This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter provides initial information about a White House Executive Order (EO) in opposition to cashless bail, includes bills signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, shares ISACo's 2025 Public Act Report, links to a new episode of ISACo's Counties Count! Podcast that looks at the important role counties have played in supporting education as students head back to school, makes counties aware of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants available from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), shares that Safe Routes to School Program Grants are available from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), reports on a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities, announces that Stretch Energy Code Application Grants are available, provides information about the Illinois America250 Commission, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, shares information about upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Constellation Telecom and invites counties to join ISACo.

White House Issues Executive Order in Opposition to Cashless Bail

On Monday, August 25, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) establishing a federal policy aimed at restricting support for jurisdictions that have eliminated or substantially reduced cash bail. The EO contends that releasing individuals accused of serious crimes without bail endangers communities, wastes law enforcement resources, and undermines public safety. The President asserts that incarcerating individuals who pose a clear risk is essential for protecting Americans, and declares that federal policies and resources should not aid states or cities with cashless bail practices to the extent permitted by law.

To enforce this, the Attorney General of the United States must compile and maintain a list of jurisdictions with such policies. Federal agencies, working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are being directed to identify grants and contracts provided to those jurisdictions that could be suspended or terminated. The order clarifies that it must be carried out within existing legal and budgetary constraints, creates no new enforceable rights, and assigns the Department of Justice responsibility for publication costs.

Illinois ended the practice of cash bail in 2021 with P.A. 101-0652 (later amended by P.A. 102-1104 in 2022) and will be impacted by this EO. ISACo will continue to monitor developments and provide information and updates on the county impact when available. 

The Executive Order is available via this link. 

Governor Bill Actions

HB 0079 (P.A. 104-0163) - Pen Cd-IMRF-Return to Service

HB 1075 (P.A. 104-0002) - Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP)

HB 1189 (P.A. 104-0160) - Prevailing Wage-Fed Project 

HB 1224 (P.A. 104-0168) - Govt Contract Retainage

HB 1278 (P.A. 104-0171) - Victims Safety-Electronics 

HB 1287 (P.A. 104-0172) - Hospital Emergency Service Act

HB 1431 (P.A. 104-0181) - Facility Fee Transparency

HB 1575 (P.A. 104-0187) - Restrict Covenant Modify Fee

HB 1576 (P.A. 104-0188) - Ct of Claims Terms-Fees-Rules

HB 1615 (P.A. 104-0192) - Courthouse Flag

HB 1616 (P.A. 104-0193) - Organ Donor Leave-Part-Time

HB 1628 (P.A. 104-0194) - Seizure & Forfeiture Report

HB 1631 (P.A. 104-0195) - DOIT-Powers & Duties

HB 2387 (P.A. 104-0217) - MHDD Cd-Outpatient Treatment

HB 2409 (P.A. 104-0221) - Uniform Crime Statistics Data

HB 2419 (P.A. 104-0223) - EPA-Local Siting Review

HB 2436 (P.A. 104-0225) - Public Defender-Cook County 

HB 2442 (P.A. 104-0226) - Traffic Signal Preempt Device

HB 2551 (P.A. 104-0236) - First Responder Task Force

HB 2586 (P.A. 104-0157) - ISP Training/Academy Division

HB 2675 (P.A. 104-0243) - Veh Cd-Bike Trail Signage

HB 2755 (P.A. 104-0006) - Revenue Omnibus

HB 2987 (P.A. 104-0262) - Warehouse Tornado Preparedness

HB 3098 (P.A. 104-0274) - Consumer Electronics Recycling

HB 3141 (P.A. 104-0277) - Environmental Protection Act Exemption

HB 3193 (P.A. 104-0284) - Pen Cd-Surs-Earnings

HB 3281 (P.A. 104-0290) - Dom Violence-Juv-Assistance

HB 3327 (P.A. 104-0294) - Early Intervention Program

HB 3359 (P.A. 104-0298) - Peremptory Challenges-Jurors

HB 3363 (P.A. 104-0300) - State Public Defender Act

HB 3374 (P.A. 104-0008) - Bond Authorization

HB 3388 (P.A. 104-0304) - Veh Cd-Fire Dept Vehicles

HB 3428 (P.A. 104-0305) - Long-Term Care Joint Training

HB 3435 (P.A. 104-0306) - Health Care Violence Prevent

HB 3493 (P.A. 104-0313) - Local Reg-State Facilities 

HB 3572 (P.A. 104-0318) - Unfit Misdemeanant Diversion

HB 3616 (P.A. 104-0319) - IHDA-Affordable Housing Exempt

HB 3638 (P.A. 104-0320) - Work Transparency-Confidential

HB 3662 (P.A. 104-0322) - Jail Release-Opioid Antagonist

HB 3671 (P.A. 104-0323) - Crim Cd-Venue-Sexual Images

HB 3725 (P.A. 104-0328) - Local Government Billing Act

HB 3761 (P.A. 104-0332) - Hosp & Homelessness Support

HB 3842 (P.A. 104-0335) - Township Cd-Police Protection

SB 0784 (P.A. 104-0364) - Safety-Tech 

SB 1418 (P.A. 104-0379) - Ins Cd-Peripheral Artery Test

SB 1563 (P.A. 104-0029) - Eviction-Criminal Tresspass

ISACo 2025 Public Acts Report

ISACo has published a report of tracked bills enacted into law in 2025. As of today, all ISACo-tracked bills have been enacted into law by the Governor and are now public acts. The report will be updated to reflect any additional legislation approved during the fall Veto Session (October 14–16 and 28–30) that is subsequently signed into law. The report is available by clicking on the image below.

