This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes a state legislative schedule update, links to an ISACo Policy Brief focusing on new mandates, costs and legal exposure associated with Veterans Assistance Commission legislation, reports on the enactment into law of Cook County tax sale legislation, makes county officials and staff aware that the House Revenue Committee approved a property tax transparency bill and megaproject incentive tool legislation, includes information about draft rules concerning AI discrimination in hiring, recaps a meeting where Illinois county leaders discussed federal issues with Senators Durbin and Duckworth, makes county officials aware of the new Illinois Liquor Control and Compliance Portal, includes registration information for the 2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Public Surplus and invites counties to join ISACo.

Legislative Update

Schedule and Key Dates

The Illinois Senate convenes this week from March 3-5. The House does not convene until March 18. 

The primary election is March 17.

The deadline for moving House Bills out of House Committees is March 27. The deadline for moving Senate Bills out of Senate Committees is March 13.

Linked below, you will find the House and Senate calendars.

House Calendar

Senate Calendar

ISACo Tracked Bills

ISACo is currently reviewing introduced legislation and populating our bill-tracking service (available via this link) with legislation that affects or is of interest to counties.

2026 Legislative Agenda

ISACo's 2026 Legislative Agenda is available via this link.

Legislative Alert! New Mandates and Legal Risks Associated with Veterans Assistance Commissions

ISACo has released a comprehensive Policy Brief analyzing SB 3646, a significant proposal that seeks to overhaul the delivery of veterans' assistance across Illinois. Introduced by Senator Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank), this legislation would expand eligibility for assistance, create new regional "Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commissions" (JVACs), and implement rigorous state-level oversight while significantly increasing litigation and financial exposure for county boards through litigation and arbitration requirements. ISACo is opposed to several provisions within the bill.

The Policy Brief is available via this link. 

Cook County Annual Tax Sale Legislation Signed into Law

HB 598 (linked here), which included two significant House Floor Amendments, was signed by the Governor on Feb 27 (P.A. 104-0460). The new law delays the annual tax sale in Cook County until Dec 2026 to allow more time for comprehensive reform following the Tyler v. Hennepin County Supreme Court ruling.

House Revenue Committee Advances Property Tax Transparency Bill and Magaproject Incentive Tool

The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee advanced two significant proposals last week, one intended to increase transparency in property tax assessments (HB 1818) and another creating a new statewide incentive tool for large-scale “megaproject” developments (HB 910, HA1). The megaproject bill is an essential piece of the puzzle during the state's negotiations with the Chicago Bears, although the bill would apply to other projects as well.

While both measures move to the House floor, they raise important questions for counties related to assessment administration, litigation exposure, tax base impacts, and long-term fiscal planning.

Additional information is available via this link.

Draft Rules Emerge Concerning AI Discrimination in Hiring

As artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes the modern workplace, Illinois has taken a proactive stance to ensure these technologies do not compromise equity or transparency. Effective January 1, 2026, the Illinois Human Rights Act was expanded via HB 3773 (P.A. 103-0804) to specifically regulate AI’s role in employment decisions, from recruitment to discharge. ISACo has prepared a summary outlining the Department of Human Rights' newly drafted compliance framework, detailing the essential notice requirements, prohibited practices, and recordkeeping duties that every Illinois employer must now navigate to remain compliant in this new digital landscape.

The summary is available via this link.

Illinois County Leaders Discuss Federal Issues with Senators Durbin and Duckworth Hours Before State of the Union Speech

On February 24, Illinois county leaders met with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth for a candid, wide-ranging discussion on the federal issues shaping local government—from Medicaid and health care access to housing, infrastructure, energy transmission and public trust in government. The conversation highlighted how decisions made in Washington directly impact county budgets, services, and residents. 

Click on the link to read about what was discussed.

New Illinois Liquor Control and Compliance Portal Launched

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission is pleased to introduce its new Licensing & Compliance Portal,a modern, unified system designed to streamline application, renewal, and compliance management for
licensees statewide.

The press release is available via this link. 

2026 ISACo/UCCI Legislative Conference Registration

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 are available via this link.

What We're Reading

AI Could Disrupt Millions of Jobs. Lawmakers Are Preparing (Governing)

Illinois Soybean Farmers Welcome Federal Aid, but Fear Long-Term Trade Damage (CapitolNewsIllinois)

Some Indiana Taxpayers Not as Thrilled by Chicago Bears Stadium Plan as Lawmakers (ChicagoTribune)

A Red ‘Blood’ Lunar Eclipse Will be Visible Over Illinois Soon. When to Look Up (BellevilleNews-Democrat)

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. 

Cyber Resilience in County Finance: Protecting What Matters Most

(Friday, March 6, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST)

Cyber threats are increasingly targeting public sector finance teams and resilience starts with understanding the risks. In this webinar, Peter Forsgren of three+one shares real stories from ethical hackers to explore social engineering, emerging cybersecurity threats and practical steps counties can take to protect their people, data and financial systems.

Registration for the webinar is available via this link. 

NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties

(Thursday, March 12, 2026, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. CST)

Last year's Inside Washington series is now NACo Policy Insider, a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties, as well as deeper dives into specific policy areas, equipping county leaders with insights, context, and strategies to engage effectively on key issues from transportation and infrastructure, to public lands, to health and human services, and more.

Registration for the webinar is available via this link. 

NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties

Thursday, March 26, 2025 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. CST

Last year's Inside Washington series is now NACo Policy Insider, a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties, as well as deeper dives into specific policy areas, equipping county leaders with insights, context, and strategies to engage effectively on key issues from transportation and infrastructure, to public lands, to health and human services, and more.

Registration for the webinar is available via this link. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT   

  

Public Surplus is an online auction platform that offers services to local government agencies. Their system was created with unique capabilities specifically for public agencies, making it much more than an auction site.

ISACo has partnered with Public Surplus to provide large discounts for our county members when it comes to doing online auctions, specifically real estate sales.

Through a partnership with ISACo, Illinois counties are eligible to list items with a reduced buyer's premium, which will encourage competitive bidding on surplus items listed. With Public Surplus, buyers are responsible for all service fees, and it costs counties nothing to use the service.

Public Surplus will also provide a 10% rebate to ISACo on each sale so that the Association can continue to offer a high level of service at minimal cost to members.

To visit the Public Surplus website, click here. 

To register an account with Public Surplus, click here. 

 Become an ISACo Member! 

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