This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes a link to ISACo's 2025 Bills Approved by Both Chambers report, links to the 2025 Post-Session Information webpage, highlights a new episode of ISACo's Counties Count! podcast, announces over $4 million in funding for watershed management planning and implentation projects, highlights 27 Equitable Energy Futures Grants, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, makes county officials and staff aware of available grant funding for outdoor fitness courts in counties, conveys information about the upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference, highlights ISACo corporate partner AT&T and invites counties to join ISACo.

ISACo Bills Approved by Both Chambers Report

ISACo has released its Bills Approved by Both Chambers in 2025 report, a resource designed to keep county officials informed about legislation passed during the spring legislative session that either affects county operations or may be of interest to county governments. This report includes summaries of relevant bills and is intended to help counties identify and track developments that could impact their responsibilities, resources, or policy priorities. Click on the image to read the report.

County officials are encouraged to review the report and share it with their department heads and staff to promote awareness and preparedness. The report will be updated throughout the year to include additional legislation approved by the General Assembly. Please note that the summaries provided are for general guidance and should not replace a full review of the bill text, which is available at www.ilga.gov. Public Act numbers will be added to the report as bills are signed into law.

2025 Legislative Session Resources

ISACo’s 2025 Post-Session Information webpage is now live and serves as a centralized hub for county officials seeking updates and resources following the adjournment of the spring legislative session. The page currently includes ISACo’s comprehensive Bills Approved by Both Chambers in 2025 report and post-session summary. Additional content will be added as it becomes available. 

We encourage county leaders and staff to visit the page regularly as it will be updated throughout the year with new materials, including Public Act numbers as bills are signed into law. Whether you’re looking to brief your team, prepare for implementation, or simply stay informed, this webpage is your go-to source for post-session legislative information. 

Counties Count! Podcast 

In case you missed it, the most recent episode of ISACo’s Counties Count! Podcast is entitled "Spring Session Wrap-Up: What Happened, What Didn't and What's Next?" Click on the image below to listen. 

Over $4 Million in Funding Announced for Watershed Management Planning and Implementation Projects

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced on June 3, 2025, a total of $4.4 million in funding through the release of two Section 319(h) Grant Program Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Illinois EPA is seeking proposals for both watershed-based planning projects as well as watershed-based plan implementation projects to prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments to Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources. 

The Notice of Funding Opportunities and additional information can be found at on Illinois EPA’s Nonpoint Source Grants webpage. Applications for the Section 319(h) Grant program will be accepted through 1:00 PM (CDT) on July 23, 2025.

The press release is available via this link. 

Governor Pritzker Awards 27 Equitable Energy Future Grants 

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced on June 5, 2025, 27 awards totaling $23 million through the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program as part of a larger strategy to equitably grow the clean energy workforce in Illinois through the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Additionally, the Governor announced $25.5 million available in grant funding for the third round of the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program to support renewable energy projects in historically underserved communities. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.

The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

New taxes on Sports Bets, Nicotine Products as Democrats Pass $55.2B Budget (Capitol News Illinois)

Empowering Public Sector IT: Overcoming Security, Compliance and Access Challenges (American City and County)

State of Illinois Highlights Historic $500 Million Investment in Site Readiness Following Balanced Budget Passage (Office of Gov. JB Pritzker)

Illinois Residents' Information Accessed in Data Breach, Healthcare and Family Services Says (ABC7)

Clean Slate Act, Medical Aid in Dying Bills Among Those That Stalled in Illinois Legislature (WGLT)

Millions of Kids Provide Care to Elders at Home (Governing)

Grant Funding Available for Outdoor Fitness Courts by National Fitness Campaign (NFC)

ISACo is excited to share an opportunity for county officials and staff to benefit their counties. County officials are invited to apply for an outdoor fitness court through ISACo's corporate sponsorship with National Fitness Campaign. 

National Fitness Campaign (NFC) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois have announced $750,000 in new grant funding to communities and schools in the state of Illinois. This funding will be allocated to support counties across the state to join the growing National Fitness Campaign, building healthy infrastructure for smart communities and schools of the future. 

If you are not familiar with the Campaign, the program is designed to bring world-class healthy infrastructure to public spaces, along with consulting, funding and community programming support. 

Information about National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is available via this link. 

Grant application information is available via this link. 