*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."  

New Episode of ISACo's Counties Count! Podcast 

Students are returning to school, and this episode of the Counties Count! Podcast looks at the important role counties have played in supporting education in the past and present. From the days of one-room schoolhouses to today’s modern classrooms, we explore how counties help create the conditions for student success.

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grants

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for the next round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants. OSLAD is a matching grant program that provides state-financed funding assistance to local government agencies for the acquisition and development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. IDNR will provide funding to cover 90 percent of eligible projects located in qualified economically distressed communities. IDNR has released a list (available via this link) of communities that are considered economically distressed.
 
Grant awards up to $1,725,000 are available for acquisition projects, and development projects are eligible for grants of up to $600,000 each. A total of $35 million is available statewide for this round of OSLAD grants. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. CST. More information about the OSLAD grant program can be found on IDNR’s website (available via this link).

Safe Routes to School Program
 
IDOT has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. The program supports projects and programs that encourage and facilitate walking, bicycling or other, non-vehicular methods of getting to and from school. Individual awards range from $2,500 to $250,000, and a total of $12 million is available statewide. The deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, October 15, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. CT. More information about SRTS can be found on IDOT’s website (available via this link).

Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities
 
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for its Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities program. IEPA is seeking proposals for projects to construct green infrastructure best management practices that would prevent or reduce storm water runoff in an effort to minimize flooding in Illinois’ rivers, streams and lakes. A total of $5 million in funding has been made available statewide, with individual grants ranging from $75,000 to $2.5 million. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 5, 2025, by 1:00 p.m. CT. More information can be found on IEPA’s website (available via this link).

Stretch Energy Code Application Grants

The Illinois Climate Bank has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for a round of grants to support local governments in the adoption and implementation of the 2023 Illinois Stretch Energy Code. Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded to selected municipalities, with an anticipated total of $3.6 million available statewide in the first round. Funding may be used for staff training, community engagement, technical assistance, internal planning, permitting process updates and tracking emissions impacts. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 31, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. CT. Applications (available via this link) may be submitted online, and the Illinois Climate Bank has published a webpage with more information about the grant program (available via this link).

Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States

The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, also known as the America250 Commission, is leading a nationwide effort to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. This Commission was established by Congress to plan events, programs, and other initiatives that honor our nation’s history while inspiring civic engagement in the future. More information can be found at america250.org.

The Illinois America250 Commission is leading statewide efforts to ensure communities throughout Illinois are actively involved in celebrating the state’s contributions to the nation’s history. Through historical programs, community gatherings and civic projects, the Illinois America250 Commission encourages local governments, schools, libraries and community organizations to participate in the celebration of the 250th anniversary. More information about statewide programs, including a toolkit to assist with promoting programs and events, can be found at IL250.org.

What We're Reading

RTA Officials Could Transfer $74 Million from Metra to Pace to Delay City Service Cuts (Tribune)

Should Schools be the Centerpiece of Heat Resilience Action? (American City and County)

7 in 10 Say False Information Online ‘Major Threat’ to U.S. (The Hill)

Survey: Are Efforts to Pre-empt State AI Regulation Actually Dead? (Governing)

City and County Leaders Urge Congress to Reinstate ‘Critical’ Cybersecurity Funding (American City and County) 

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.     

Leading Your County's Digital Transformation

(Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

​​​​​​The digital era is upon us, and it has many leaders challenged by the digital transformation in front of them. NACo CIO Rita Reynolds and Dr. Tim Rahschulte, the chief architects of NACo’s AI Leadership Academy training program, are hosting this webinar to share insights and ideas on how some leaders are harnessing the power of digital products, services and processes to do more with less.

