Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for April 7, 2026

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026

The Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to review a packed agenda of state and federal legislative tracking. The committee took decisive action to push back against the state’s control over commercial solar farm siting, unanimously passing Resolution 26-4609 to demand the return of local zoning authority. The committee also heard a presentation from AARP Illinois detailing the explosive rise of cryptocurrency kiosk fraud targeting seniors, sparking a call to draft an ordinance banning the machines in the county. Additionally, members debated the merits of pending state legislation that would grant the county board final approval over the Veterans Assistance Commission’s budget.

In other newsworthy actions, the committee discussed the following:

Moratorium Proposed for Data Centers Amid Energy Concerns
County Board Member Judy Ogalla requested that the committee draft a resolution establishing a moratorium on data center development until a comprehensive county ordinance is created. Ogalla noted that the county currently lacks specific zoning ordinances for data centers, which are massive consumers of electricity and water. The county’s legislative lobbyist noted that other states require data centers to provide their own energy sources, warning that an unregulated influx could drive up electricity costs for local residents. The committee agreed to place the moratorium resolution on the agenda for next month’s meeting.

Will County Explores Joining “We Are Counties” Campaign
Committee Chair Denise E. Winfrey introduced discussion item 26-4612 regarding the National Association of Counties (NACo) “We Are Counties” program. The campaign is designed to elevate public awareness of the essential services counties provide. Winfrey noted that joining the campaign is free and provides the county with a toolkit of promotional materials and graphics. The committee voiced unanimous support for the initiative and directed staff to draft a formal resolution for approval at the May meeting.

State Budget Stabilizes as Governor Fights to Keep Chicago Bears
During the state legislative update, Mac Strategies reported that Illinois state revenues are currently tracking a few percentage points higher than originally projected for the fiscal year, easing some budget anxieties in Springfield ahead of the May 31 session deadline. The lobbyist also reported that Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office is heavily engaged in negotiations to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, as the team weighs a move to Arlington Heights against a competing offer from Hammond, Indiana. Negotiations currently center around property tax certainty and infrastructure funding.

Kidney Disease Treatment Resolution Postponed
The committee voted unanimously to postpone Resolution 26-4610 to the May 5, 2026, meeting. The resolution officially outlines the county’s opposition to Senate Bill 3445 and House Bill 4402, known as the Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act. The sponsors of the local resolution requested more time to prepare their presentation.