News

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced the conditional award of more than $50 million in state and federal funding to spur the development of permanent supportive housing throughout Illinois. These critical investments will enable the construction or rehabilitation of seven developments, creating 129 units of affordable housing integrated with comprehensive services to help vulnerable individuals and families attain stable housing. Awardees were selected after a competitive application and review process and approved by IHDA’s Board.

The following amendments of interest to counties were filed in the General Assembly on May 15, 2025. Click on the title to view the report.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today nonfarm payrolls increased +4,100 (+0.1%) over-the-month to a new record high of 6,172,500 in April. The previous record was set in last month, with 6,168,400 jobs. Additionally, the March monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report of +14,800 to +10,900. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8 percent in April, while the revised unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, unchanged from the preliminary March unemployment rate. The April payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting that the first mosquito pool of the year to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) this year was collected on May 9 in Rockford by the Winnebago County Health Department. The specimen tested positive for WNV on May 12. “The news of the first batch of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus is a reminder for Illinois residents to begin protecting themselves from diseases caused by mosquito and tick bites,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The best defense against West Nile virus is to practice the ‘Three R’s’: reduce, repel, and report’. IDPH urges everyone, and especially those who are older or have weakened immune systems, to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes and the viruses they carry.” Last year in Illinois, IDPH reported that 72 counties around the state reported positive tests for WNV in mosquitos, birds, horses or humans. There were 69 confirmed human cases of WNV according to IDPH data and 13 human deaths, the highest number since 17 deaths were recorded in 2018.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is providing notification to the owners and operators of ten Community Water Systems (CWS) that have been identified as having an emergency connection to a CWS that was previously notified of the detection of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at levels exceeding newly enacted groundwater quality standards. The ten CWS only utilize the emergency connection in the event of a water emergency. A list of the ten systems is included with this notification.

Illinois Department of Revenue sent this bulletin at 05/12/2025 12:53 PM CDT

Governor JB Pritzker, Damera Corporation and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the company will open its first U.S. assembly plant in the Greater Peoria region. Damera Corporation (Damera Bus USA LLC in the U.S.) plans to make a capital investment of more than $31.5 million over four years with support from a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) agreement, which will enable the company to expand into Illinois and create 90 new full-time jobs. The announcement was made with Governor Pritzker and Damera leadership in Washington DC as part of a larger business development trip.

With warmer weather comes “tick season” and the annual observance of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month throughout the month of May. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to learn how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease. “Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States affecting more than 500,000 people nationally each year. As the summer approaches, I encourage our residents to learn to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect yourself and your loved ones from tickborne illnesses. If you have been in wooded or high grassy areas and are experiencing symptoms – fever, fatigue, headache and a circular rash – see your health care provider immediately.”

On April 16, 2025, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) and the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) closed the State of Illinois Clean Water Initiative Revolving Fund Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2025 (Green Bonds), and successfully yield $544.2 million of proceeds for Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs. “Illinois continues to receive strong bids from the bond market, amid the economic uncertainty being created on the federal level,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our strong fiscal discipline is allowing us to save taxpayers money, while also providing local governments the capital to replace lead pipes and create economic opportunities across the state.”

- Illinois is taking action against the nation’s top health agency and its plan to compile information on people with autism. Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order Wednesday that restricts state agencies and departments from sharing personal information about people with autism. It states that personally identifiable information may only be shared when legally required, necessary for care, or with written consent. The Governor’s office said the executive order made Illinois the first state to make that restriction. The order is Pritzker’s response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s plan to collect information for autism research through sources like pharmacy chains and personal devices.

ISACo tracks and reviews all newly filed amendments each session day. Click on the title of this post for a report about county-relevant amendments filed in the Illinois General Assembly on May 6 and 7, 2025. Each report lists the amendments that could affect county government and includes a brief and preliminary summary of the amendments.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship grants through June 13, 2025. Eligible applicants are conservation land trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and whose originating documents include in its purposes the restoration and stewardship of land for conservation purposes. The goal of the grant program is to increase the delivery of much-needed stewardship activities to natural areas protected within the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) system. Stewardship needs at natural areas throughout the state have continued to outpace the ability to deliver these services by individuals, volunteers, organizations, and government agencies. This grant program is designed to fund projects that immediately address this deficiency and begin to expand on the stewardship capacity of conservation land trusts through grants that will expand their staff and equipment for these activities.

