This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes information on the signing of the Clean Slate Act into law, announces Governor Priztker's combined State of the State and Budget Address next month, recaps a series of policy and advocacy discussions held during a National Association of Counties (NACo) event in Washington D.C. last week, shares the Illinois Department of Revenue's (IDOR) January Local Government Newsletter, highlights the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, informs county officials and staff about a grant opportunity from the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew Program, includes a "Save the Date" for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, provides information on NACo's upcoming National Leadership Academy Program, invites county officials and staff to contribute an article to ISACo's County Quarterly Newsletter, encourages county officials to attend the February 2026 NACo Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, includes NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Comcast and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Pritzker Signs Clean Slate Act to Automate Record Sealing in Illinois 

Governor JB Pritzker has signed the bipartisan Clean Slate Act (HB 1836) into law, marking a major shift in how Illinois handles record sealing for certain non-violent offenses. The new law automates a process that has long been complex and uneven across counties, expanding access to employment, housing and education for eligible individuals while preserving public safety safeguards. The new law, previously approved by a number of states, intends to reduce recidivism, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity.

Additional information is available via this link.

ISACo has also produced a short "explainer" video about the Clean Slate Act. Click on the image below to view the video.

Governor Pritzker Combined State of the State and Budget Address

Governor Pritzker’s combined Budget Address and State of the State Address is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 12 p.m. 

The Illinois State of the State address is a constitutionally rooted tradition through which the Governor outlines priorities, assesses the condition of state government and sets the legislative agenda for the year ahead. Its origins trace to the Illinois Constitution of 1970, which requires the Governor to communicate with the General Assembly on the condition of state government and recommend measures deemed necessary or expedient. 

The Illinois Governor’s Budget Address is also a constitutionally required address in which the Governor presents the proposed operating and capital budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. The address fulfills the Governor’s obligation to submit a balanced budget and a comprehensive financial plan to the General Assembly.

Illinois governors traditionally delivered separate State of the State and Budget addresses. In recent practice, however, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, those two speeches have often been combined into a single, unified address delivered to a joint session of the General Assembly.

ISACo Attends NACo State and Federal Policy Discussions in Washington, D.C.

ISACo President Matt Prochaska and Executive Director Joe McCoy joined county leaders from across the nation for a series of policy and advocacy discussions from January 14-16, hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in Washington, D.C. The conversations focused on federal and state legislative priorities, fiscal pressures facing counties, and the growing importance of narrative-driven advocacy to strengthen county voices and advance effective intergovernmental partnerships.

The article is available via this link.

IDOR January Local Government Newsletter

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Local Tax Allocation Division (LTAD) issued its January 2026 quarterly newsletter. The newsletter contains information about the grocery sales tax, an update about senior citizens real estate tax deferral program, tax rate changes and more. The LTAD Newsletter is available via this link. 

Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is now accepting applications for a new round of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program. Illinois residents who purchase a new or used all-electric vehicle from an Illinois licensed dealer are eligible to apply for a $4,000 rebate on an all-electric passenger vehicle or $1,500 rebate on an all-electric motorcycle. Applicants must apply during the rebate cycle window and within 180 days of vehicle purchase. The deadline to apply is Saturday, January 31, 2026. More information about the program, including the application, eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions, can be found on IEPA’s website (available via this link).

ICJIA Announces $50 Million in R3 Grant Opportunities

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced two Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program funding opportunities totaling $50 million to support communities impacted by systemic racism and disinvestment. Funding includes $35 million for reentry services, economic development and legal aid programs, and $15 million for youth development and violence prevention initiatives. The deadline to apply for both grant opportunities is Friday, March 6.

More information is available via this link.  

2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference - Save the Date!

For the third consecutive year, ISACo and our friends at the United Counties Council of Illinois (UCCI) will hold a legislative conference for county officials and staff on April 14-15, 2026. ISACo members are invited to attend the April 14 events that will include a breakfast buffet and legislative briefing at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and an evening legislative reception at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. State officials will also be invited to attend the reception. Activities on April 15 are reserved for UCCI members. Registration information and additional details will be available soon.

NACo Leadership Academy Information

Email moderator@pdaleadership.com to learn more. 

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.

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

Recent Postal Service Changes Could Disrupt Mail-In Voting, County Clerks Warn (FarmWeekNow)

A 'Data Center Next to Homes?' Naperville Council Weighs Karis Development (Daily Herald)

Illinois Among 12 States to Sue as Trump Seeks Forced Compliance with Gender Order (CapitolNewsIllinois)

How Changes at the U.S. Postal Service Could Affect When Your Mail is Postmarked (ChicagoSuntimes)

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.   

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

(Thursday, January 22, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2 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. 

The Current State of Student Debt and Forgiveness

(Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CST)

This webinar is designed for county HR and leadership teams seeking practical ways to support employees struggling with student debt.

Over 9 million public service workers, including full-time county employees, are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Yet fewer than 3 percent have successfully received relief.

The issue is not eligibility. It is awareness, complexity, and follow-through.

Please join us as we speak with student debt forgiveness expert Tony Raffa, who will clarify today’s student debt landscape, including:

• What recent policy and executive actions mean for public sector employees
• How Department of Education changes affect forgiveness eligibility, timelines, and compliance
• Which student debt relief programs do employees actually qualify for today
• The current status of the SAVE program
• Common application errors that delay or derail forgiveness
• Rising delinquency and repayment restart risks
• What HR teams need to know about collections, wage garnishment notices, and employer responsibilities

Attendees will also see how a new student debt navigation tool helps employees estimate their potential forgiveness, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce annual payments by an average of $2,244.

For HR teams, this means a scalable way to offer meaningful financial support without adding administrative burden.

Click on this link to register for this webinar. 

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

(Thursday, January 29, 2026, 2 p.m - 3 p.m. CST)

If 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   

 

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, produces 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.

​Click here to learn more about Comcast.

Become an ISACo Member! 

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