News

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding organizations and individuals sponsoring fireworks displays in Illinois to be sure their fireworks vendor has the required state licenses and certificates issued by IDNR and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) before their fireworks show. The Illinois Explosives Act requires that anyone who purchases, possesses, uses, transfers, stores or disposes of explosives, including display fireworks, must have an explosives license and explosives storage certificate issued by the IDNR.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31. A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. IDNR will again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects in economically distressed communities. In the most recent round of OSLAD awards announced in January, 20 underserved locations received grants for local park projects.

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) officially begins operations as Illinois’ first agency focused entirely on early childhood programs and services. The agency joins together programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD).

The world’s fastest dirt track draws more than racing fans to the Illinois State Fairgrounds each summer. Tucked in the south end of the infield is the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Community Garden, which was celebrated today with a proclamation from Governor JB Pritzker. Community Garden Day in Springfield drew a crowd of gardeners, local and state officials, community partners and others to the carefully tended plots. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is the only agriculture department in the nation to offer a community garden on its grounds.

The 2026 Illinois State Fair theme ‘Miles of Smiles’ celebrates the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66. The road to the Illinois State Fair officially begins with a state tradition: the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13. The parade kicks off the 11-day celebration of Illinois agriculture, community, and creativity, winding through Springfield streets and into the heart of the fairgrounds. From high school bands and community groups to classic cars and creative floats, the Twilight Parade is an annual tradition. The Illinois State Fair is currently accepting parade entries through July 6. For more information, visit statefair.illinois.gov or call the Special Events office at 217.782.0777.

House Bill 5391, as amended, would create the Government Reporting Enhancement and Transparency Act, replacing Illinois' current patchwork of local government audit statutes with a new statewide reporting framework. The legislation establishes four reporting categories based on annual external cash receipts, creates new financial reporting and audit requirements, expands the Comptroller's oversight responsibilities, and phases in implementation beginning with fiscal years after December 31, 2027. The accompanying analysis highlights the bill's major provisions and its potential impact on Illinois counties. Click on the title to read an analysis of the legislation.

ISACo has sent a letter to Illinois' congressional delegation urging lawmakers to oppose a proposal that would allow states to permit heavier commercial trucks on interstate highways. The association warns the provision could increase costs for county-owned roads and bridges while shifting additional infrastructure burdens to local governments. Click on the title for more information.

The USDA is seeking comments by August 10, 2026, on proposed updates to regulations implementing the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, known as AFIDA. The proposal builds on USDA’s online reporting portal for foreign-owned agricultural land transactions and may be of interest to rural counties, recorders, assessors, land-use officials and agricultural stakeholders concerned with farmland ownership transparency. Click on the title for more information.

HUD’s FY 2026 Continuum of Care Program Notice of Funding Opportunity remains open, with applications due by August 26, 2026. NACo reports that the NOFO changes the funding structure by reducing the share of protected renewal funding and placing more funds into a competitive process. Counties and regional homelessness partners may wish to review the notice and assess potential impacts on housing, behavioral health, veterans services and homelessness response programs. Click the title for more information.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs unveiled a new community investment program designed to build affordable housing, help nonprofits, and generate returns for the state. Frerichs invested $10 million with IFF, a Chicago-based Community Development Financial Institution that promotes economic development by providing financing and real estate consulting across the Midwest to nonprofits and people underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income communities.

Congress has passed a bipartisan federal housing reform package that includes several county priorities, according to the National Association of Counties. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes provisions intended to improve access to disaster recovery funding, protect community development resources and provide additional flexibility for locally administered housing programs. ISACo will monitor implementation of the legislation and share additional information relevant to Illinois counties.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is offering Peoples Gas customers an in-person opportunity to provide comments on the utility’s proposed general rate increase. The public and media are invited to attend the public comment forum on Wednesday, July 15th in Chicago.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) celebrated Incobrasa Industries’ new soybean processing plant and solar array in Gilman, reinforcing Illinois' position as the nation's leading soybean-producing state and a growing hub for biofuels, food processing, and advanced agricultural manufacturing.

