CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Concur with staff’s recommendation regarding positions on state legislation
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
SUBMITTED BY: Marcie Schatz, Assistant to the City Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
In this session, over 6,000 bills have been introduced in the Illinois Legislature. City staff works closely with, and receives recommended bill positions from, DuPage Mayors and Managers (DMMC), Illinois Municipal League (IML), Will County Governmental League (WCGL), Illinois Municipal Utility Agency (IMUA), and various Illinois professional organizations (Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Public Works, etc.) Currently, DMMC has reviewed over 1,000 bills, is actively tracking 300 bills, and has taken a position on 86 bills.
At its January 21, 2025, meeting, the City Council approved the 2025 Legislative Priorities and the Legislative Review Process (Attachment A).
As communicated in the February 20, 2025 Manager’s Memorandum (Attachment B), and in alignment with Path #3 of the Legislative Review Process, staff submitted witness slips on the following approved Legislative Priorities:
1. Sustainable public pensions
2. Increase the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF)
3. Responsible transit funding, governance, and service levels
4. Erosion of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Dollars
5. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and bodycams
6. Increase the penalty for fleeing and eluding from a police officer
7. Support electronic publication of statutorily mandated postings
8. Support municipal immunity from liability for cyberattacks
DISCUSSION:
While there are hundreds of bills that have been introduced that could have an impact on the City, staff will continue to engage on a limited number of bills that support the approved Legislative Priorities and Legislative Principles.
Staff also considers bills that provide the City with greater benefits or flexibility in the delivery of services and those that are DMMC or WCGL priorities.
As such, staff will bring legislative recommendations to the City Council throughout session as appropriate.
Following Path #3, at this time, staff recommends the following positions on legislation (Bill synopses are included as Attachment C):
|
No. |
Summary |
Position |
Basis |
|
HB 1024 |
Requires referendum for increasing a levied tax and establishment of sunset clause |
Oppose |
Usurps municipal authority |
|
HB 1098 |
Establishes a minimum age of 18 (instead of 21) to be a firefighter |
Support |
Benefits to city service delivery (Fire recruiting) |
|
HB 1321* |
No taxing district may hold more than 150% of the previous year’s levy in cash or cash equivalents* |
Oppose |
Usurps municipal authority |
|
HB 1403 |
Provide $80M from General Revenue to Law Enforcement Camera Grant Fund |
Support |
Assists with previous unfunded mandate |
|
HB 1497 |
Property Tax Extension Limitation Law- Home rule municipalities would have their property tax levy frozen for 5 years without a referendum |
Oppose |
Usurps municipal authority |
|
SB1957 |
Requires election of City Clerk and City Treasurer for communities over 100,000 population |
Oppose |
Usurps municipal authority |
*Bill is currently silent to fund applicability and, if across all funds, staff recommends opposing. If applied to only general fund reserves, staff recommends a neutral position.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Dependent upon legislation.