This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter shares a 2025 "Lame Duck" session update, provides important spring session dates for 2025, includes the 2024 Public Acts Report and new laws going into effect in 2025, links to the 2024 December County Quarterly, announces ISACo’s 2025 Legislative Agenda and County Platform, invites county officials and staff to join an ISACo Policy Committee, includes what ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, encourages county officials and staff to register for the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) 2025 Legislative Conference in Washington D.C., highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.
Happy New Year on behalf of the ISACo Board of Directors and staff!
2025 "Lame Duck" Session Updates
The General Assembly convened for "lame duck" session on January 4 and adjourned January 7. These were the final days of work for the 103rd General Assembly prior to the seating of the 104th General Assembly.
The General Assembly considered and approved several bills before the end of the 103rd General Assembly. These bills include legislation easing name change processes for privacy and safety, protections for nursing home residents from retaliation, increased oversight on solitary confinement in prisons, protection for domestic violence survivors, expanded energy efficiency programs, and legislation making it easier for family members to become licensed foster parents.
These approved bills are intended to improve safety, privacy, and access to resources for vulnerable populations. They will next be considered by the Governor.
2025 Spring Session
Both chambers will convene for the 104th Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday, January 8.
The House calendar is available via this link.
The Senate calendar is available via this link.
104h General Assembly Important Dates
Jan 8: Inauguration of the 104th General Assembly
Feb 19: Governor's State of the State and Budget Address
Mar 21: First Committee Deadlines for House and Senate Bills
Apr 11: Deadlines to Advance Bills Out of Originating Chamber
May 9: Second Committee Deadline for House and Senate Bills
May 31: Adjournment
The House is scheduled to be in session 55 days while the Senate is scheduled to be in session 48 days.
ISACo 2024 Public Acts Report and New Laws Effective January 1, 2025
The new year brings new laws and ISACo has updated our Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2024. County officials and staff are encouraged to review the report to ensure awareness of and compliance with those new laws that impact counties. The report is available by clicking on the image below:
Additionally, ISACo has created a report summarizing the new laws that became effective on January 1, 2025. That report is available by clicking on the image below:
ISACo County Quarterly
ISACo's County Quarterly for December 2024 included Content a 2024 Veto Session update, ISACo's Annual Report for 2024 and a 2025 spring legislative session calendar.
The County Quarterly is available by clicking on the image below.
ISACo Announces Legislative Agenda for 2025
On December 20, 2024, ISACo's Board of Directors approved the Association's 2025 Legislative Agenda, also referred to as the Illinois County Action Program (ICAP). The Board also approved the 2025 County Platform.
The ICAP includes several proactive proposals that the Association will actively pursue in 2025. These proposals can be viewed by clicking on the image below:
The County Platform includes the core tenants of the Association as well as several policy statements that will guide ISACo staff when analyzing and taking positions on legislation introduced by other organizations and interest groups in 2025. The County Platform can be read by clicking on the image below.
Please click on this link to visit the webpage with information about ISACo's 2025 Legislative Agenda that includes the County Platform, position statements on proactive ISACo legislation and the document that summarizes each ISACo initiative.
Join ISACo's Policy Committees
ISACo policy committees shape the Association's legislative advocacy efforts. Meetings are held virtually, and committees meet four times per year unless committee members desire to meet more frequently. Service on an ISACo Policy Committee is contingent upon the county being a member of ISACo or the applicant being a member of an affiliated association.
Policy Committee opportunities are as follows. Committees with links are already meeting, although there are openings on all policy committees.
Please click on the image below, complete the form and e-mail it to Legislative Advocacy and Research Manager Nekya Hall at nhall@isacoil.org.
What We're Reading
What Will Happen in the Air, on Roads and With Public Transit in 2025? (Daily Herald)
Illinois Unions Calling Jan. 6 Day of Action to Fix Tier 2 Pensions (Labor Tribune)
Task Force Recommends Tornado Shelters in Warehouse Following Deadly 2021 Storm (Capitol News Illinois)
In 2025, Public Safety Technology will be a Spending Priority for Cities and Counties (American City and County)
NACo Legislative Conference
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.
This year, the conference will take place from March 1, 2025, to March 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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 is a one-of-a-kind advocacy opportunity to strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships for years to come.
Click on this link to register for the conference.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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, produces 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.
Click here to learn more about Comcast.
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 Communication Manager Tiffani Homer at (217) 679-3368 or thomer@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.