This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter announces ISACo’s 2025 Legislative Agenda and corresponding bill numbers, includes information on a transit reform bill filed in the Illinois Senate, highlights ISACo's tracked bill system, invites county officials and staff to participate in an 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 Governor JB Pritzker will deliver the SFY 2026 Budget Address next week, shares information about federal flood mitigation assistance grants, reports on more than $1 billion earned in Gaming Tax Revenue in 2024, provides cannabis sales information for 2024, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, announces an upcoming NACo webinar opportunity, highlights ISACo corporate partner Nationwide and invites counties to join ISACo.

ISACo Legislative Agenda Update

The deadline to file legislation for consideration by the General Assembly was Friday, February 7. Each of the bills for ISACo's 2025 Legislative Agenda has been filed. Click here to view the proposals and their corresponding bill numbers.

Transit Reform Bill Filed in Illinois Senate

On February 6, 2025, Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) filed legislation that proposes an alternative approach to the traditional motor fuel tax system, includes reforms affecting the authority and structure of transit-related boards, and directs the consolidation of fare collection systems. ISACo has prepared a summary of this most recent transit reform proposal (available via this link). 

ISACo Bill Tracking Service

ISACo reviews every bill introduced in the House and Senate and tracks the bills that affect or are of interest to counties. Our tracked bill feature makes all of these bills available by entering in a bill number or searching through bills by numeric order, policy category, ISACo position or whether the bill would impose a mandate, reduce county revenues and/or preempt county authority. We encourage that you utilize this valuable service to stay on top of introduced legislation. The image below offers a visualization of how bills are searchable and what information is available. 

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

Governor Pritzker to Deliver SFY 2026 Budget Address 

Governor J.B. Pritzker is set to deliver State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026 Budget Address on February 19, 2025. This pivotal speech will provide insight into the Governor's legislative priorities and fiscal strategies for the upcoming year. We can anticipate updates on key issues such as education funding, healthcare initiatives, infrastructure investments, public safety measures, and economic development plans. Additionally, Governor Pritzker is likely to address how the state will balance its budget while managing pension obligations and advancing equity-focused policies. The address is expected to highlight progress from the past year while setting the tone for the administration's agenda moving forward.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current Grant Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that the State of Illinois is eligible for the State Fiscal Year (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.

More than One Billion in Gaming Tax Revenue for 2024

At the Illinois Gaming Board's (IGB's) first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue (excluding December sports wagering numbers) from Illinois' 16 licensed casinos, approximately 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024.

The press release is available via this link. 

Cannabis Sales Exceed $2 Billion Annually

As the State of Illinois celebrates the fifth anniversary of the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
announced today that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-setting sales. Overall, dispensaries report that more than $2 billion of cannabis product was sold in 2024, a 2.5% increase from last year. The $2 billion of product includes a record-setting $1.722 billion in adult use cannabis sales in 2024, with medical cannabis sales exceeding $285 million. Sales taxes collected at Illinois cannabis dispensaries totaled more than $490 million in 2024, per the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

Illinois Corn Growers Respond to Tariffs on Largest Trading Partners (WAND)

State Sen. Craig Wilcox: Fiscal Storm is Brewing in Springfield. We Must Protect Funds for Local Governments (Shaw Local News Network)

Illinois Senate Chamber Back in Business Under Colorful Skylight as Part of Ongoing Capitol Renovations (Chicago 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.

• Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee
• Community, Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee
• Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Committee
• Public Health Policy Committee
• Justice and Public Safety Policy Committee
• Transportation Policy Committee
• Arts and Culture Policy Committee

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. ISACo and UCCI will hold an Illinois Counties Dinner on the evening of Saturday, March 1. The dinner will be at the National Press Club. NACo Legislative Conference registrants from Illinois will soon receive invitations for this event. 

Upcoming NACo Webinars

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. 

NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days, Week 4

(Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:00pm-4:00pm CST)

Join NACo for week four of a membership series providing 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 NACo to stay informed on how these changes may shape county priorities and operations.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days, Week 5

(Friday, February 21, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

Join NACo for week four of a membership series providing 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 NACo to stay informed on how these changes may shape county priorities and operations.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 

Over the past 85 years, focusing on customers and valuing people have helped Nationwide become one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world.

Even though Nationwide has dozens of affiliated companies, people are its biggest resource – and its greatest asset in providing excellent customer service to its customers. That’s why its Supply Management Services group makes sure agents and associates get the best quality products and services, at the best possible cost. It’s also why Nationwide has an Office of Customer Advocacy.

Click here to learn more about Nationwide.

Become an ISACo Member!