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, provides an update regarding implementation of the State Public Defender Act, reports on a recent meeting of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban Counties Caucus, conveys information about a study examining the economic impact of data centers in Illinois and the challenges confronting local governments, shares articles ISACo staff is reading to stay informed, includes information about upcoming NACo webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo corporate partner Linebarger Attorneys at Law 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.
Illinois Begins Implementation of State Public Defender Act: What Counties Need to Know
Illinois is preparing for significant changes to its public defense system as major provisions of the State Public Defender Act take effect January 1, 2027. The new framework will increase state involvement in public defender appointments, funding, reporting and performance standards while retaining county-based public defender offices. ISACo examines the implementation timeline and key issues counties should be watching as the new system takes shape.
Additional information is available via this link.
NACo Large Urban County Caucus Discusses Federal Funding and Emerging County Challenges
NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) met on September 30 to discuss federal funding, proposed OMB and Census changes, property tax pressures and other emerging issues affecting counties. County officials also identified data center development, alternative revenue sources, federal grant conditions and unfunded mandates as priorities for future discussion.
Additional information is available via this link.
Illinois Data Center Growth Could Bring Billions in Investment and New Challenges for Local Governments
A new study estimates that planned Illinois data centers could generate $57 billion in investment, 120,000 jobs and $300 million in additional annual property tax revenue over the next decade. But rapid growth is also raising concerns over electricity demand, water use and proposals that could limit local governments' ability to offer data center incentives.
Additional information is available via this link.
What We're Reading
New Book Explores How Political Polarization Affects Close Relationships (University of Illinois News Bureau)
Expert Says Illinois Politics are to Blame for Failure to Secure Stadium for Chicago Bears in State (CBS News)
Population Reshapes Illinois' Political Landscape (Farm Week Now)
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
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?
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.