WC Leglislative Cmte
Will County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda
Will County Board member Julie Berkowicz is pushing to add specific language addressing Asian carp invasion to the county’s federal legislative agenda, citing the ongoing threat to local waterways as a critical regional concern. During Monday’s Legislative Committee meeting, Berkowicz renewed her annual request to include dedicated Asian carp language in the county’s federal priorities,…
Read MoreState Legislative Session Update: Transit, Energy Bills Stall Despite Democratic Control
Illinois lawmakers failed to advance major transit funding and comprehensive energy legislation during the recently concluded spring session, leaving key issues unresolved despite Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, according to a legislative update provided to Will County Board members. The General Assembly did pass a $55.2 billion state budget that leaders describe as balanced, but…
Read MoreWill County Legislative Committee July 1 Meeting Briefs
Federal Budget Impact: Will County could face significant funding challenges if federal budget reconciliation measures reduce Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The county health department and social services rely heavily on federal pass-through funding for local programs. Legislative Agenda Timeline: The Legislative Committee plans to finalize both federal and state legislative agendas by early November to…
Read MoreFederal Reconciliation Bill Targets Medicaid, SNAP Programs
Will County Legislators Briefed on Potential Local Impacts Federal legislation making sweeping cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs could significantly impact Will County residents and services, county legislators learned during their monthly update from Washington lobbyists on June 3. The House narrowly passed a reconciliation bill in May by a 215-214 vote that would…
Read MoreState Legislative Session Wrap-Up Shows Mixed Results
Will County’s state legislative priorities saw mixed results as the Illinois General Assembly concluded its spring session on May 31, with several key bills advancing while others stalled. The Legislative Committee received updates from Mac Strategies lobbyists during their June 3 meeting on bills that directly affect county operations and residents. Successful County Initiatives House…
Read MoreLeglislative Committee Meeting Briefs
Federal Grant Deadline Extended: The Surface Transportation Reauthorization deadline has been extended to May 30 for policy submissions, with both House and Senate committees actively seeking stakeholder input ahead of the September 2026 expiration. FEMA Program Cuts: The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program was cancelled in April, eliminating a major source of disaster…
Read MoreCounty Legislative Committee Endorses Electronic Recycling Bill, Reviews Transit Governance
The Will County Legislative Committee voted Thursday to support proposed state legislation that would extend and expand Illinois’ electronic recycling program, while also reviewing potential changes to regional transit governance that could affect county representation. The committee unanimously endorsed House Bill 3098 and Senate Bill 2414, companion bills that would extend Illinois’ electronic recycling program,…
Read MoreWill County Committee Debates Process for Taking Positions on State Legislation
Will County Legislative Committee members engaged in substantial discussion Thursday about how the committee should review and take positions on state legislation, with several members expressing concerns about the process and information provided. The discussion arose as the committee considered multiple items related to amending the county’s state and federal legislative agendas and taking positions…
Read MoreState Lobbyists Update County on Springfield Action as Legislative Deadlines Approach
County officials received a comprehensive update on pending state legislation Thursday as lawmakers in Springfield approach critical deadlines for moving bills forward this session. Representatives from Mac Strategies, the county’s lobbying firm, told the Legislative Committee that the General Assembly is at approximately the halfway point of its session, with committee deadlines either passed or…
Read MoreWill County Legislative Committee News Briefs
Committee Postpones Action on Felony Conviction Voting Rights Bill: The Will County Legislative Committee declined to support House Bill 1288, which would allow individuals convicted of felonies to run for state or local office after serving their sentences. Committee Member Sherry Williams noted that a person with prior felony convictions was recently removed from a…
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