Rita and Tim will demystify the digital era by looking to the past and providing insights into the future – that is, in many ways, predictable. Join this webinar to explore the key elements of digital transformation and learn practical strategies to prepare for the digital future. To be sure, this digital future is not all about technology. The digital era is also about meeting customer expectations, employee accommodations and leveraging models to operate the business of government. We will explore together the importance of building a digital-ready organization and the need for skilling employees to meet new demands of new work.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Understanding the Homelessness Executive Order: Federal Shifts, County Impacts and Next Steps

(Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

​​​​​​On July 24, the White House issued a sweeping Executive Order directing federal agencies to prioritize civil commitment, public safety and treatment-based interventions in addressing homelessness. Join NACo on Tuesday, August 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET for a timely webinar outlining major changes to federal funding, grant conditions, and policy priorities that directly affect county homelessness programs, behavioral health systems and enforcement strategies. County leaders will hear about new funding opportunities, potential restrictions on harm reduction programs, data-sharing requirements and how to prepare for forthcoming agency guidance.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

The Big Shift and Cash Management - 5 Takeaways

(Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

​​​​​​The financial landscape for counties is evolving quickly, with rising costs, shifting federal support and growing expectations becoming part of everyday reality. This is what many are calling “the Big Shift,” a period that is reshaping how counties plan, prioritize and manage resources. In this webinar, Mike Ablowich, a seasoned public finance leader and Vice President at three+one, will share what the Big Shift means for counties today and five actionable strategies to help leaders remain proactive, confident and effective during this time of change. From strengthening liquidity management to using data to guide impactful actions, you will gain practical tools and insights you can put to work right away to protect your county’s financial health and unlock new opportunities, no matter how the environment continues to evolve.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Transforming County Payouts with Real-Time Innovation

(Thursday, September 4, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​Discover the technological evolution of county disbursements and how digital finance transformation can mitigate risks and enhance operational efficiency. As counties strive to modernize their legacy systems and reduce costs, staying ahead of technology trends is crucial. This session will explore how counties can leverage the latest advancements in real-time disbursements to revolutionize their payout processes. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends and practical use cases that showcase the journey from outdated payout processes to advanced technology disbursements.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Legal Considerations for Federal Funding Challenges

(Monday, September 8, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​The second Trump administration has ushered in significant shifts in policy and agency level actions relating to federal funding for local governments. This webinar will provide an overview of the most pressing federal funding challenges faced by local governments. Discussion will include agency level actions impacting local government grants, including grant terminations and conditions on grants. The presentation will provide a high-level overview of legal principles local government officials and attorneys should understand when interpreting these actions as well as a discussion of the lawsuits impacting local government grants and federal funding. 

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

From Public Lands to Local Budgets: How Federal Revenue Sharing Flows from the Federal Government

(Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 7:00am-9:00am CST)

​​​​​​This session will explore key revenue-sharing programs that impact public lands counties and their communities. Oil & gas and timber county revenue sharing are critical for sustaining county budgets, funding essential public services and supporting infrastructure in resource-dependent communities. These revenues help counties offset the costs of maintaining roads, providing public safety and delivering community programs, especially in public lands counties where local tax bases are limited. Revenue-sharing programs strengthen local economies, promote long-term community resilience and uphold the partnership between local governments, state governments, the federal government and natural resource industries by ensuring that counties can utilize proceeds from natural resource production to offset impacts from public land development and industry within their jurisdictions.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Unity in Uncertainty: Partnership-Powered Resilience

(Thursday, September 11, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm CST)

​​​​​​In today’s rapidly changing operating environment, local government leaders face unprecedented challenges. This training equips local government leaders with collaborative strategies and partnership frameworks to navigate uncertainty and complexity, emerging stronger and more resilient. Comprehensive partnerships and diverse perspectives can solidify and fortify operations during uncertain times.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Robert's Rules 102: Advancing Your Meeting Mastery for Effective Governance

(Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​Robert’s Rules can help you run effective meetings. Whether you're a newbie or an experienced leader, Robert's Rules 102 goes beyond the basics to equip you with the skills needed to orchestrate meetings that truly make an impact. Learn to minimize disruptions, establish proper procedures and apply Robert's Rules to real-life parliamentary examples.

Click on this link to register for the webinar. 

Enhancing Child Welfare: Best Practices for Measuring and Improving Outcomes

(Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST)

​​​​​​Join NACo for an insightful webinar focusing on child welfare specifically designed for county governments. We will delve into evidence-based practices, informed funding decisions, cost efficiencies, and effective program management. Key areas of discussion will include out-of-home placements, prevention services, and reunification services.

During the webinar, NACo panel of county leaders will share the latest methodologies for outcomes monitoring and discuss the importance of translating these outcomes into actionable practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights into identifying service gaps, leveraging data for increased service utilization, and supporting fiscal efficiencies. This session will empower county executives and department leaders with strategies to measure outcomes effectively and implement best practices for continuous quality improvement. 

Key takeaways:
1.    Understanding the importance of outcomes monitoring
2.    Measuring and reporting best practices to enhance   accountability and transparency  
3.    Improving preventative and early intervention services
4.    Optimizing resource allocation and enhancing collaboration
5.    Implementing standardized assessments and continuous quality improvement initiatives

Click on this link to register for the webinar.

Unity in Uncertainty: Thriving Through Turbulence

(Tuesday, October 9, 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm CST)

​​​​​​This training will focus on the current operating environment and emphasize core partnerships to identify opportunities and strengthen infrastructure security and resilience. Comprehensive partnerships and diverse perspectives can solidify and fortify operations during uncertain times. 

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.

Become an ISACo Member! 

Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?