthy bills were approved by both chambers and will next be considered by the Governor. A complete list of ISACo-tracked bills passed by both chambers is available in our Bills Approved by Both Chambers: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2023 report.

Responsible Bidder Factors

HB 1236 (P.A. 103-0014) (Representative Vella, D-Rockford/Senator Stadelman, D-Rockford) provides that, in determining the lowest responsible bidder, a county board of a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants may take into consideration the bidder's active participation in an applicable apprenticeship program (rather than an apprenticeship program) registered with the United States Department of Labor. (No Position)

Automated Traffic Enforcement System - Ethics Reforms

HB 3903 (P.A. 103-0364) (Representative Rita, D-Blue Island/Senator Murphy, D-Des Plaines) amends the Election Code to prohibit any contractor that provides equipment and services for automated law enforcement, automated speed enforcement or automated railroad grade crossing enforcement systems to municipalities or counties, as well as any political action committee created by such a contractor, from making a campaign contribution to any political committee established to promote the candidacy of a candidate or public official. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an automated speed enforcement system or automated traffic law ordinance adopted by a municipality or county shall require that the determination to issue a citation be vested solely with the municipality or county and that such authority may not be delegated to any contractor retained by the municipality or county. Prohibits any officer or employee of a municipality or county from knowingly accepting employment or receiving compensation or fees for services from a contractor that provides automated law enforcement system equipment or services to municipalities or counties. Requires the statistical analyses of the safety impacts of automated traffic law enforcement systems and automated speed enforcement systems to be conducted every 2 years. Provides that, if a county or municipality changes the vendor it uses for its automated traffic law enforcement system or automated speed enforcement system and must, as a consequence, apply for a permit, approval, or other authorization from the Department of Transportation for reinstallation of one or more of the components of that system and if, at the time of the application, the new vendor operates such a system for any other county or municipality in the State, then the Department of Transportation shall approve or deny the county or municipality's application for the permit, approval, or other authorization within 90 days after its receipt. Provides that, if an automated traffic law enforcement system is removed or rendered inoperable due to construction, then the Department shall authorize the reinstallation or use of the automated traffic law enforcement system within 30 days after the construction is complete. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. (No Position)

Bid Exemptions for Patrol Vehicles

HB 1727 (P.A. 103-0286) (Representative Jacobs, R-Marion/Senator Fowler, R-Harrisburg) provides that a contract in excess of $30,000 may be let without advertising for bids in the case of the expedited replacement of a disabled, inoperable or damaged patrol vehicle of the sheriff's department if authorized by the county board in a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants. Effective immediately. (Support)

Coroner and Medical Examiner Fees

HB 2332 (P.A. 103-0029) (Representative Smith, D-Chicago/Senator Lightford, D-Maywood) amends the Counties Code to provide that the fee for a coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate a human body is $100 (rather than $50). Effective July 1, 2023. (Support)

Department of Corrections Prisoner Transfers to Sheriff

HB 3755 (P.A.103-0203) (Representative Hanson, D-Batavia/Senator Holmes, D-Aurora) provides that if the county jail located in the county where the committed person was residing immediately before his or her conviction for the offense for which he or she is serving sentence in the Department of Corrections has a reentry program for committed persons, the Department may transfer the custody of the committed person to the sheriff of the county where the reentry program is located for up to 12 months before the committed person's release date for participation in the reentry program. (Support)

Local Deflection Programs

HB 3819 (P.A. 103-0361) (Representative Hanson, D-Batavia/Senator Faraci, D-Champaign) amends the Community-Law Enforcement and Other First Responder Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Changes the Act name to the Community Partnership for Deflection and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency, other first responder entity, or local government agency (rather than only a law enforcement agency or other first responder entity) may establish a deflection program in partnership with one or more licensed providers of substance use disorder treatment services and one or more community members or organizations. (Support)

Drone Surveillance 

HB 3902 (P.A. 103-0101) (Representative B. Hernandez, D-Aurora/Senator Holmes, D-Aurora) authorizes law enforcement agencies to utilize drone surveillance on parades, races and special events hosted by local governments. (No Position)

Public-Private Partnership Projects/Local Retainage Policy

HB 2878 (Amendatory Veto) (Representative Hoffman, D-Belleville/Senator Castro, D-Elgin) is a procurement bill that includes multiple provisions. Of relevance to counties are a provision granting additional authority to local governments pursuing public-private partnerships and a provision imposing limitations on local government retainage policies for construction projects. ISACo opposed this retainage provision. 

Local Authority to Lease Farmland

HB 1076 (P.A. 103-0415) (Representative Yednock, D-Ottawa/Senator Plummer, R-Edwardsville) provides that, upon three-fourths vote by the full county board, the county board may lease farmland acquired or held by the county for any term not exceeding 5 years. The bill provides that the lease may be made via a cash lease, crop-sharing arrangement or custom farming arrangement. The bill adds requirements relating to the bid process for farmland leases and provides that counties shall not acquire farmland for the sole purpose of entering into a cash lease, crop-sharing arrangement or custom farming arrangement or other speculative purpose. (No Position)

Over the coming weeks, ISACo will publish additional information about legislation approved by both chambers. We will also continuously update our Bills Approved by Both Chambers: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2023 report to reflect actions taken by the Governor. This report is now available via this link. 

The 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference will be held in Travis County, Texas from July 21-24. Participants from counties of all sizes come together to shape NACo's federal policy agenda, share proven practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government. Join other Illinois county officials and staff members in Travis County for learning and relationship building! Registration and information about housing for conference attendees is available via this link.

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 

 

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

Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment, and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services.  It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services.  Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks produce original content and has exclusive content rights. 

With more than 6,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (https://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana, and southwest Michigan.

More information about the services provided by Comcast is available via this link.

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