This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter recaps Governor Pritzker's SFY2026 Budget Address, highlights bills posted for Committee Hearings, provides an ISACo resource that assists county officials desiring to file a witness slip with their county's position on legislation, shares details about County Lobby Day, conveys information about the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, reports on state investment earnings, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, announces upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Constellation Telecom and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Pritzker Delivers SFY2026 Budget Address

On February 19, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker delivered his seventh State Fiscal Year (SFY) Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly. A summary of the speech with links to key budget documents is available via this link.

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 1051 - Closed-Loop Well Setbacks (Oppose)

HB 1104 - Local Government Efficiency Committee (Support)

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

HB 1301 - Rural Hospital Task Force (Support)

HB 1352 - Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commissions (Under Review)

HB 1420 - County Wind/Solar Facilities - Public Comment (Support)

HB 1449 - County Administrator Mandate (Oppose)

HB 1570 - GATA - Grant Limitations (No Position)

HB 1709 - Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act (Oppose)

Senate

SB 1348 - Sheriff - Process Service Fees (Under Review)

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

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

ISACo Resource - Filing a Witness Slip on a House or Senate Bill

ISACo has created a Policy Brief to provide guidance for county officials desiring to file a witness slip with their county's position on legislation. The document is available by clicking on the image below.

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!

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. 

State Investment Earnings Up 11 Percent

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced last week that investment earnings on the state portfolio are up more than 11 percent as state government faces tough budgeting decisions this spring.

Investment earnings stand at $803.8 billion for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2025, up from $723.2 billion the first six months of Fiscal Year 2024. That’s an increase of $80.65 million.

The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

Pritzker Proposes $2B in Spending Growth Without New Income or Service Taxes (Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Expanded Tax Credits for Some Workers and Families but the Money Isn't Being Claimed, Experts Say (Chicago Sun-Times)

U.S. Green Building Council Reveals Top 10 States for Green Building in 2024 (American City and County)

Housing Assistance Is Facing Cuts. State and Local Agencies Are Preparing (Governing)

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. 

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 

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!