This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views E-Newsletter includes a link to ISACo's 2026 Veto Session Resource page, links to a story about Illinois' new AI cabinet, reports on a recent meeting of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Great Lakes Forum, coveys information about LIHEAP applications for utility bill assistance, shares articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, includes information about upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner United Healthcare and invites counties to join ISACo.
Veto Session Resource Page
ISACo’s 2026 Veto Session Resource Page is available to help county officials prepare for the Illinois General Assembly’s return to Springfield on November 17–19 and December 1–3. The page highlights proposals that could affect county authority, operations and finances, including the POWER Act and BUILD Act, with particular attention to mandates and preemptions of local government authority.
County officials are encouraged to bookmark the page and check back regularly for bill information, ISACo analyses, policy briefs and legislative updates. ISACo will continue adding resources as proposals evolve and additional issues emerge before and during the Veto Session.
Governor Pritzker Establishes AI Cabinet
Illinois is taking another step toward regulating artificial intelligence with the creation of a new state AI Cabinet following an Executive Order signed by Governor Pritzker. The advisory group will examine AI safety, critical infrastructure, data centers and government procurement while developing recommendations that could have implications for county governments.
Additional information is available via this link.
Great Lakes Forum Examines Data Center Growth and Federal Water Policy
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Great Lakes Regional Forum convened last week to examine the rapid expansion of data centers and the implications for local governments, including water use, infrastructure demands, land use and community benefits. The Forum also received updates on federal water policy, including the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
Additional information is available via this link.
Governor Pritzker Announces LIHEAP Application for Utility Bill Assistance
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging eligible families to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support income eligible households with utility costs for natural gas, propane, and electricity. Applications will open October 1, 2026, and will remain open through August 13, 2027, or until funds are exhausted.
The press release is available via this link.
What We're Reading
Map: Where Diesel and Gas Are Most Expensive (Governing)
Pritzker Establishes AI Cabinet Amid Calls for Greater Regulation (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.
Tech Xchange Q4 Focus Group: Cyber Risk
(Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST)
Are Counties Keeping Up with Cyber Risk—or Falling Further Behind?
Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, placing increasing pressure on counties to protect critical systems and sensitive data. While awareness and investment have grown, many counties face ongoing challenges related to funding, staffing, and rapidly changing risks.
This focus group will explore how counties are approaching cybersecurity, prioritizing investments, and strengthening resilience in an increasingly complex threat environment.
Register for this webinar via this link.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
There for what matters™
The mission of UnitedHealthcare is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. UHC dedicates itself to this every day for our members by being there for what matters in moments big and small — from their earliest days, to their working years and through retirement.
Across the United States, UHC offers health benefit plans for all ages, all lifestyles and all kinds of budgets — including member programs for individuals and families, people with health insurance through work, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
They work with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals and over 6,700 hospitals and care facilities nationwide. Together, they work to provide more people with access to quality care when and where they need it.
Creating a better health care experience
UnitedHealthcare believes that when it comes to your health, everything matters. That’s why they are constantly working to improve the health care experience and make it deliver for the needs of everyone.
They know health care can be complicated, so they work to make it simpler — for patients as well as providers. Streamlining processes and providing answers helps make coverage easier to understand and use.
UHC believes everyone deserves quality health coverage they can afford. So they provide coverage options designed to fit all kinds of budgets, and always look for ways to take costs out of the system to improve affordability and access for all.
They focus on serving the individual, offering access to quality care, personalized solutions and support for every step of the way.
Click here to learn more about UnitedHealthcare.
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.