This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes a Veto session update, informs county officials about the Lame Duck session dates for January, provides a link to register for the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, reports on the Illinois employment rates for October, shares what ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Constellation Telecom and invites counties to join ISACo.
Veto Session Update
The Illinois General Assembly convened for Veto Session on November 12-13. Both chambers are scheduled to reconvene November 19-21. Limited legislative activity is anticipated. One issue expected to be taken up is legislation to extend the sunset dates for several statutes.
ISACo will monitor activities and weigh in on any county-related issues as necessary.
Lame Duck Session Days
The "lame duck" session refers to session days when a legislative body meets after an election but before the newly elected members take office. This can provide an opportunity for outgoing legislators to approve legislation without concern for political consequences.
The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled for a "lame duck" session from January 2-8, 2025.
NACo Legislative Conference Registration Open
The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.
Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, interact with officials of the new Administration and meet with members of Congress.
This year, the conference will take place March 1-4, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Click on this link to register for the conference.
Illinois Employment Rates for October
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced on Friday, November 15, 2024, that nonfarm payrolls were down -2,400 while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent in September, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The September monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +7,100 to -15,800, while the revised unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, unchanged from the preliminary September unemployment rate. The October payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.
The press release is available via this link.
What We're Reading
Illinois Democrats Brace for Second Trump Administration Amid Return to Springfield (Capitol News Illinois)
IL Launches Multi-Million-Dollar Cannabis Research Institute (WCIA)
Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program Erases $72M of Debt Thus Far (Capitol News Illinois)
Upcoming NACo Webinars
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.
NACo 2024 Election Recap: Insights for Counties
(Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 2:30pm-3:30pm CST)
Join NACo for an insightful session covering the latest election results and a breakdown of top county priorities for the upcoming lame-duck session. This webinar will provide an overview of NACo’s key areas of focus, offering a closer look at critical issues expected to shape county priorities and the broader legislative agenda. Attendees will gain insights into key election races, impact on counties and how counties leaders can prepare to engage with Congress and advocate effectively for their communities as we move toward the new legislative year.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
ADA Compliance for Government Websites: A Practical Conversation
(Thursday, November 21, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Join NACo for a practical discussion on ADA website compliance and how to implement effective strategies to ensure your government website is inclusive for all residents.
Key Topics:
- Developing a Strategy: Learn how to create a roadmap for your website's accessibility journey.
- Practical Tips for Implementation: Discover actionable steps to enhance your website's accessibility.
- The Role of Vendors and Third-Party Tools: How to collaborate with vendors and leverage technology to streamline the process.
- Overcoming Common Challenges: Address pain points and find effective solutions.
Don't Miss This Opportunity to:
- Gain valuable insights from industry experts.
- Network with other compliance professionals.
- Access a curated list of free tools and assessments to help you get started.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
How to Champion Your Coal Communities’ Natural Resources
(Thursday, November 21, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Join the BRECC National Network this November to learn how coal communities are balancing resource conservation and economic development. This session will highlight how coal-impacted communities can leverage public lands, natural resources and federal partnerships to successfully champion the needs of their community. This BRECC National Network Session will feature the Conservation Fund’s “Activation Program” and community leaders embracing a multi-point approach to natural resource economies.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Countdown to the ARPA SLFRF Obligation Deadline: What Local Governments Need to Know Before December
(Monday, November 25, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
With the December 31, 2024 deadline for obligating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) quickly approaching, local governments nationwide are assessing how best to allocate these critical resources. Passed in 2021, the ARPA SLFRF provided $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to counties across the United States. The deadline means local governments must not only allocate these funds but also have contractual commitments in place before the year ends. Here, we break down what this obligation entails, why it matters and how local governments can ensure they meet this significant milestone.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Cloud Security
(Monday, Dec 2- Friday, Dec 6, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
Cloud computing has become integral to modern business and government operations, offering scalability, flexibility, and efficiency. However, the adoption of cloud services introduces new cybersecurity challenges and vulnerabilities, especially in the current growth of artificial intelligence. This simulation aims to enhance comprehension of the multifaceted challenges in securing cloud environments, facilitating the development and testing of proactive strategies to mitigate cloud security risks effectively. Insights derived from this simulation will empower organizations to fortify their cloud security posture, implement best practices, enhance incident response capabilities, and proactively defend against evolving cyber threats targeting cloud infrastructures. Ultimately, this simulation contributes to strengthening the resilience of organizations in safeguarding critical data, applications, and operations hosted in cloud environments, fostering trust and reliability in leveraging the benefits of cloud computing securely within the ever-evolving cyber landscape..
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
The Power of .Gov: Securing Your County's Online Presence - Regions 1, 2 & 3
(Monday, December 2, 2024, 2:15pm-1:00pm CST)
Regions 1, 2 & 3
Join NACo for an informative webinar on the benefits of transitioning our county websites to the official .gov domain.
This free webinar, hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) Tech Xchange in partnership with Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will cover how transitioning to a .Gov domain can enhance public trust, strengthen online security, and simplify website management.
The webinar will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your county's online future.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
The Power of .Gov: Securing Your County's Online Presence - Regions 6 & 7
(Monday, December 2, 2024, 2:30pm-3:15pm CST)
Regions 6 & 7
Join NACo for an informative webinar on the benefits of transitioning our county websites to the official .gov domain.
This free webinar, hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) Tech Xchange in partnership with Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will cover how transitioning to a .Gov domain can enhance public trust, strengthen online security, and simplify website management.
The webinar will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your county's online future.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Constellation Telecom
Constellation Telecom is comprised of business telecom leaders who bring over 100 years of combined experience and knowledge – and no ties to any telecom provider or agency.
Constellation Telecom is able to obtain vendor quotes from hundreds of vendors for Phone Service, Phone Systems, both on Premises and also Cloud based, as well for Internet circuits, Cabling and IT support. The company will offer special pricing to ISACo members that will result in cost savings for participating counties.
Additional information about Constellation Telecom is available via this link.
Become an ISACo Member!
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at (217) 679-3368 or thomer@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.