Click on the photo below to watch a video about NFC!

 

Please contact Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at thomer@isacoil.org if you have additional questions. 

NACo Annual Conference 

The NACo Annual Conference is the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs. 

This year, the conference will take place from July 11, 2025, to July 14, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA.

County officials and staff will have the opportunity to participate in discussions of federal policies impacting counties, workshops lifting up county best practices, engaging general sessions, mobile tours across our host county and more.

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. 

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.   

Efficiency in Action: Saving Millions, Serving Better — Summit County’s Success Story

(Thursday, June 12, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Join NACo for an insightful webinar that explores the transformative impact of the NEXT program in Summit County, Ohio. This workforce development initiative, powered by Unite Us technology, has not only helped working families achieve economic self-sufficiency but has also delivered millions of dollars in cost savings and hundreds of administrative hours saved. Learn how outdated manual processes slowed progress and created inefficiencies—until the program adopted secure data sharing, closed-loop referrals, and streamlined billing solutions to drive faster, more effective support.

Dive into the key results, including:
- $3M in first-year savings;
- $190K distributed to community organizations; and
- 591 administrative hours gained.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how technology can drive significant improvements in government efficiency and constituent outcomes. Register for the webinar today and join the conversation on transforming community services.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Impacts of Federal Action on Local Jurisdictions: A Conversation on County Administration

(Monday, June 16, 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

National policy has far-reaching implications across our entire country, but distilling its impacts on specific states and localities can be difficult. Join NACo staff and representatives of the National Association of County Administrators (NACA) for deep dive into how recent federal action is impacting county government administration and management. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of county administrators as they unpack their local responses to the current federal and political environment and, ultimately, prioritize good governance and high-quality service delivery.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Building Trust: The Framework for Responsible AI

(Monday, June 23, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

As AI becomes an integral part of business operations, the imperative for responsible integration with existing county technology grows. This webinar will explore the critical considerations and frameworks necessary for implementing AI ethically and effectively. By exploring the core themes of transparency, accountability, reliability, safety, privacy, security, fairness, and human oversight, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide for harnessing AI's potential responsibly.
 
Our county guest speakers will share their experiences with AI deployments, providing valuable insights into overcoming challenges like reducing fears, addressing bias, and enhancing constituent trust. They'll share practical strategies for ensuring AI initiatives are both effective and efficient, delivering tangible benefits to communities. 

Key Takeaways

• Transparency and Accountability: Discover how to ensure AI systems are open and accountable, enabling trust and preventing misuse by clearly defining roles and responsibilities.
• Reliability and Safety: Learn about robust validation techniques to ensure AI systems perform accurately and safely in varied scenarios, protecting public welfare.
• Privacy and Security: Gain insights into safeguarding sensitive data and securing AI systems from breaches, in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Fairness and Non-Discrimination: Understand how to design AI systems that avoid biased outcomes, ensuring equitable treatment for all demographics and upholding civil rights.
• Human Oversight and Autonomy: Explore the importance of maintaining informed human oversight in AI processes to empower individuals and preserve their agency in decision-making.

By attending this webinar, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to build a robust framework for responsible AI use.

Click on this link to register for the webinar.  

New BRECC Toolkit: Coal Communities’ Pathways for Economic Diversification

(Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Join the BRECC National Network to learn how coal counties are diversifying their economies through increasing housing supply, providing innovative workforce development opportunities and revitalizing downtowns. NACo will unveil our new economic diversification toolkit with six proven strategies for coal and other rural communities. For more information on BRECC's National Network learning series and other programming, visit naco.org/brecc. 

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Faster, Smarter Disaster Relief: How LA County Used AI & Geospatial Mapping to Deliver $20M in Aid

(Thursday, June 26, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

Disaster response demands speed, coordination, and accessible tools to reach communities when they need it most. When wildfires struck LA County, officials launched two major relief programs in just two weeks - delivering $2,000 grants to impacted workers and up to $25,000 to affected businesses. Join LA County and AidKit to explore actionable strategies and replicable tech solutions that can strengthen your jurisdiction’s readiness for future crises.

Key Takeaways:
- Strategies for incorporating geospatial technology in disaster planning and response.
- Techniques for using identity verification tools to balance security and accessibility.
- Best practices for building public-private partnerships in times of crisis.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

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