This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes Governor Bill Actions signed into legislation and ISACo's updated Public Acts Report, reports on Governing JB Pritzker signing the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act into law, shares information on possible future power shortages according to the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), highlights the announcement of ISACo President Matthew Prochaska's candidacy for 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), recaps the 2025 ISACo Annual Luncheon, makes county officials aware of a state report raising concerns about a future energy shortage, shares a report on Illinois revenues for November, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, highlights Illinois' employment rates for Septemebr, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 NACo Legislative Conference and shares registration information, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner SAVI and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Bill Actions

Governor JB Pritzker signed the following legislation into law on December 12, 2025. Public Act numbers have not yet been issued and will be added once they become available.

HB 0250 (P.A. 104-0442) - Eminent Domain Act

HB 0576 (P.A. 104-0443) - Public Official Safety and Privacy Act

HB 1312 (P.A. 104-0440) - Immigration Omnibus

HB 3492 (P.A. 104-0449) - Omnibus Juvenile Detention Bill

SB 0618 (P.A. 104-0451) - Craft Distiller License and Spirits Permit

SB 0642 (P.A. 104-0452) - TIF and Property Tax Provisions

SB 1911 (P.A. 104-0453) - Omnibus Fiscal and Tax Amendments

SB 2111 - Transit Reform

Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2025

ISACo has updated our Public Acts Report: Legislation of Interest to Counties in 2025 report. The report organizes approved bills by category, includes a synopsis and ISACo's position. The report will be updated frequently as the Governor signs legislation into law. Please click on the image for our most updated comprehensive report on bills approved by both chambers of interest to counties.

*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."  

Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act Signed into Law

On December 16, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (SB 2111) into law, creating a new regional authority to oversee the CTA, Metra, and Pace transit systems in northeastern Illinois. The law provides approximately 1.5 billion dollars annually to improve transit reliability, safety, and service planning. It aims to prevent service cuts, support transit workers, and expand transit access across the region and downstate areas. The act also includes new programs for on-demand transit and enhanced safety measures. The law will take effect on June 1, 2026. Additional information is available via this link. 

State Report Warns of Future Power Shortages

A new state mandated study authored by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) warns that Illinois faces a growing risk of electricity shortages starting as early as 2029, with more severe impacts expected in the early 2030s. The report highlights rapid demand growth driven largely by data centers and challenges replacing retiring fossil fuel plants quickly enough to meet demand. It also underscores that regional grid constraints could limit Illinois’ ability to import power during critical hours, increasing reliability risks. While Illinois remains committed to clean energy goals, the study acknowledges some fossil fuel plants may need to remain in operation temporarily to ensure reliability. The report will be posted to the ISACo website once available.

ISACo President Matthew Prochaska Announces Candidacy for NACo Second Vice President 

ISACo is proud to support ISACo President Matt Prochaska as he announces his candidacy for Second Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Matt’s leadership, vision, and dedication to strengthening Illinois counties have guided ISACo forward—and we know he will bring that same commitment to counties across the nation.

Please click on the image below to learn more about Matt's candidacy. 

You can also follow his campaign's Facebook page via this link.

ISACo Annual Luncheon

On Friday, December 12, county officials and staff attended ISACo's Annual Luncheon. The event was held at the Union League Club of Chicago. Photos from the 2025 ISACo Annual Luncheon are available by clicking on the image below.

ISACo 2025 Annual Luncheon

ISACo’s 2025 Annual Luncheon brought together county officials, staff, corporate partners, and special guests from across Illinois for an afternoon of connection, reflection, and shared purpose for Illinois counties. The luncheon served as a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the important work of county government while reinforcing ISACo’s commitment to collaboration, leadership, and service to Illinois

At this year's annual luncheon ISACo was honored to welcome Miss Illinois 2025, Nitsaniyah Fitch. A Chicago native and accomplished fundraising professional, Miss Fitch shared insights from her platform, AFRM (Aspire, Flourish, Rise, Manifest), which focuses on empowering young women and supporting child-focused nonprofit organizations. Her message of leadership, service, and empowerment resonated strongly with attendees. We were grateful for her presence and appreciated the opportunity to hear about her inspiring work and advocacy on behalf of Illinois.

  

We also had the distinct privilege to celebrate and honor the public service of McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin. Peter dedicated thirty-four years of his life to serving the public and announced that he will retire from his position on January 2, 2026. In addition to his direct service and employment with local governments, Peter was instrumental in the creation of ISACo. We wish Peter all the best! 

  

Illinois' November Revenues Encouraging 

Illinois closed November with a surprisingly strong revenue report, driven by sharp rebounds in income taxes, robust estate tax collections, and solid year-to-date growth across multiple revenue streams. While sales tax receipts dipped, analysts say the decline likely stems from calendar quirks rather than weakening consumer activity. With revenues now running well ahead of projections, the state enters the remainder of the fiscal year on firmer financial footing. Additional information is available via this link.

