This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter, announces a tax incentive pause for data centers in the state, links to ISACo's 2026 Legislative Session Resource page, encourages county officials and staff to register for the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference, highlights Truck Access Route Program Funding Opportunities from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), makes county officials and staff aware that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications are now available, shares the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's (IEPA) Draft of SFY 2027 Intended Use Plans, reports on the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act taking effect June 1, 2026, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Pritzker Announces Tax Incentive Pause for Data Centers

Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois will pause all new data center tax incentive agreements beginning July 1, citing concerns about rising energy costs, increasing electricity demand and the impact of large-scale data centers on water resources. The move follows the General Assembly’s failure to approve the POWER Act (HB 5513) before adjournment and reflects the governor’s call for a broader framework to address the rapid growth of the industry. Since 2020, 27 Illinois data centers have received nearly $1 billion in tax incentives.

Supporters of additional regulation argue that data centers are placing significant strain on the electric grid and contributing to higher costs for consumers. ComEd reports nearly 100 proposed data center projects in its pipeline, with potential demand exceeding the utility’s historic peak load. Environmental and consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s decision, while labor organizations criticized the pause, warning that it could divert billions of dollars in investment and thousands of union jobs to neighboring states.

In addition to suspending new incentives, Governor Pritzker outlined principles for legislation he hopes lawmakers will consider during the fall veto session. His proposals include requiring data centers to pay for the costs associated with their energy and water use, support new renewable generation, report water consumption, comply with air quality standards and enter into agreements with host communities. He also called for policies that would allow utilities to prioritize residential and traditional business customers during periods of high electricity demand, including the possibility of interruptible service for certain data centers.

ISACo's Data Center Resource Page can be visited via this link. 

2026 Legislative Session Resources

ISACo’s 2026 Post-Session Information webpage is available via this link 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 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. 

Registration Open for 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's conference will be in New Orleans, Louisiana, from July 17-20.

The conference will include dozens of committee and caucus meetings, educational workshops, general sessions and more. Sessions will offer learning and best practices on the full range of county responsibilities and domestic policy issues. NACo membership will also elect new leadership and set the organization's policy priorities during the Annual Business Meeting. The Illinois Counties Dinner will be held on Friday, July 17.

Registration is available via this link.

IDOT Announces SFY 2026-2028 Truck Access Route Program Funding Opportunity
IDOT is accepting applications (available via this link) for the SFY 2026-2028 Truck Access Route Program (TARP). TARP is designed to help improve local roadways that serve as truck routes connecting businesses, industries and freight generators to Illinois’ designated truck route network. The program supports roadway upgrades needed to accommodate truck traffic and improve freight mobility, rather than routine pavement preservation or maintenance projects. A total of up to $21 million is available statewide. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 29, 2026. More information about TARP can be found on IDOT’s website (available via this link).
 
CDBG Funding Application Available
DCEO released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (available via this link) for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program. The program is designed to strengthen community economic development through private investment, improve public infrastructure and conserve and expand the state’s housing stock for individuals of low-to-moderate income and the developmentally disabled. A total of up to $1.5 million is available statewide. The deadline to apply is Thursday, August 27, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. CT. More information can be found on DCEO’s website (available via this link).

IEPA Releases Draft SFY 2027 Intended Use Plans
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has released the draft SFY 2027 Intended Use Plans and Intended Funding Lists for the Water Pollution Control Loan Program (available via this link) and Public Water Supply Loan Program (available via this link) for a 30-day public comment period (available via this link). The deadline to submit public comment is Monday, June 29, 2026. Local governments with projects on the draft funding lists should review the documents, as funding availability and project rankings remain subject to change until the lists are finalized in July 2026. Local officials are encouraged to consult with their IEPA project manager regarding project-specific requirements. More information about either program can be found on IEPA’s website (available via this link).

Illinois Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act Takes Effect June 1

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is reminding employers and workers that the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act (PA 104-0259) took effect June 1, 2026. The law provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave when their child is admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

Illinois Governor Vows Continued Housing Push as Statewide Zoning Proposal Hits a Wall (SmartCitiesDive)

Illinois Lawmaker to Reveal New Plan in Effort to Keep Bears Out of Indiana (NBCChicago)

More Federal Funding for Local Parks Could Soon be Available. Here’s How to Apply (SmartCitiesDive)

Illinois Treasurer’s Gift to Pope Leo? $8.65 of Pontiff’s Own Money (CapitolNewsIllinois)

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. 

Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Housing Supports: Strategies for Counties

Monday, June 8, 2026, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CST

Counties across the country are working to expand safe and supportive housing for their residents with substance use disorder, recognizing housing as a critical part of the recovery continuum of care. This webinar will highlight practical strategies for using opioid settlement funds to support housing initiatives at the local level. Given ongoing ambiguity around allowable uses of settlement funds, the session will offer clear guidance on emerging models, compliance considerations and opportunities to fund housing as part of broader recovery infrastructure.

Registration is available via this link. 

