This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes a reminder about the upcoming fall Veto Session, links to several newly-tracked ISACo bills, links to a letter requesting supplemental funding from the state to offset costs associated with the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, includes a link to ISACo's October County Quarterly Newsletter, makes counties aware of ISACo's Wind and Solar Siting Resource Page, provides an opportunity to submit proposals for ISACo's 2024 legislative agenda, shares an article with recommendations for state and local governments to consider in the event of a future federal budget impasse, shares information on complying with the Protect Illinois Communities Act, reports about State, Federal and Local Agencies that responded to an Anhydrous Ammonia Leak in Effingham County, highlights a Funding Opportunity for Water Quality Management Program Projects, updates subscribers on the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Application deadline, highlights state agency leadership transitions, includes an opportunity to participate in National Association of Counties (NACo) cybersecurity training, announces upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.  

A Look Ahead at The Veto Session

The 2023 fall Veto Session will be held on October 24-26 and November 7-9. Governor Pritzker issued several vetoes and amendatory vetoes on legislation of interest to counties, and the General Assembly is expected to act on those bills. The bills along with the veto messages that are of most interest to counties are linked to below:

Total Vetoes

SB 1515 - Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (Veto Message)

SB 76 - Nuclear Power Plant Construction Moratorium (Veto Message)

Amendatory Vetoes

HB 2507 - Omnibus Property Tax Legislation (Amendatory Veto Message)

HB 2878 - Public-Private Partnership Projects (Amendatory Veto Message)

HB 3445 - Omnibus Energy Legislation (Amendatory Veto Message)

The General Assembly will likely consider additional legislation as well. ISACo will provide an update as we get closer to the Veto Session. 

List of Newly-Tracked Bills*

If there is no position listed then the bill is still under review by staff.

SB 2577 - School Safety-Crisis Mapping Data

SB 2579 - Deputy Sheriff-Appointment Age

SB 2582 - Criminal-Prostitution

SB 2584 - Annual Hospital Report

SB 2585 - Criminal Code-Peace Officer-Travel

SB 2587 - County/Municipal-Broadband Projects (Support)

SB 2588 - Notarial Journal-Exemption (No Position)

HB 4103 - Code of Corrections-Pretrial Home Confine

HB 4104 - Landlord/Tenant-Various

HB 4106 - Rivers Edge-Tax Credit Sunset

HB 4107 - DNR Land Transfer-Dekalb County (No Position)

HB 4109 - Line of Duty Compensation-Volunteers

HB 4110 - Downstate Forest Preserves-Tax (Support)

HB 4112 - Insurance Code-Infertility Coverage (No Position)

HB 4113 - Annual Hospital Report

HB 4114 - Use/Occupation Tax-Holiday

HB 4116 - Commemorative Day-Emmett Till (No Position)

HB 4117 - Medicaid-Inpatient Stays-DCFS

HB 4119 - Election Code-Use of Funds (No Position)

HB 4121 - Food Handling-Cottage Foods (Support)

HB 4124 - $IEMA & OHS - Disaster Relief (Support)

HB 4125 - Property Tax-Certificate of Error

HB 4127 - Code of Corrections-Reentry Program-Reimburse (Support)

HB 4128 - Veterans Day-Paid Leave (No Position)

HB 4129 - TEAM Act (No Position)

HB 4131 - EV Infrastructure Act

HB 4132 - Property Tax-Charitable Rehab

HB 4135 - County-Solar Facility Setbacks

HB 4139 - Pension Code-IMRF-Disability Benefit

HB 4144 - Public Water Supply Disrupt

HB 4151 - Fentanyl-Related Endangerment

HB 4153 - Election Code-Candidate Emails (No Position)

HB 4155 - AG Drought & Climate Office (No Position)

*An ISACo tracked bill includes bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations, bills that may be of interest to county officials for the performance of their duties and legislation presented "for your information." ISACo positions of "support" or "oppose" are usually reserved for bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations. ISACo also supports member county initiatives that are consistent with ISACo's County Platform. A complete list of ISACo tracked bills is available via this link.

ISACo Requests Supplemental Funding for Pre-Trial Fairness Act Implementation

On October 4, ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy sent a letter to Governor Pritzker, House Speaker Welch and Senate President Harmon requesting support for supplemental funding to offset costs associated with the pre-trial fairness provisions of the SAFE-T Act. The letter is available via this link. 

ISACo had previously requested additional funding to offset SAFE-T Act costs in an October 24, 2022, letter to the Governor and Legislative Leaders. That letter, available via this link, preceded legislation that further amended the SAFE-T Act.

ISACo has a SAFE-T Act Resource page available via this link. 

October County Quarterly Newsletter

ISACo's October County Quarterly Newsletter is here! The County Quarterly will be mailed, but is also available by clicking on the image below.Wind and Solar Siting Resource Page

ISACo has created a resource page on our website for information concerning the law that preempted local control over the siting of wind and solar facilities (P.A. 102-1123). Recently, ISACo has created a Wind and Solar Facility Task Force as a forum for member counties to discuss issues with the law and offer proposals to make the law more palatable for counties and their residents. Inquiries about the Task Force can be made to info@isacoil.org. 

ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2024 - INPUT REQUESTED!

Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to ISACo at info@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered by the Legislative Committee. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2024 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).

State and Local Governments Remain Vulnerable to Federal Budget Politics

While Congress recently averted an interruption in funding for federal government operations, Governing Magazine published an article explaining that the matter has not been resolved as much as deferred. The article also discusses how a future failure to reach a federal budget agreement may impact state and local budgets and offers a few recommendations for what state and local governments should consider over the next several weeks. The article is available via this link.

Protect Illinois Communities Act 

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in January 2023. In accordance with this law, Illinois residents possessing assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and other devices listed in the Act must sign an endorsement affidavit. The affidavit can be submitted through the Illinois State Police Firearms Service Bureau website.

State, Federal, and Local Agencies Respond to Anhydrous Ammonia Leak in Effingham County

The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation has opened an investigation into an accident that occurred on September 29, 2023, in Teutopolis, Illinois. The crash involved a semi-truck tanker that was carrying anhydrous ammonia that was punctured and leaked, resulting in an emergency evacuation for residents and five fatalities.     

The press release is available via this link.

An updated press release from ISP regarding a suspect in the investigation is available via this link. 

Illinois EPA Announces Funding Opportunity for Water Quality Management Program Projects

On October 4, 2023, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim announced $750,000 in funding through the release of a Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Program Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The program is used to implement the Illinois Water Quality Management Program and Illinois’ Nonpoint Source Management Program through water quality projects and activities.

Additional information is available via this link. 

Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Application Deadline Approaching

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) will no longer accept applications beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. ILHAF supports qualified homeowners with grants of up to $60,000 for past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance and homeowner and/or condo association fees.

Applications must be in by the deadline to be reviewed.

Additional information is available via this link.  

If you have any questions, please contact HAFQuestions@ihda.org or 1-866-454-3571. 

Governor Pritzker Announces State Agency Transitions

An announcement was shared by the Governor's office on October 4, 2023, that there would be upcoming leadership changes for some state agencies. Theresa Eagleson, Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Paula Basta, Director of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) and Marc. D. Smith, Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will all be stepping down at the end of the year. The Governor has appointed Lizzy Whitehorn to serve as Director of DHFS beginning in January. Camile Lindsay was also appointed by the Governor as Acting Director of Professional Regulation at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). All appointments are pending confirmation. 

The press release is available via this link.

NACO Cybersecurity Training Opportunity 

The NACO Cybersecurity Leadership Academy is offering a 12 week virtual course in celebration of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The virtual course will offer insights from industry experts as well as networking opportunities for cybersecurity professionals.

Click on this link for more information. 

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.

Local Regulations, Building Codes and Fees: Improving County Regulation Systems for Efficiency

(Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

Zoning is important to designate how a parcel of land is used within a community, and a community land use plan seeks to properly map out the land within a county jurisdiction. To built, renovate, or provide quality rental housing also requires infrastructure like roads, utilizes, and broadband, some of which counties build, maintain, regulate, or otherwise support. In this session, three former housing task force members will discuss counties land use and zoning plans and how they relate to tacking counties’ housing affordability challenges.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

How a Cyber Attacker Moves Through a Network

(Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

To understand the crime, you must first understand the criminal. Step beyond cybersecurity protection and into the mind of a hacker. Cybercriminals maneuver in the shadows, access through backdoors, and exploit vulnerabilities to gain network and systems access. Gain eye-opening insight into the approach, tools, and mindset of cybercriminals through redacted, but real-world, hacking examples of how an attacker moves through a network and how to defend against threat outbreaks.
By attending this webinar, participants will:

• Learn how hackers bypass fixes and security patches to exploit systems • Walkthrough real examples of various types of vulnerabilities

• Review key storage recommendations and remediation tactics

Designed for a non-technical audience, a Tyler Technologies expert offers an educational breakdown of redacted real-world cyber attacks with a focused goal of understanding more about hackers, how hacking happens, and knowing key vocabulary to feel confident discussing security and vulnerabilities before, and when, they happen.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

TechKnow Series: October, November, & December Sessions

(Thursday, October 18 - December 13, 2023, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

October 18, 2023 | 1 PM Eastern - Charting Your AI Growth: A Practical Guide on the Use of Generative AI - What Are All Those Tools

November 20, 2023 | 1 PM Eastern - Charting Your AI Growth: Practical Generative AI - An Introduction to Use Cases

December 13, 2023 | 1 PM Eastern - Charting Your AI Growth: Practical Generative AI - Steps for Productivity Improvements

These are the following dates for the TechKnow Webinar Series this fall following the Tech Xchange Overview where we will discuss the developments of Generative AI as a tool, it's use cases, and the potential in productivity improvements.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 

 

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Comcast.

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 produce 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.

More information about the services provided by Comcast 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!