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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.

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.

On March 3, Governor JB Pritzker signed a new Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation that extends the state's COVID-19 disaster declaration through April 1, 2023. He also extended the state's disaster proclamation concerning asylum seekers for an additional 30 days.

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.

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.

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.

Governor JB Pritzker signed an amendment to the State Fiscal Year 2023 budget bill (HB 969) to provide supplemental funds.

Governor JB Pritzker announced several appointments to his administration.

On December 21, Governor JB Pritzker signed several bills into law. Click on the title for a list of the legislation.

On Sunday, July 24, Will County Board Member Denise Winfrey was elected President of the National Association of Counties (NACo). President Winfrey is also a member of ISACo’s Board of Directors. She previously served as Vice President and 2nd Vice President of NACo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On December 17, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker signed an omnibus gaming bill into law. The new law includes multiple provisions, including an amendment to the Video Gaming Act that allows non-home rule units of government to increase video gaming fees up to $250 per terminal (currently $25). Click on the title for additional information.

On Wednesday, September 15, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed SB 2408 into law as P.A. 102-0662. The new clean energy law is the product of an agreement between environmental groups, labor organizations and other stakeholders. Click on the title of this story for more information.

On August 20, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker extended the state's disaster declaration and re-issued several COVID-19 Executive Orders (EO). Click the title of this story for links to the declaration and most recent EO that includes the extensions to previous EOs.

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released initial 2020 Census results showing local population shifts along with racial and ethnic diversity changes. This information was released in the legacy format, with more user-friendly data expected to be released by September 30, 2021.

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.

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.

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.

On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation declaring June 19, Juneteenth, an official state holiday. To commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865, Juneteenth will be recognized as National Freedom Day in Illinois.

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.

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) published its May 2021 Local Tax Division (LTAD) newsletter. This newsletter is intended to provide updates and news about the LTAD. Included within this newsletter is registration information for IDOR's upcoming Local Government Workshop scheduled for June 16, 2021. 

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) confirmed today the entire state will move into the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan tomorrow, Friday, May 14th. The Bridge Phase is the final step before the full reopening of Phase 5.