HB 1437 (Representative Bob Morgan, D-Highwood/Senator Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago) was approved by both chambers. The legislation is a large omnibus “clean-up and extension” bill. It does not create new major programs; rather, it:
- Extends repeal (“sunset”) dates for numerous existing laws and pilot programs
- Re-enacts several provisions that were unintentionally allowed to expire
- Makes targeted corrections to election timelines, local government procedures, and other statutes
- Ensures legal continuity when sunset extensions are passed near or immediately after the expiration date
- Addresses COVID-era farebox recovery requirements for Chicago-area transit (CTA/Metra/Pace)
The bill spans multiple statutes ranging from elections and procurement to corrections programming, property disposition, tax credits, and transportation.
Key Policy Actions
Re-enacts provisions that accidentally sunset
The bill restores and continues laws that unintentionally expired, including:
- Illinois Elections and Infrastructure Integrity Task Force
- Illinois RICO / Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law
- Menard County “quick-take” eminent domain authority
Each now extended to July 1, 2027.
Revises rules for extending sunset dates
The bill changes procedure so that if the General Assembly passes a bill to extend a repeal date within 7 days of a statute’s expiration, and it later becomes law, the statute is deemed continuously in force.
This prevents gaps caused by timing issues between legislative passage and the Governor’s signature.
Extends and updates multiple programs and pilots
Including:
- A tax credit program
- A mechanics lien referral pilot
- Property sale authorizations in Rockford and Joliet
- Reporting requirements in several agencies
Election Code changes
Updates election filing and governance processes, including:
- Multi-township assessor petition deadlines (new earlier filing window)
- Park district board seat expansion timing rules
- Clarifies vacancies in regional superintendent elections
Education, elder care, child services, health acts modified
Mostly technical extensions or deadline adjustments.
Transit provision
Extends the COVID-era waiver allowing CTA/Metra/Pace and ADA paratransit services to operate below statutory farebox recovery minimums through FY 2026. This aligns with ongoing post-pandemic ridership recovery.
Purpose and Policy Context
This bill is primarily technical and administrative — a mix of legislative housekeeping, timeline corrections, and legal continuity fixes. It ensures ongoing authority for:
- Law enforcement tools (RICO statute)
- Local infrastructure and redevelopment efforts
- Election administration and public office appointments
- Transit operations facing post-COVID ridership and revenue challenges
It appears designed to avoid legal uncertainty, prevent program disruption, and maintain statutory authority across multiple public policy domains.
Impacts on Counties
- Election administration: County clerks must adjust filing deadlines for multi-township assessor candidates and accommodate updated park district election scheduling rules.
- Regional superintendent vacancies: Clarifies appointment and election timing, which affects some county offices.
- Menard County infrastructure authority preserved: The “quick-take” eminent domain power remains available, important for time-sensitive projects.
- Transit finance extension: Although mainly affecting the Chicago-area systems, the continued farebox flexibility supports system stability and may influence future state transit funding debates with county implications.
- Administrative certainty: Counties benefit indirectly from avoiding legal gaps in statutes related to aging services, child welfare coordination, procurement, and pilot programs.
Overall, county impacts are procedural and administrative, not fiscal — but counties will need to adjust election timelines and continue coordination under restored program authorities.
This legislation is a broad statutory maintenance package that keeps existing programs running, corrects unintended repeals, updates election timelines, and extends COVID-era transit finance flexibility. It ensures government continuity and reduces legal risk rather than launching new policy initiatives.