This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes a Spring Legislative Session update, shares ISACo's 2025 Legislative Agenda, highlights an upcoming ISACo Webinar opportunity regarding public health goals and vaccine communication strategies for county health departments featuring Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Sameer Vohra, makes county officials and staff aware that counties may be eligible to recoup funds for credit card swipe overcharges in a class action lawsuit, reports on the Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current Grant Program, includes the Illinois Department of Revenue's (IDOR) Local Government Newsletter, shares what ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, invites county officials and staff to join an ISACo Policy Committee, conveys information about the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo's corporate partnership with Mahoney, Silverman and Cross, LLC and invites counties to join ISACo.
2025 Spring Legislative Session Update
The Illinois Senate and House adjourned on January 9, 2025. The General Assembly is not in session this week (January 20-24). Both chambers will reconvene on January 28. The House and Senate have a total of sixteen session weeks remaining and are scheduled to adjourn the spring session on May 31, 2025.
2025 ISACo Legislative Agenda
ISACo's 2025 Legislative Agenda is available via this link.
If your county has legislative priorities for 2025, please share them with ISACo.
Upcoming ISACo Webinar
IDPH Public Health Goals and Vaccine Strategies
(Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
ISACo's Public Health Policy Committee is sponsoring a webinar featuring Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Sameer Vohra. Director Vohra, a general pediatrician who holds degrees in law and public policy, will discuss the importance of vaccines and effective strategies for counties and local health departments to communicate vaccine messaging to the public. The webinar will also provide an overview of IDPH’s broader public health goals.
This event is open to all ISACo members. Please contact Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at thomer@isacoil.org for the link if you would like to participate in the webinar
IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra
Counties May Be Eligible to Recoup Funds in Class Action Suit
If your county accepted Visa or Mastercard payments between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019, the county may be eligible to participate in a significant class-action settlement addressing overcharged swipe fees. This settlement, totaling approximately $5.54 billion, resolves claims that Visa and Mastercard, along with their member banks, violated antitrust laws by imposing excessive fees on merchants. The overcharges affected local governments and businesses.
To benefit from this settlement, eligible parties must submit a claim by February 4, 2025. If your county is interested in exploring the opportunity to recoup overcharges, please email ISACo Executive Director jmccoy@isacoil.org for additional guidance.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current Grant Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that the State of Illinois is eligible for the SFY 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Swift Current Grant Program. FMA Swift Current provides grants for individual flood mitigation projects for repetitive loss, severe repetitive loss or properties deemed substantially damaged after the state’s disaster declaration. A total of up to $10 million is available statewide. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 14, 2025. More information is available via this link.
IDOR Local Government Newsletter
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Local Tax Allocation Division published its January 2025 quarterly Local Government Newsletter (available via this link). The newsletter includes information about the forthcoming local taxing jurisdiction boundaries, Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program and newly effective changes in tax rates.
What We're Reading
Trump's HUD Nominee Calls for "Millions More Homes" (Governing)
A Running List of Trump's Planned Executive Orders, Actions, Proclamations and Legislation (Politico)
Illinois Joins in Challenging President Donald Trump's Order to End Birthright Citizenship (Tribune)
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.
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.
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 Membership Series: First 100 Days
(Friday, January 24, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
NACo is launching a new membership call series to provide timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships. Join us to stay informed on how these changes may shape county priorities and operations.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Help Employees Protect Their Retirement Income When It Matters Most
(Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)
When it comes to retirement investments, your employees may need help choosing the right thing at the right time. Join Nationwide and NACo EDGE for this January 29 webinar to learn how you can help savers stay on track for retirement by offering automatic features that deliver in-plan lifetime income.
Can’t wait for the webinar? Learn more at Nationwide resource hub at nrsforu.com. You can also enjoy this quick read and watch a 2-minute video in Nationwide's nrsforu.com newsroom to learn more about helping employees be more confident in their retirement planning and explore other upcoming Nationwide webinars at nrsforu.com webinars
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Understanding Reconciliation: Key Congressional Negotiations Impacting Counties
(Tuesday, January 29, 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)
Join NACo Government Affairs staff for a webinar exploring the reconciliation process and its implications for county governments. Gain insights into ongoing negotiations in Congress and the administration, and learn how these discussions could shape key county priorities. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and advocate effectively for your community.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
Chart Your Course: Online Learning Session #1
(Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)
Join NACo staff and a trainer as they kickoff their new "Chart Your Course" learning journey. In this online learning session, they'll offer an overview of the program, discuss how to maximize this opportunity, and will walk through several of the NACo identified courses.
Click on this link to register for the webinar.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
The law firm of Mahoney, Silverman and Cross, LLC strives to provide superior legal representation with the objective of exceeding our clients’ expectations. Each member of our firm is committed to utilizing critical analysis and innovative approaches to achieve timely resolutions with the best possible results for our clients.
More information about Mahoney, Silverman and Cross is available via this link.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
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.