Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5498

LRB104 19305 RTM 32751 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5498

Introduced 2/13/2026, by Rep. Natalie A. Manley

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/5-1195 new

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, every county with a population over 600,000 shall create a tourism and convention bureau. Provides that a tourism and convention bureau shall have the same powers and duties as a tourism and convention bureau created under the Tourism Preservation and Sustainability District Act, except that the tourism and convention bureau shall immediately be eligible for State tourism dollars and grant funding. Provides that the governing body of the tourism and convention bureau shall consist of a board of 25 members. Provides that the county board shall appoint the members of the board. Provides that the members of the board of the tourism and convention bureau shall elect the leader of the board of the tourism and convention bureau by simple majority. 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 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-1195 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1195 new)

Sec. 5-1195. County tourism bureaus.

(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, every county with a population over 600,000 shall create a tourism and convention bureau. A tourism and convention bureau shall have the same powers and duties as a tourism and convention bureau created under the Tourism Preservation and Sustainability District Act, except that the tourism and convention bureau shall immediately be eligible for State tourism dollars and grant funding.

(b) The governing body of the tourism and convention bureau shall consist of a board of 25 members. The county board shall appoint the members of the board. The members of the board of the tourism and convention bureau shall elect the leader of the board of the tourism and convention bureau by simple majority.

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