This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes ISACO's Bills Approved by Both Chambers Report, links to an article explaining a proposed federal rulemaking concerning grant funding, announces the Illinois Department of Early Childhood as a new state agency, makes county officials and staff aware of OSLAD Park Development grant applications and application deadlines for FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation and CDBG Infrastructure and Housing Rehabilitation grants, encourages county officials and staff to register for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. and invites counties to join ISACo.
Bills Approved by Both Chambers Report
At the conclusion of each spring session, ISACo publishes a report summarizing the bills approved by the General Assembly that affect or are of interest to counties. The report is available by clicking on the image below.
ISACo's 2026 Post-Session Information webpage hosts resources associated with the 2026 legislative session.
Proposed Federal Grant Rule Could Significantly Affect Counties
Counties across the nation are closely monitoring a sweeping federal proposal that could significantly reshape how local governments receive, administer, and comply with federal grant requirements. During a recent NACo briefing attended by ISACo, county leaders were advised that the proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule would dramatically expand federal oversight, increase administrative responsibilities, and introduce new compliance standards affecting nearly every type of federal funding. Read more about the proposal and what counties should know.
Additional information is available via this link.
Illinois Department of Early Childhood New State Agency
The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) officially begins operations as Illinois’ first agency focused entirely on early childhood programs and services on July 1, 2026. The agency joins together programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD).
The press release is available via this link.
OSLAD Park Development Grant Applications Open
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.
A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. IDNR will again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects in economically distressed communities. In the most recent round of OSLAD awards announced in January, 20 underserved locations received grants for local park projects.
The press release is available via this link.
FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2026 Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant opportunity remains open, with applications due by July 22, 2026. The program provides funding for projects that reduce risk from future natural disasters, including flood mitigation, infrastructure resilience and other eligible hazard mitigation activities. Illinois has $2.2 million available for resilience projects through this funding opportunity.
Counties interested in applying should coordinate with the State of Illinois, as local governments must submit applications through the state. County emergency managers, administrators and other officials may wish to review potential projects and determine whether eligible hazard mitigation or flood-risk reduction activities can be submitted before the deadline.
Additional information is available via this link.
CDBG Infrastructure and Housing Application Deadline Approaching
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) lists August 27, 2026, as the application deadline for both the Community Development Block Grant Public Infrastructure Program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program. The Public Infrastructure Program provides funding to eligible non-metropolitan communities for projects that address public health, safety and welfare needs, with priority given to water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer projects.
Eligible counties and local governments may wish to review whether planned infrastructure or housing rehabilitation projects qualify for funding consideration. County administrators, engineers, housing partners and regional planning commissions should be aware of the upcoming deadline and coordinate as needed before applications are due.
Additional information is available via this link.
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.
What We're Reading
Illinois Medicaid Patients Can Wait More Than a Year for Critical Dental Care Due to Low Reimbursements (ChicagoTribune)
Sangamon County Seeks More Local Control (IllinoisTimes)
Rezoning Request for Potential Data Center in Hoffman Estates Withdrawn (DailyHerald)
Carbondale Residents Voice Concerns Over Data Centers, Water Concerns During Town Hall (KBSI)
State Lawmakers Talk Budget, Data Center Regulation at End-of-Session Town Hall (DailyNorthWestern)
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.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo's Annual Conference
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CST
If this is your first time attending NACo’s Annual Conference, this webinar is for you! In this brief session, you’ll learn how to navigate the conference schedule and make the most of all available opportunities, including:
- Mobile tours
- Policy steering committee meetings
- Educational summits and workshops on pressing trends, and
- Regional caucus meetings
This webinar will connect you with NACo’s Membership Chair and staff, who will share tips for success and program highlights at the 2026 Annual Conference.
Registration is available via this link.
Grassroots Advocacy Series: In-District Advocacy During Congressional Recess
Thursday, July 9, 2026, 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. CST
Prepare to make the most of the August congressional recess with this practical, how-to webinar for county leaders. This session will walk through NACo’s new recess advocacy guide and provide step-by-step guidance on engaging members of Congress while they are in their districts. Attendees will learn how to request meetings and site visits, understand when to pursue in-office versus on-site engagement and gain tips for hosting effective visits and maintaining relationships with congressional offices. The session will also highlight key in-district periods on the congressional calendar to help counties plan and act with confidence.
Island-Strong Finances: How Kauai County Built Resilience from the Inside Out
Thursday, July 9, 2026, 1 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST
Hawaii's counties carry a unique weight: the responsibility of serving tight-knit communities while managing the financial pressures that come with island life. For Kauai County, the Garden Island, that responsibility has meant building a financial foundation strong enough to weather uncertainty from the inside out. With a $550 million budget and a community navigating rising housing costs, shifting economic drivers, and the ongoing demands of core public services, every dollar counts.
In this session, Kauai County Treasurer Nancee Robles shares how her office partnered with three+one to generate over $20 million for county programs. Join NACo and three+one's Vice President of Client Servicing, Mike Ablowich, alongside Treasurer Robles for a conversation about what it means to protect taxpayer dollars, serve your community with integrity, and what counties across the country can learn from Kauai's approach.
Registration is available via this link.
Geospatial County Review
Thursday, July 13, 2026, 1 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. CST
The decisions being made right now about where data centers are built, how energy moves through our communities, and how public services reach the people who depend on them are being shaped by geospatial technology. And the question before us is a simple one: will county leaders help shape that conversation, or will we watch it unfold without us? 🏛️
I'm writing to invite you to lend your voice to the GeoGov Summit 2026, taking place September 9–10 at the Hyatt Regency Dulles in Herndon, Virginia. This is not a spectator's event. We need county leaders in the room and at the podium.
Here is specifically where we need you:
🎤 Our Opening Plenary on Data Centers. We are seeking local representatives from counties to speak during Plenary 1: Geospatial in Public Policy. This session explores how spatial computing helps communities make informed decisions around energy, transmission, data centers, and public service delivery. Few counties in this nation understand the weight of these decisions the way yours does, and that firsthand experience is exactly what this conversation needs.
🏛️ Our State and Local Governance Deep Dives. We are looking for county representatives to join focused sessions on how governance actually works on the ground, the real challenges, the real wins, the honest lessons.
Registration is available via this link.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. (ACH) is the nation’s largest jail contract management company, managing contracts for health care teams and customized programs in a variety of correctional settings, including county jails, juvenile detention centers, mental health units, work release centers, and drug rehabilitation centers across 22 states. We lead the industry in a higher standard of care for an underserved population.
Click here to learn more about Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc.
Become an ISACo Member!
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Member Services and Communications Manager Tiffani Homer at (217) 679-3368 or thomer@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.