Call for Articles: Share Your County’s Story in ISACo’s County Quarterly Newsletter

ISACo invites county officials and staff to contribute articles for upcoming editions of our County Quarterly Newsletter. This publication is strengthened by the insights, innovations, and real-world experiences shared by counties across Illinois—and we’d love to feature your work.

Whether you want to highlight a successful initiative, reflect on a policy issue, share best practices, or showcase a community partnership making a difference, your perspective helps inform and inspire colleagues statewide.

If you’re interested in submitting, please take a moment to review our publication guidelines available via this link.

We look forward to featuring your county’s accomplishments and ideas in a future issue!

If you need help shaping an idea or want to talk through a potential topic, feel free to reach out—we’re always glad to collaborate.

Illinois Employment Rates for September

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in September, down -2,200 (0.0%) to 6,162,600. The August monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -13,300 to -2,200.

The press release is available via this link.

NACo Legislative Conference Registration Open

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. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from February 21-24, 2026. Registration information is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

What a $1.48 Trillion Pension Gap Means for Cities and States (SmartCitiesdive)

New HUD Rules Could Reward States That Crack Down on Street Homelessness (Governing)

Map Shows More than 1,900 Measles Cases Across U.S. as Outbreaks Grow (CBSNews)

Illinois AG Director says Trump Trade Policies are ‘Crushing’ Farmers (CapitolNewsIllinois)

A Century of Laughter and Movie Magic: Danville's Dick Van Dyke Celebrates 100th Birthday (WAND)

Learn more about IPRIME

Founded in 2019, the Illinois Public Reserves Investment Management Trust™ (IPRIME™) referred to as “the Fund” is an investment pool for Municipal Treasurers acting on behalf of counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, libraries, park districts, water supply districts, fire protection districts, sanitary districts, housing authorities and other subdivisions of the State of Illinois.

The IPRIME Investment Shares Series is rated AAAm by Standard & Poor’s.

The Investment Shares Series is comprised of money market instruments having a maximum remaining maturity of one year (except U.S. government obligations that may have remaining maturities of up to two years).

The primary objectives of the Investment Shares Series are to offer the highest possible investment yield, protect principal, preserve liquidity and maintain Standard & Poor’s highest local government investment pool rating of AAAm. In addition, the Fund offers access to PMA Financial Network, LLC’s Fixed Income and Deposit Programs. With the experience and expertise of PMA, the Investment Shares Series grants investors access to a powerful investment management team that functions with a high standard of vision, synergy, and quality.

Click on the photo below to learn more about IPRIME!

 

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

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.   

Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader’s Perspective

(Tuesday, January 13, 2025, 1 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST)

Join NACo for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.

When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.

This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.

Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.

Click on this link to register for this webinar.  

Advocacy 101 for Counties: Maximizing Your Impact During the NACo Legislative Conference

(Monday, January 19, 2025, 1 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST)

​​​​​​Heading to Washington, D.C. for the NACo Legislative Conference? This webinar provides a practical introduction to lobbying tailored specifically for county leaders. Attendees will learn how to prepare for Hill meetings, effectively advocate for NACo priorities, and translate county experiences into clear federal policy asks—ensuring every meeting counts while you’re in town.

Click on this link to register for this webinar.  

What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Legislative Conference

(Thursday, January 29, 2025, 2 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CST)

I​​​​​​f this is your first time attending NACo’s Legislative Conference, this webinar is for you! Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference. This conference is the premier opportunity for county leaders to exchange cutting-edge practices, engage with members of Congress, and collaborate on policy solutions. You’ll leave this brief webinar prepared to navigate the conference schedule and participate in sessions, including policy meetings, a federal agency expo, and summits on pressing topics.

Click on this link to register for this webinar.  

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT   

Savi believes that people shouldn't spend their lives buried in student loan debt.

Our Mission

Savi is on a mission to help the middle class prosper by tackling the student debt crisis. We create cutting-edge financial technology that makes it easier to navigate complex decisions.

Honesty

Savi is honest and transparent- providing clear information on how we work with partners and users and how Savi makes money.

SAVVY

We are student loan experts -- combining scalable technology with deep student loan knowledge to help our users save time and money.

IMPACT

Savi is outcome--driven -- practicing a commitment to service as a Public Benefit Corporation, always going above and beyond in the pursuit of positive impact.

Please click here to access the Savi Resource Guide that includes the Savi Impact Calculator that estimates the financial impact of implementing Savi for County employees.

Become an ISACo Member! 

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