Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1270

LRB104 05144 RTM 15173 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1270

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Seth Lewis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Local Government Chairperson Term Limit Review Act. Provides that, no later than December 31, 2025, and no less than every 2 years thereafter, a governmental unit that is governed by an elected governing body that has not enacted term limits for the board's chairperson by ordinance or resolution shall consider and decide, by verbal or written vote, ordinance, resolution, or referendum of the electors of the governmental unit, whether to impose term limits for the chairperson of the governing body. Defines "governmental unit" as a unit of local government or school district. Provides that, if a governmental unit has a term limit policy for the chairperson of its governing body, before a person may be elected chairperson, the governmental unit's clerk or secretary shall determine which members of the governing body are eligible to serve as chairperson of the governing body based upon the term limit policy. Provides that the clerk or secretary shall submit an eligibility report to the governing body listing those members who are eligible and ineligible before the meeting at which the chairperson is to be elected. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local Government Chairperson Term Limit Review Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Chairperson" means a chairperson, president, or executive, by whatever name, of the governing board of a governmental unit.

"Governmental unit" means a unit of local government or school district.

Section 10. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate term limits in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Act is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

Section 15. Two-year review of term limits for chairpersons.

(a) No later than December 31, 2025, and no less than every 2 years thereafter, a governmental unit that is governed by an elected governing body that has not enacted term limits for the board's chairperson by ordinance or resolution shall consider and decide, by verbal or written vote, ordinance, resolution, or referendum of the electors of the governmental unit, whether to impose term limits for the chairperson of the governing body.

(b) This Section does not apply to governing or administrative bodies whose members are appointed by a board of a governmental unit or by a government official.

Section 20. Review of term limit policy before electing chairperson.

(a) If a governmental unit has a term limit policy for the chairperson of its governing body, before a person may be elected chairperson, the governmental unit's clerk or secretary shall determine which members of the governing body are eligible to serve as chairperson of the governing body based upon the term limit policy. The clerk or secretary shall submit an eligibility report to the governing body listing those members who are eligible and ineligible before the meeting at which the chairperson is to be elected.

(b) Only after the governing body of a governmental unit receives the eligibility report may the governing body elect a chairperson.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.