Tech Xchange Q2 Focus Group: Economic Strategy

Thursday, June 11, 2026, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CST

Are Counties Investing Strategically—or Reacting to Economic Pressure?

Counties are navigating a complex economic environment marked by rising costs, evolving revenue streams, and continued demand for essential services. While many have made significant investments in technology and modernization, questions remain about whether these investments are part of long-term strategy or responses to immediate pressures.

This focus group will explore how county leaders are prioritizing investments, balancing short-term needs with long-term resilience, and identifying opportunities to strengthen financial sustainability through more strategic decision-making. 

Registration is available via this link. 

Balancing Public Meeting and Records Transparency Amid Rising Threats and Public Pressure

Thursday, June 11, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST

Public meetings and public records are essential to local government transparency—but in today’s environment, public servants are often navigating elevated civic tension and evolving threats. In this webinar, we’ll discuss three connected realities: curtailing violence and disruption at public meetings, protecting public official and staff personal information, and safeguarding sensitive resident data (including voter related records) while still meeting legal obligations for access. We’ll share practical approaches to maintain order and continuity in public meetings; respond to rising volumes and complexity of public records requests without overwhelming staff or eroding trust; and apply clear processes for review, redaction, and access controls so transparency is preserved without increasing safety risk.

Registration is available via this link. 

From Concept to Impact: How Counties are Successfully Evaluating the Use of AI

Monday, June 22, 2026, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CST

AI is transforming county government, but responsible adoption requires more than enthusiasm. In late 2025, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) partnered with CAI to tackle a critical question: how can counties objectively evaluate AI tools for cost, security, data protection, and real-world fit? The answer became the GovAI Trustmark, a first-of-its-kind AI certification framework built by and for county government, launched in the spring of 2026. In this NACo webinar, the practitioners who were part of the workgroup will share the process in building this online evaluation dashboard and how it can work for counties nationwide.

Registration is available via this link. 

Collaborative Leadership Leads to Housing for All

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST

Join the National Association of Counties and the National Association of Homebuilders for a conversation on approaches to advancing attainable housing solutions in communities across the country. This webinar will explore how local leaders are building consensus, fostering collaboration and advancing practical housing strategies that meet the needs of residents.

Featuring Supervisor Laura Capps of Santa Barbara County, California and Commissioner Bill Truex of Charlotte County, Florida, this discussion will highlight how county leaders are working toward shared solutions to address housing challenges in their communities.

Panelists will share how a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to housing can help drive meaningful progress and strengthen communities.

Registration is available via this link. 

Rural Resilience & Strategic Responses to the Opioid Epidemic

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST

Rural communities are often characterized by strong social ties, local innovation, and a deep commitment to supporting neighbors in times of need. At the same time, they face unique challenges in responding to the opioid epidemic, including limited access to care, healthcare workforce shortages, and transportation barriers. Yet with new opportunities through Rural Health Transformation funding, opioid settlement dollars, and other targeted investments, counties have a critical window to make strategic decisions that can save lives and strengthen communities.
 
This webinar will highlight how rural counties are leveraging these resources to build coordinated, sustainable opioid response strategies. Learn how local leaders are strengthening partnerships, building coalitions, expanding prevention and recovery efforts, increasing naloxone distribution, and investing in measurable solutions tailored to their communities. Hear practical examples of what is working on the ground and how counties can have lasting impacts with the resources available to them.
 
Learning objectives and key takeaways:

• Identify key challenges that rural communities face impacting health and well-being and emerging opportunities to address them.
• Describe strategies that rural counties are taking to respond to the opioid epidemic and strengthen community response efforts.
• Evaluate opportunities to align local investments and community priorities to support sustainable opioid-response strategies in rural communities. 

Registration is available via this link. 

Bolstering Operations and Trust in Your County through Election Excellence

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. CST

Join the National Association of Counties and the National Association for a discussion with county election officials from across the country to learn about the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence’s newly launched nonpartisan Certification Program and how it can support efforts in your county to strengthen operations, increase public trust, and recognize excellence. In this conversation, we will highlight nonpartisan standards that can enhance professionalization and collaboration across the entire county ranging in topics from communications, emergency planning, and funding and budgets. Come learn about how participation in this program can position your county as a national leader in elections and beyond!

Participants will:

• Use the Standards to find areas of collaboration between elections and other county functions to strengthen operations
• Deepen understanding of the Standards in communications, emergency planning, and funding and budgets
• Understand how to pursue Certification in Election Excellence

Registration is available via this link. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT     

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP is the largest law firm in the nation dedicated exclusively to collecting governmental debt. Last year we managed more than $10 billion in delinquencies on behalf of more than 2,400 governmental entities. Our collection programs are custom tailored using the latest technology and guided by the highest legal and ethical standards.

In addition to standard collection services, our unique data analysis technology gives us the ability to identify potential receivables such as erroneous homestead exemptions.

Linebarger’s Chicago office provides comprehensive collection services to cities across Illinois including Chicago, Waukegan, Joliet and Springfield, as well as the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Click here to learn more about Linebarger Attorneys at Law.  

  Become an ISACo Member! 

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