This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes links to several ISACo-tracked bills scheduled for committee hearings this week and links to several ISACo-tracked bills that passed out of committee last week, shares a new episode of the Counties Count! Podcast that features State Representative Curtis J. Tarver, makes county officials aware of a transportation grant, reports on March being Severe Weather Preparedness Month, includes information about a grant that will help vulnerable Illinois communities in need of food, reports on the Illinois employment rate for the month of January, shares what ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, provides current CD and Treasury Rates via ISACo corporate partner IPRIME, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Mahoney, Silverman and Cross, LLC, and invites counties to join ISACo.

List of Tracked Bills in Committee

The following ISACo-tracked bills for which we have taken a position are posted for possible committee hearings this week. In some cases, initial ISACo positions may be changed in the future. A complete list of ISACo tracked bills is available via this link.

HB 1389 - Obstruct Justice-Body Cameras (Support)

HB 2099 - Food Truck Freedom Act (Oppose)

HB 2470 - Low-Income Broadband Program (Support)

HB 3306 - Local Zoning-Manufactured Home (Oppose)

HB 3763 - Personnel Record Review (Oppose)

HB 3777 - Crim Cd-First Responder (Support)

HB 3904 - Local Official Vacancy Posting (Oppose)

HB 4182 - Construction Safe Detour Act (Support)

HB 4213 - Local-Accessory Dwelling Units (Oppose)

HB 4347 - Blockchain/BIPA-Prohibitions (Oppose)

HB 4418 - Government Contract Retainage (Oppose)

HB 4440 - Counties Code-Diversity Goals (Support) (ISACo Initiative)

HB 4441 - Local & School Contracting Goals (Support)

HB 4529 - Notice of Police Misconduct (Support)

HB 4569 - Coroners-Forensic Pathologists (Support)

HB 4602 - One Day of Rest-Various (Oppose)

HB 4612 - Counties Code-Wind Facilities (Support)

HB 4722 - Priv Party-Vehicle Relocation (Oppose)

HB 4737 - Joint Purchasing-Ranking (Support)

HB 4752 - EPA-Lead Pipe-Timeline Extension (Support)

HB 4753 - Case Review-Homicide Victims (Oppose)

HB 4792 - Closed-Loop Well Setbacks (Oppose)

HB 4815 - IEMA-OHS-Grant Programs (Support)

HB 4873 - Pen Cd-Various (Oppose)

HB 4860 - Vehicle Sale/Use & Emissions (Oppose)

HB 4946 – Counties & Muni Codes-Littering (Support)

HB 5053 - Veh Cd-Street Racing/Sideshows (Support)

HB 5119 - Street Lights-LED Lighting (Oppose)

HB 5211 - Pen Cd-Tier 2 Benefits (Oppose)

HB 5233 - Veh Cd-Weight Limit Exemption (Oppose)

HB 5255 - Fleeing-Attempt Elude Officer (Support)

HB 5297 - Resilient Illinois Loan Fund (Support)

HB 5300 - Wage Payment-Pay Stubs (Oppose)

HB 5314 - Local Crime-Free Housing Ord (Oppose)

HB 5362 - Elevator-Temporary Certificate (Support)

HB 5432 - Crime-Free Housing Ordinances (Oppose)

HB 5435 - Veh Cd-Noise Monitoring (Oppose)

HB 5436 - Freedom to Ride Act (Support)

HB 5564 - Homeless Prevention Assistance (Support)

HB 5600 - County Automated Weight Control (Support)

HB 5623 - Loc Gov Efficiency Committee (Support)

SB 2939 - One Day of Rest-Various (Oppose)

SB 3208 - Wage Payment-Pay Stubs (Oppose)

SB 3350 - Fentanyl Test Strips (Support)

SB 3455 - IDOR-Property Tax Study (Support)

SB 3597 - Counties Cd-Borrowing Money (Support)

SB 3735 - Personnel Records Review (Oppose)

*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. 

Tracked Bills Approved by Committees

The following ISACo-tracked bills passed out of committees last week.

SB 2781 - Forests-Wetlands-Prairies (Support)

SB 2849 - Unmanned Aircraft Regulation (Support)

SB 3077 - Food Infrastructure-Grant (Support)

SB 3362 - ROTA-Retailers (Support)

SB 3405 - Counties Problem Solving Court (Support)

SB 3478 - Finance-Fund Transfers (Oppose)

SB 3538 - Loc First Responder Insurance (Oppose)

SB 3608 - Local Reg-State Facilities (Oppose)

SB 3680 - Local Crime-Free Housing Ord (Oppose)

Counties Count! Podcast New Episode Now Available

Episode 4 - A Conversation featuring Illinois State Representative Curtis J. Tarver (D-Chicago) 25th District - is now available by clicking on the image below.

This episode discusses Representative Tarver's background, his personal experience working in the state legislature and what he's learned so far as the Chairman of the County and Townships Committee. 

Also available in the Apple App Store and on Spotify.

Planning Research Grants for Transportation Available

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that $7 million is available to distribute as grants for select projects and activities that help advance the state's long-range transportation and planning goals. The deadline to apply is April 14, 2024. 

