Governor Pritzker Signs Mandatory Paid Leave Legislation

On March 13, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 208 into law, making Illinois the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason. The new law provides employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period, meaning approximately 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off starting in 2024.

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ISACo Tracked Bills Approved During Committee Deadline Week

The Illinois General Assembly was in session last week from Tuesday, March 7 through Friday, March 10. March 10 was the deadline for moving bills out of committees in their chambers of origin. Many ISACo tracked bills were among the bills approved by committees last week for consideration by the full House or Senate. ISACo's report listing each of these bills is available by clicking on the title of this story.

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County Zoning Preemption Signed Into Law

On January 27, 2023, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 4412 into law as P.A. 102-1123. The new law imposes limitations on county authority to site wind and solar facilities. It includes statewide standards for siting the facilities as well as unrealistic timetables for public hearings (45 days) and rendering a final siting decision following the public hearing (30 days). ISACo prepared an Issue Brief summarizing the provisions within the new law that impact counties.

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Governor Pritzker Announces Payoff of Illinois' Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Debt

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the state has officially repaid the remaining $1.36 billion unemployment insurance (UI) Trust Fund debt. The payment was made possible after an historic agreement was reached between the state, and representatives from business, labor, and bipartisan members of the General Assembly. It was then signed into law by the Governor.

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$113.8 Million Investment Announced for Downstate Transit

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today announced that $113.8 million has been awarded to downstate transit providers as part of the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The funding brings the total investment in downstate transit via competitive grants to $337.8 million, supporting the Governor's mission to create economic opportunity by improving all modes of transportation while boosting safety and efficiency.

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Emergency Rule Filed Allowing Broader Power to Deny FOID Cards

The Illinois State Police (ISP), under the direction of Governor Pritzker, submitted an emergency rule change to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office implementing broader use of clear and present danger reports that can bar applicants from receiving a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card or revoke a current FOID card. The rule change allows for the use and maintenance of historic clear and present danger information even if the subject was not actively seeking or holding a FOID card at the time a Clear and Present Danger report was made and allows for use of these reports in possible future evaluations.

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Governor Pritzker Announces Suicide Prevention Lifeline

On July 15, 2022, Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Illinois Department of Human Services’ (IDHS) Division of Mental Health, in coordination with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is expanding Illinois' mental health safety net by rolling out 988, a new, nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisis line. The code will be available nationally beginning July 16, 2022. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has existed since 2005, is now available nationwide via a three-digit dialing code – 988 – making it easier for those in crisis to get the help they need. Converting to this easy-to-remember number offers the public increased access to potentially lifesaving, trained crisis counselors. State and federal funding have made it possible to increase staffing at Illinois’ six existing 988 call centers to ensure that calls are answered in-state.

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Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward: Longtime IDOT Conference Returns May 9 and 10

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting the 31st “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” conference on May 9 and 10 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The longtime conference hosted by IDOT’s Office of Business and Workforce Diversity provides female- and minority-owned businesses with opportunities to make connections and develop skills to grow and succeed.

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NACo Updates Analysis of Treasury Final Rule for ARPA Funds

Our partners at the National Association of Counties (NACo) have completed a major update of their analysis of Treasury’s Final Rule for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Fund. The updated analysis includes, but is not limited to the following: (1) clarifying information on eligible/ineligible uses we have received from Treasury, including capital expenditures; (2) a deeper dive on the provisions around revenue loss allocations; (3) the Treatment of loans; and (4) reporting requirements and background information on federal Uniform Guidance/2 CFR Part 200.

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U.S. Senate Approves $1 Trillion Federal Infrastructure Bill

On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate approved an almost $1 trillion investment in infrastructure. The bill was approved 69-30 and will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) would provide $973 billion over five years from FY 2022 through FY 2026, including $550 billion in new investments for all modes of transportation, water, power and energy, environmental remediation, public lands, broadband and resilience. The National Association of Counties (NACo) has prepared a summary of the legislation and how it would benefit counties.

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U.S. Census Bureau to Hold August 12 Press Conference on Redistricting

The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a news conference to discuss the release of the first local level results from the 2020 Census. States use these data on race, Hispanic origin, and the voting-age population to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts. The news conference will provide initial analysis of the first local level results from the 2020 Census on population change, race, ethnicity, the age 18 and over population and housing occupancy status. A live Q&A session with Census Bureau subject-matter experts will immediately follow the briefing for credentialed media who have RSVPed.

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Governor Extends Disaster Proclamation into August

On Friday, July 23, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker extended the Disaster Proclamation through August 21. Of note, while the Proclamation did not include the remote meeting authority provision found within previous Proclamations, there may still be authority to hold remote meetings pursuant to P.A. 101-0640. ISACo recommends that counties consult with their state's attorney to clarify what is or is not permitted.

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Governor Releases Update About Energy Legislation Content

Governor Pritzker released the provisions of his most recent energy legislation in a June 10, 2021, memo to the Energy Legislation Working Group. The text of the memo is available by clicking on the title to this story. The General Assembly is set to return to Springfield next Tuesday and Wednesday to debate and vote on energy legislation following the inability to reach agreement prior to the adjournment of the spring legislative session last week. Now that the June 30 deadline has passed, it will require a three-fifths vote of each chamber to approve legislation and send it to the Governor. Key sticking points in the debate over an energy bill concern the amount of the subsidy offered to Exelon for its nuclear fleet and whether or not to exempt coal plants owned by municipal utilities from closure. It has also been reported that a second version of energy legislation has surfaced. Of primary concern to counties is whether an approved energy bill includes provisions restricting local control over siting wind and solar facilities. ISACo opposes such restrictions.

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