This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter previews Governor Pritzker's State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026 Budget Address being delivered on Wednesday, includes highlighted ISACo-tracked bills posted for committee hearings this week, invites county officials and staff to register for County Lobby Day, includes insights from the Strengthening Public Health in Illinois Webinar featuring Dr. Sameer Vohra from last week, conveys registration information about the March 1-4 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, announces upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Public Surplus and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Pritzker to Deliver SFY 2026 Budget Address 

Governor J.B. Pritzker will deliver his 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.

ISACo will be watching for proposals that would impact county revenues and operations. 

Highlighted Bills Posted for Committee Hearings

The following bills affecting counties are scheduled for committee hearings this week. Posted bills are not always considered by a committee on the date they are scheduled and may be called at a later date. A complete list of ISACo-tracked bills is available via this link.

House

HB 1153 - Local Official Vacancy Posting (Oppose)

HB 1314 - County Ethics Commission (Support)

HB 1051 - Closed-Loop Well Setbacks (Oppose)

HB 1263 - Vehicle Code - Non-Highway Vehicles (Under Review)

HB 1248 - Zero Emissions Vehicle Act - Manufactured in USA (Under Review)

HB 1104 - Local Government Efficiency Committee (Support)

Senate

SB 1420 - Local Health Departments - RMSF (No Position)

SB 58 - DCEO - Regional Manufacturing (Support)

SB 1424 - Counties Code - Lease of Property (Support)

SB 1447 - Counties Code - Lease of Property (Support)

County Lobby Day - Save the Date!

We are pleased to announce that the United Counties Council of Illinois (UCCI) and ISACo will co-host County Lobby Day on March 19, 2025. Planned activities include a Legislative Briefing, an opportunity to advocate for county issues at the Statehouse, and a Legislative Reception that evening at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

When: March 19, 2025 (County Lobby Day Events)

• Breakfast Buffet (8:45 am), Presidential Library- First Floor
• Legislative Briefing (10 am – 12:00 pm) – Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
• Lunch Buffet, Presidential Library- First Floor
• Capitol Visit Opportunity (Meeting Scheduling Up to County)
• Legislative Reception (6:30 pm- 8:00 pm) – Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

Location: The Abraham Presidential Library and Museum
           212/ 211 N 6th Street
           Springfield, IL 62701

To Register: Please email Member Services and Communications Manager, Tiffani Homer, at thomer@isacoil.org to register for the event.

*Please also indicate if you also plan to attend the breakfast buffet gathering on the first floor of the Presidential Library that will be held before the legislative briefing.

We look forward to seeing you!

Strengthening Public Health in Illinois: Insights from Dr. Sameer Vohra

On February 11, 2025, ISACo hosted a webinar featuring the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health Dr. Sameer Vohra, for a discussion on the state’s public health priorities. He emphasized the importance of community engagement and a unified approach, particularly post-pandemic, highlighting three key areas: health emergency preparedness, modernization of public health systems through data integration, and building community trust.

Dr. Vohra introduced the Healthy Illinois 2028 initiative, targeting chronic diseases and health disparities, and shared updates on grant opportunities for maternal and infant health. He also showcased innovative communication efforts, such as the Pause to Heal campaign for firearm violence prevention and strategies to promote vaccinations via social media.

Addressing concerns about federal funding cuts and healthcare workforce shortages, he discussed scholarship programs and partnerships designed to mitigate these challenges. He also expressed a commitment to enhancing collaboration with counties, including further discussions on tracking deaths in custody.

ISACo appreciates Dr. Vohra’s leadership and looks forward to continued partnership in strengthening public health across Illinois.

For access to the recording of the webinar, please click the link to download the video.

What We're Reading

Local Governments Are Acquiring More Public Safety Technology, Including Transformative AI Tools (American City and County) 

New IDOT Crash Data Shows Drop in Traffic Deaths but Pedestrian Fatalities Spiking (Daily Herald) 

How Streamlined Verifications Can Support Public Housing Agencies Amidst the Affordable Housing Crisis (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. ISACo is contacting registered attendees from Illinois and extending an invitation to the March 1 Illinois Counties Dinner being held at the National Press Club.   

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, 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. 

Recruiting Excellence: NACo and WBCP, Inc., a NACo Public Promise Procurement Webinar

(Friday, February 21, 2025, 1:30pm-2:30pm CST)

Join NACo for an informative webinar introducing the new government staffing and recruiting contract through NACo Public Promise Procurement. This session will feature WBCP, Inc., the awarded supplier, who will provide an overview of the services available through the contract. Additionally, there will be a brief introduction to the Public Promise Procurement cooperative and a review of the public procurement process led by San Diego County, Calif. Discover how this contract can help your agency efficiently fill executive and other key vacancies. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your recruitment strategies and engage with our experts.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

So, You’re Attending Your First NACo Conference?

(Monday, February 24, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

NACo’s upcoming 2025 Legislative Conference will see a record number of attendees who are attending their first major NACo event. This webinar will be an introduction into all the conference has to offer: policy committee meetings, general sessions, receptions, navigating the hotel and more. Join us for this overview and to ask any questions you have before traveling to Washington, D.C.!

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Connected and Protected: The Importance of Regional Cyber Tabletop Exercises

(Thursday, March 13, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)Join NACo for an interactive webinar on the importance of regional tabletop exercises in enhancing cybersecurity defenses for county governments. Learn how these exercises can help bridge connections between different local government agencies and departments, improve cybersecurity measures, and foster effective collaboration. Discover practical steps to initiate and conduct regional tabletop exercises, ensuring a coordinated and resilient response to potential cyber threats.

Key takeaways:

* Understand the concept and significance of regional tabletop exercises for county governments
* Recognize the benefits of including special districts, other counties, and government contractors in these exercises
* Gain insights from real-life examples of successful regional tabletop exercises
* Learn practical steps and best practices for planning and executing a regional tabletop exercise

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights Public Surplus.

Public Surplus is an online auction platform that offers services to local government agencies. Their system was created with unique capabilities specifically for public agencies, making it much more than an auction site. 

ISACo has partnered with Public Surplus to provide large discounts for our county members when it comes to doing online auctions, specifically real estate sales. 

Through a partnership with ISACo, Illinois counties are eligible to list items with a reduced buyer's premium, which will encourage competitive bidding on surplus items listed. With Public Surplus, buyers are responsible for all service fees, and it costs counties nothing to use the service. 

Public Surplus will also provide a 10 percent rebate to ISACo on each sale so that the Association can continue to offer a high level of service at minimal cost to members. 

To foster this new partnership, Public Surplus will be offering a 20-minute webinar to interested individuals to learn more about Public Surplus. Participants will be guided on how to register or re-register a new account. 

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

*Please note, if you already use a Public Surplus account, you must re-register in order for ISACo to receive a portion of the sale. ISACo thanks you for your support!

Sign up or re-register your Public Surplus Account 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!