The press release is available via this link. 

March Severe Weather Preparedness Month

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) recognizes March as Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Severe weather can affect any community across Illinois. To help families prepare for severe weather, IEMA-OHS is sharing interagency resources and featuring its emergency preparedness kits.

The press release and additional information is available via this link.

$28.8 Million in USDA Grants to Provide Free Local Food

Governor JB Pritzker announced $28.8 million in grant funding to provide free locally produced food to vulnerable communities. The grants are being awarded to organizations in Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) will allow the State of Illinois to purchase food directly from socially disadvantaged farmers at fair market value. Food will then be distributed by providers, including food banks, farming collaboratives and other non-profits, to communities in need at no cost. This includes schools, churches and non-profit organizations. The funds originated through two cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The press release is available via this link.

Illinois Payroll Jobs Increase, Unemployment Rate Stable in January

On March 7, 2024, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased +1,700 in January, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The December revised unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, down -0.1 percentage point from the preliminary December unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. The December monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +1,200 to -6,600 jobs. The January unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

The press release is available via this link.

What We're Reading

State Lawmakers Debate Top Takeaways from Pritzker’s Proposed Budget (WTTW)

Nearly 9 in 10 State-Level Primaries Give Voters No Choice in Candidates (Capitol News Illinois)

Three Tips for Improving Cybersecurity Posture (American City and County)

Unique Aspects of Data Incident Response in Local Government (American City and County)

State Commission says Illinois Underfunds Public Universities by $1.4 Billion (Capitol News Illinois)

Current CD and Treasury Rates Provided by IPRIME

The following rates provided by ISACo corporate partner IPRIME are current as of March 11, 2024. Please click on the image below to review the rates. 

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. 

Unlock the Power of CJCCs: Getting Started, What You Need to Know

(Monday, March 11, 2024, 1:30pm-3:00pm CST)

Uniting key stakeholders from government, criminal justice and the community, Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (CJCC) offer an effective way to improve your local justice system. Learn the essential elements of establishing and strengthening CJCCs, the driving force behind successful criminal justice efforts in leading counties. Whether you're looking to create a CJCC from scratch or enhance an existing one, discover the invaluable insights needed to make your county's justice system more efficient, fair and just.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Five Keys to Enhancing Civic Engagement: Meeting Diverse Community Needs with 21st-Century Solutions

(Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

With only 41% of citizens satisfied with their government’s information-sharing practices and the needs of communities becoming more diverse, civic engagement can be a huge challenge. Luckily, there is a modern approach.

During this webinar, they’ll unpack 5 actionable steps to enhance civic engagement. The communities around the country that are employing these keys are experiencing an engaged community like never before.

Webinar Agenda:

Civic engagement statistics
5 keys to enhance your civic engagement
Success stories from your peers

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

How Franklin County Ohio Modernized Government Experiences (GX) For Staff and Residents Using Low/No

(Thursday, March 14, 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Join NACo for an eye-opening webinar as they explore Franklin County, Ohio's journey to solving long-standing challenges. Uncover how they've embraced "Rapid Low-Code Application Development" to become faster and more collaborative and pave the way for smarter governance through iterative solutions.

During the webinar, you'll get to hear firsthand from the team that brought Quickbase to Franklin County. They'll share valuable insights on their collaborative approach, staying ahead in tech, effective prioritization strategies, and the exciting prospects ahead.

Plus, we’ll hear from Quickbase expert Jen Bensi to see some of the macro trends that are impacting government agencies around country and how Quickbase can digitize your public sector data and workflows without compromising your transparency, collaboration, and security.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

From Care to Productivity: Leveraging Mental Health

(Thursday, March 14, 2024, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

County elected officials and staff are essential frontline service providers, especially during challenging times. This webinar offers vital training from the National Council on Mental Wellbeing’s Mental Health First Aid at Work program. Participants will gain actionable strategies for recognizing and addressing mental health concerns in the workplace, identifying team members grappling with mental health or substance abuse issues, and fostering a supportive organizational culture that prioritizes wellbeing.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

County Strategies Supporting Older Adults and Their Caregivers

(Monday, March 18, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

Caregivers provide care every day to the growing aging population in communities across the nation. They also fill the ever-growing gaps in the direct care workforce and help older adults age in place. County leaders are shifting their systems and implementing service delivery approaches to expand caregiver access to services and supports. Join NACo and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) to learn more about the new Action Guide for counties, how counties can leverage the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers and innovative programs at the local level to support family caregivers and increase their access to county-based services.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Embracing Financial Innovation: Empowering Beaufort County's Treasurer's Department

(Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

Join NACo for an insightful webinar as they delve into the cutting-edge financial strategies employed by Maria Walls, Treasurer of Beaufort County, SC. Discover how she is transforming fiscal management with the support of the cashVest program.

In this interactive session, Treasurer Walls will share her experiences and success stories in leveraging data to optimize the county's liquidity, maximize returns, and enhance overall financial performance. Learn about the strategic decisions made possible by this unique program that has generated over $12 million dollars for her community in the last 12 months alone!

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!