This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes ISACo's 2026 Public Acts Report and State Mandate Report, highlights local government audit legislation, reports on the expansion of high-speed internet across the state, links to ISACo's Data Center Resource Page, shares articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, conveys information about upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Mahoney Silverman and Cross and invites counties to join ISACo.
ISACo 2026 Public Acts Report
ISACo has published a report of tracked bills enacted into law in 2026. As of today, all ISACo-tracked bills have been enacted into law by the Governor and are now public acts. The report will be updated to reflect any additional legislation approved during the fall Veto Session (November 17–19 and December 1-3) that is subsequently signed into law. The report is available by clicking on the image below.
*An ISACo tracked bill includes bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations, bills that may be of interest to county officials for the performance of their duties and legislation presented "for your information."
ISACo State Mandates Report for 2026
ISACo published our 2026 State Mandates Report listing new public acts that impose a new requirement or revenue loss on counties. The report is available by clicking on the image below.
State mandates reports for prior years are available on our ISACo Reports page.
Local Government Audit Legislation
House Bill 5391 (House Amendment 1) would substantially overhaul Illinois’ local government financial reporting and audit requirements by replacing the current patchwork of statutes with a uniform four-tier system based largely on a government’s annual external cash receipts. The legislation would establish different reporting and audit standards depending on the size of the local government, expand the Illinois Comptroller’s oversight responsibilities, and create new requirements governing the selection of CPA firms.
While ISACo supports efforts to modernize and streamline local government financial reporting, several provisions of HB 5391 remain problematic and could create additional administrative and financial burdens for counties and other local governments. ISACo is actively participating in ongoing discussions between proponents and opponents of the legislation with the goal of addressing these concerns as negotiations continue.
ISACo has prepared a legislative analysis of HB 5391 (HA 1) that provides additional information about the proposed reporting categories, audit requirements, circuit clerk provisions, compliance procedures and other significant components of the legislation.
Expansion of High-Speed Internet Across Illinois
On August 25, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the State of Illinois has been approved to receive $1.04 billion in funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to support high-speed internet access statewide. The funding will connect approximately 350,000 residents through homes, businesses, and community institutions across Illinois by 2031. Between private investment, prior public funding, and new BEAD funding, the total broadband investment will exceed $2 billion.
Additional information is available via this link.
Data Center Resource Page
Data centers are becoming an issue of significance for county leaders and their residents. ISACo maintains a data center resource page to provide a reliable source of information for county officials and the general public. The resource page is accessible via this link.
What We're Reading
Jim Montgomery Named Head of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Tribune)
States Win Sweeping New Protections for Kids on Social Media (Governing)
JB Pritzker Signs Giannoulias E-Bike Regulations Into Law (WAND News)
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.
NACo Public Health Leadership Academy Information Session
Monday, August 31, 2026, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. CST
The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation, is launching a second Public Health Leadership Academy (PHLA) cohort to strengthen county leadership in advancing public health. This webinar will review the key information applicants should know to apply to the PHLA and provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. To view more details about the Academy and review the application, visit NACo’s Public Health Leadership Initiative webpage.
Register for the webinar here.
Register for the webinar here.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
The Law Firm of Mahoney, Silverman and Cross, LLC strives to provide superior legal representation with the objective of exceeding our clients’ expectations. Each member of our firm is committed to utilizing critical analysis and innovative approaches to achieve timely resolutions with the best possible results for our clients.
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 Communication Manager Tiffani Homer at (217) 679-3368 or thomer@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.