The Illinois Department of Revenue has issued an informational bulletin summarizing local sales tax rate changes that will take effect on July 1, 2026. The bulletin includes changes involving business district sales tax, county public safety tax, home rule municipal sales tax, Metro-East Mass Transit District sales tax and non-home-rule municipal sales tax. County administrators, treasurers, finance officers and retailers may wish to review the bulletin for any changes affecting their jurisdictions. Click on the title to read the article.

The federal Office of Management and Budget is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would revise federal grant administration requirements. The proposal could affect how counties manage federal funds, including budgeting, procurement, compliance, reporting and audits. Comments are due by July 13, 2026. Click on the title to read the article.

llinois EPA Director James Jennings is pleased to announce the Illinois Clean Ports Program’s first in-person meetings for stakeholders and near-port communities to kick-off a planning process to decarbonize ports with cleaner vehicle technologies and supporting energy infrastructure.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in May, unchanged from April, and up +0.7 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised April unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a third consecutive over-the-month increase in May, up +6,000 (+0.1%) to 6,164,800. The April monthly change in payrolls was +11,400, unchanged from the preliminary report. The May payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 862 into law, creating the Illinois Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship (IDAG). This landmark legislation positions Illinois as a national leader in disability advocacy and guardianship by elevating the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission (IGAC) to a cabinet-level department. "By establishing the Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship, we are making it crystal clear that disability rights are a priority in Illinois," said Governor JB Pritzker. "I am proud to establish this agency, and I will continue to fight hard to empower people with disabilities and their families all across our state.”

Governor JB Pritzker used his item and reduction veto authority to correct a series of errors contained in Illinois' Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including a typographical mistake that inadvertently appropriated more than $500 billion to a Chicago NAACP branch. The governor's actions, taken in consultation with legislative budget leaders, removed or reduced dozens of spending items without requiring lawmakers to return to Springfield before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year. Click on the title to read the article.

The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor JB Pritzker that all persons or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor of: Juneteenth National Freedom Day

Governor JB Pritzker has signed Illinois' Fiscal Year 2027 budget into law, concluding months of budget negotiations and establishing the state's spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The nearly $56 billion budget preserves the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) share at 6.47 percent, rejecting a proposal that would have reduced funding to counties and municipalities by an estimated $60 million statewide. ISACo joined local government partners in advocating against the proposed LGDF reduction. Read more about the enacted budget and what it means for Illinois counties by clicking on the title.

Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 3222 – landmark hemp legislation that strengthens social equity and medical access, reduces regulatory burdens, strengthens oversight, and improves public safety. SB 3222 is key to ensuring that the state’s cannabis sector remains safe for consumers and that Illinois continues to set a national example with its diversity and equity efforts in the cannabis industry.

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) announced $24.7 million in funding for 434 entities through the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program, an initiative to strengthen access to pharmacy services across Illinois. The program was designed to assist pharmacies around the state most at risk of closure or financial strain, particularly those serving in rural areas, low-income communities, or populations with limited access to health care.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced a new grant program to help volunteer groups battling hunger and food insecurity in the wake of federal government cuts to critical food programs. Charitable Trust Hunger Relief Grants provide up to $5,000 to volunteer-driven food pantries, soup kitchens, and similar nonprofit organizations with no full-time employees.

The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), issued a pre-advertisement for the 'RISE IDOC: Rehabilitation and Restoration Inside Safe Environments' (RISE IDOC) initiative seeking a Progressive Design Build Entity with demonstrated project experience designing and constructing correctional facilities for public agencies. The Progressive Design Build Entity will construct two new multi-level security facilities in Crest Hill, Illinois, including design features that focus on creating rehabilitative and gender-responsive spaces with housing, education, programming, medical and mental health, dietary, and recreational areas to support the successful re-entry of individuals into their communities.