This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes bills signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, ISACo's Bills Approved by Both Chambers Report, information about the most recent meeting of ISACo's Cook and Collar County group, recaps the 2026 Midwest County Association Staff Retreat attended by ISACo staff, highlights the Illinois Power Agency's Clean Energy Award, links to articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Wight and Company and invites counties to join ISACo.

Governor Bill Actions

The following bills were signed into law by the Governor. Several of the bills do not yet have public act numbers. Public act numbers will be added as they become available. ISACo's position on each bill is included.

HB 2137 (P.A. 104-0582) - Local Government-Tech (No Position)

HB 4394 (P.A. 104-0604)- Sexual Assault Victim Interview (No Position)

HB 4491 (P.A. 104-0611) - Public Employee Disability (Oppose)

SB 2102 (P.A. 104-0623) - Prop Tx-Budget Filing (No Position)

SB 2770 (P.A. 104-0630) - Loc First Responder Insurance (No Position)

SB 2774 (P.A. 104-0632) - Sanitary Food Preparation (Support)

SB 2826 (P.A. 104-0634) - Pen Cd-IMRF-Board of Trustees (No Position)

SB 2879 (P.A. 104-0641) - Ins-Assessments Done by Aprns (No Position)

SB 2891 (P.A. 104-0643) - Animal Shelter Adoption Info (No Position)

SB 2892 (P.A. 104-0644) - Humane Care-Animals-Penalties (No Position)

SB 2921 (P.A. 104-0649) - Ins-Eye Medication Coverage (No Position)

SB 2980 (P.A. 104-0652) - Climate Displacement-Report (No Position)

SB 3016 (P.A. 104-0654) - DNR-Oslad Accessibility (No Position)

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. ISACo updates the report with public act numbers for bills signed into law by the Governor. 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.

Cook and Collar County Meeting

ISACo convened a meeting of the Cook and Collar Counties on July 27 to coordinate legislative priorities and strengthen collaboration on issues affecting counties across northeastern Illinois. This was the second meeting of the Cook and Collar County group.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on state preemption of local authority over wind, solar and emerging data center development. Participants discussed problems created by existing law and referenced recent court decisions that could present future legal challenges.

The group also reviewed several major legislative issues expected to resurface later this year, including proposals affecting Veterans Assistance Commissions (VACs), housing and zoning authority under the BUILD Act, and continued efforts to restore the Local Government Distributive Fund. Updates were provided about Illinois' new artificial intelligence laws, the Governor's pause on new data center incentive applications, and ongoing efforts to develop county resources related to AI governance and data center development. Additional discussion addressed public transit funding changes, implementation of the state's surplus equity law, and other legislation with potential county impacts.

Beyond legislative matters, attendees discussed increasing concerns over stormwater management, flooding and outdated floodplain mapping, with members emphasizing the need for stronger local authority and additional funding tools to address growing infrastructure challenges. Attendees also discussed license plate reader technology, stressing the importance of balancing public safety benefits with privacy, data governance and civil rights considerations. Participants concluded by reaffirming their commitment to a coordinated approach on issues affecting the region.

ISACo Attends 2026 Midwest Staff Retreat 

Last week, members of the ISACo team traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to attend the 2026 Midwest County Association Staff Retreat, held July 19-21. The annual retreat brings together association professionals from across the Midwest to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen the relationships that support our organizations and the members we serve.

Throughout the retreat, attendees participated in informative educational sessions covering a variety of topics relevant to association management and public policy while also enjoying valuable opportunities to network with fellow staff members from neighboring state associations. 

ISACo appreciates the opportunity to learn alongside and build relationships with our Midwest colleagues.

Illinois Power Agency Wins National Clean Energy Award

The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that its Illinois Shines Mentorship Program and Solar Consumer Protection Initiatives were awarded national State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) Awards by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), a bipartisan coalition of state energy agencies.

The SLICE Awards recognize state or state-funded programs that have accelerated the adoption of clean energy technologies. Selected by an independent panel of distinguished judges, award recipients were evaluated based on leadership, innovation, cost-effectiveness, and replicability.

The press release is available via this link. 

What We're Reading

Troubled Waters: Minnesota Cities Weather Cyber Attack (Governing) 

Exclusive: Alexi Giannoulias will Run for Chicago Mayor in 2027 (NBC5Chicago)

Illinois Launches New Program to Provide Food Benefits to People Who Lost SNAP (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. 

Geospatial County Review

Monday, August 10, 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. 