Six measles cases are confirmed in Illinois so far this year, including two new cases in Southern Illinois confirmed over the weekend, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Monday. Three linked cases in Franklin and Williamson counties meet the Center for Disease Control's technical definition of an outbreak.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) encourages farmers and agrichemical facilities to take part in a free agrichemical container recycling program. Beginning in the middle of July and continuing into August, sites throughout the state will collect containers that are recycled to make shipping pallets.

The Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health have identified two confirmed cases of measles. These are the first two cases in Cook County this year. One case was identified as an adult who is a suburban Cook County resident, and whose vaccination status is unknown. They presented to a local Hospital for medical care on Monday, April 28 and was quickly isolated. Another case was identified in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally through O’Hare Airport in early April. The individual had 1 prior dose of MMR vaccine. This patient had rash onset on April 25 and has been isolated at home since being diagnosed. All persons 12 months of age or older who plan to travel internationally should ensure that they have received 2 doses of MMR at least 2 weeks prior to travel, or other evidence of immunity. The health departments are working together collaboratively to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. The Cook County Department of Public Health is investigating the Suburban Cook County case, and the City of Chicago Department of Public Health is investigating the Chicago case.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is sharing the following upcoming events and noteworthy items for May. May 1 Illinois History Day Springfield | Sangamon County The Illinois State Museum hosts Illinois History Day at the Bank of Springfield Center. Regional finalists will compete for a chance to go to the national competition in Washington D.C.

The plan was simple: acquire 18 nursing homes in Ohio. The private equity firm put together a 56-page proposal with bullish projections and minimal costs, including spending just $6 per day for food for each resident. The figure astounded Sam Brooks. “They were talking about cutting costs and saying, ‘We’ll feed them on $6 a day,’ if you can imagine that,” said Brooks, a national advocate for residents in long-term care.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KWQC) - The Illinois Board of Higher Education is facing questions from lawmakers about financial noncompliance and late payments to schools. The Legislative Audit Commission is calling for stronger internal controls at the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The commission found that the board made late voucher payments to schools 90% of the time in fiscal year 2023. Republican State Senator Chapin Rose noted that the Legislative Audit Commission made 17 compliance recommendations, nine of which were repeat findings.

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Vantive announced that Vantive will invest $23 million and locate its new U.S. headquarters in Deerfield. Vantive, formerly the Kidney Care segment of Baxter International, is a global vital organ therapy company with a 70-year legacy. Today, as a standalone company, Vantive is dedicated to elevating the standards of kidney and vital organ therapies with a vision to enable longer, fuller lives for patients around the world. Today's announcement builds upon Illinois' reputation as a global hub for health innovation, biotech, pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

Illinois students struggling to obtain traditional college loans have a new option to borrow money for in-state higher education costs thanks to a new program Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs unveiled today. The new Funding U Illinois No-Cosigner Loan is part of the Student Empowerment Fund, Treasurer Frerichs’ plan to provide private college loans for Illinois residents at lower rates than private competitors and help bridge the gap with federal financial aid. The No-Cosigner Loan joins ISL Education Lending’s Illinois Partnership Loan and Illinois College Family Loan options. “The costs of college continue to rise, and the chaos in Washington is hurting, not helping our families,” Frerichs said at a Thursday news conference at 555 W. Monroe. “Financial aid often doesn’t cover all of the costs, and we are offering a solution to help students bridge the gap.”

A dead rabbit found in central Illinois tested positive for a bacterial disease last week, prompting the local health department to urge residents to monitor their families and pets for signs of the illness. The rabbit infected with tularemia was found in Tuscola, a small community south of Champaign, following weeks of reports of ill and dead squirrels in nearby Urbana. One of the rodents had also tested positive for the disease, which is rare but serious and can affect animals and humans.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) adopted proposed new rules at its April 24, 2025, meeting, including a prohibition on the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts to further support responsible gambling. When legal sports wagering began in Illinois in March 2020, sports betting was authorized in 13 other states, and none prohibited the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts. Since that time, the industry has significantly evolved and today sports betting is legal is 40 states. At the 5-year mark of sports wagering in Illinois, IGB staff is reviewing current sports waging practices and rules to measure effectiveness and identify potential areas for adjustment.

The unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one over-the-year for the year ending March 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over- the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas and decreased in six.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton launched her campaign to represent Illinois in the United States Senate.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the first confirmed measles case of 2025 in Illinois. The case, involving an adult in far southern Illinois, was confirmed through laboratory testing on April 23. This is the only case IDPH is aware of and this is not considered an outbreak at this time. IDPH will update the public should there be any notable developments. The risk of community transmission for the general public in Illinois remains low.