Leading Without Blame: How Psychological Safety Strengthens County Cyber Resilience

Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. CST

The most damaging breaches in county government rarely begin with a sophisticated exploit. They begin with a person — someone who is stressed, overloaded, or afraid to raise a hand. For counties defending elections, courts, emergency services, and water systems,  with lean teams and tight budgets, the way leaders build culture and trust is one of the highest-leverage security controls they own.

This panel brings county leaders together to explore how psychological safety, authentic leadership, and a culture of belief — not box-checking — drive real cyber resilience. Panelists will share candid, on-the-ground perspectives on moving from performative compliance to operational commitment, treating people as the strongest control rather than the weakest link, and using AI to sharpen human judgment rather than replace it.

Key takeaways:

• Psychological safety is a security control: teams that feel safe report incidents faster, conceal less, and recover more quickly from mistakes.
• Resilience is built on commitment and belief, not checkbox compliance — and elected and appointed leaders set that tone from the top.
• AI is a tool to enhance human judgment, not replace it; counties succeed by pairing a strong culture with practical guardrails.

Registration is available via this link. 

Strategies for Sustainable Retiree Health Benefits

Thursday, August 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has fundamentally reshaped the Medicare landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for employers, public sector organizations, and pension funds that sponsor retiree health benefits. While retirees are benefiting from lower prescription drug costs and capped out-of-pocket spending, plan sponsors are now facing significantly higher financial exposure — especially within Medicare Part D.

This webinar will explore how the post-IRA environment is changing Group Medicare economics and what plan sponsors can do to protect both retiree outcomes and long-term fiscal sustainability. Attendees will gain insight into emerging cost pressures, including rising healthcare utilization, increased catastrophic drug liability, and evolving CMS reimbursement dynamics.

Participants will also learn actionable strategies to help manage costs without compromising retiree care, including:

• Optimizing pharmacy benefit design in the new Part D environment
• Leveraging value-based care models to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits
• Implementing site-of-care strategies to lower medical spend
• Investing in preventive care and wellness initiatives to improve long-term outcomes
• Using data transparency and claims analytics to support smarter decision-making  Designed for county leaders, HR and benefits professionals, finance officers, and pension/OPEB stakeholders, this session will provide practical guidance for navigating the rapidly evolving Group Medicare landscape while balancing affordability, compliance, and retiree satisfaction.

Registration is available via this link. 

Ready for November: Make Every Week Count

Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CST

Want to make the most of the weeks leading up to the midterm elections and wondering what additional steps could strengthen your county's readiness? Whether you're refining existing plans or identifying where to focus next, this webinar will help you prioritize practical, high-impact actions you can take before November.

Join the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) for a conversation perfect for county IT professionals, emergency managers, and election administrators. You'll hear from election security experts who will share practical approaches to scenario planning, cross-functional coordination, and operational preparedness that can be implemented in the months and weeks leading up to Election Day.

The session will focus on what counties can realistically accomplish with the time, staff, and infrastructure you already have while highlighting additional tools, perspectives, and publicly available resources from trusted partners. You'll leave with actionable next steps to strengthen your county's election security and readiness before November 3rd.

Registration is available via this link. 

Tech Xchange Q3 Focus Group: Workforce Challenges

Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST

Are Counties Solving Workforce Challenges—or Just Stretching the Staff They Have?

Counties continue to face persistent workforce challenges, including recruitment, retention, and evolving skill needs. While many jurisdictions have adopted new tools and approaches to address gaps, questions remain about whether these efforts are creating long-term capacity or simply extending existing staff.
 
This focus group will explore how counties are adapting their workforce strategies, leveraging technology to support operations, and identifying sustainable approaches to meeting service demands in a constrained labor environment.

Registration is available via this link. 

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT     

 

At Wight & Company (Wight), we believe in the power that exceptionally designed and built spaces have to enhance people’s lives, whether those spaces are where they work, live, learn, or play. With a multi-disciplined staff of planners, architects, interior designers, engineers, and construction managers, an integrated process enables Wight’s professionals to leverage the best resources and expertise for its clients. Wight is one of the country’s top-ranked firms offering architecture, interior design, engineering, and construction services to public and private sector clients.

Wight is an industry pioneer in sustainable planning, design, and construction through our LEED, Net Zero, and WELL initiatives.

Led by the talents and insight of its people, Wight creates enduring client relationships founded on trust and sustained by performance beyond expectations.

 

 Become an ISACo Member! 

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