Section Newsletters

Articles on Local Government

Court Upholds Contiguity Finding of 19.5 Feet in Annexation Challenge By Jeff Birkbigler Local Government Law, August 2024 An appellate court recently upheld a challenge to the annexation of land for a proposed truck stop ruling that a shared boundary between the annexed property and the corporate boundary of the city met the contiguity requirement of the Illinois annexation statute.
Illinois Appellate Court Finds Basis for Public and Private Nuisance for Property Owners With Contiguous and Adjacent Lands to Annexed Development But Also Finds Annexation Agreement Is Valid By James V. Ferolo & Madeline Van Schelven Local Government Law, August 2024 A summary and analysis of Bienas v. City of Joliet, which presents an interesting twist on the manner in which aggrieved residents may try to stop unpopular developments.
Municipal Case Summaries By James Ferolo, Phil Lenzini, Matt Dione, Brian Flynn, Chris Jump, Lisle Stalter, Todd Flemming, & Josh Herman Local Government Law, August 2024 Brief summaries of recent cases of interest to local government law practitioners.
Recent Illinois Attorney General/Public Access Opinions and Judicial Decisions Regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, August 2024 Summaries of recently opinions and decisions regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
Beyond the Block Button: Social Media Use by Public Officials and Its Implications After Lindke v. Freed By Richard J. Veenstra Local Government Law, April 2024 A summary and analysis of Lindke v. Freed, a cautionary tale for public officials who might occasionally mix the official with the personal on their private social media accounts.
Municipal Case Summaries By James Ferolo, Phil Lenzini, Matt Dione, Brian Flynn, Chris Jump, Lisle Stalter, Todd Flemming, & Josh Herman Local Government Law, April 2024 Summaries of recent cases of interest to local government practitioners.
Recent Illinois Attorney General/Public Access Opinions and Judicial Decisions Regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, April 2024 Summaries of recent opinions and judicial decisions regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
To Whom Is a Duty Owed? Intended and Permitted Users Only, Please By Tony Fioretti Local Government Law, April 2024 In order to hold local governments liable for dangerous conditions on their property, an injured person has to be both an intended and permitted user of the premises. But who are intended and permitted users? Three recent Illinois opinions provide important guideposts for the analysis.
Flinn Abstract By Tony Fioretti Local Government Law, October 2023 Summaries of recent regulatory decisions of interest.
Supreme Court Affirms That Annexation Agreements Run With Land After Subdivision and Splitting of Ownership By Michael J. Smoron Local Government Law, July 2023 In Village of Kirkland v. Kirkland Properties Holdings Company, LLC I, et al., the Illinois Supreme Court analyzed section 11-15.1-4 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
ISBA Local Government Section Council Case Summaries From the March 29, 2023, Meeting By James Ferolo, Phil Lenzini, Matt Dione, Brian Flynn, Chris Jump, Lisle Stalter, Todd Flemming, & Josh Josh Local Government Law, May 2023 Summaries of recent cases of interest to local government practitioners.
Recent PAC Opinions, Legislation, and Judicial Decisions Regarding FOIA and OMA By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, May 2023 Summaries of recent opinions, legislation, and judicial decisions regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
Brief Recap and Update Regarding the Illinois Local Fire and Police Pension Consolidation Law By Joe McMenamin Local Government Law, December 2022 An update on Public Act 101-0610, which consolidated the assets of hundreds of suburban and downstate public safety pension funds into two consolidated investment funds.
Flinn Report Abstract (November 28, 2022) Local Government Law, December 2022 A summary of amendments to the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant Program.
Recent IAG/PAC Opinions, Legislation, and Judicial Decisions Regarding FOIA and OMA By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, December 2022 Summaries of recent opinions, legislation, and judicial decisions regarding the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
Recent AG/PAC Opinions, Legislation, and Judicial Decisions Regarding the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act By Michael Jurusik Local Government Law, July 2022 Summaries of recent Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act opinions, legislation, and judicial decisions.
City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC, et al.: Does the Supreme Court Provide Clarification or Confusion for Local Governments? By Lisle A. Stalter Local Government Law, May 2022 In April, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in the City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, but the decision provides little specific direction for local governments on the extent to which off-premises sign regulation will be upheld.
End of 2022 Spring Legislative Session By Brad Cole Local Government Law, April 2022 A summary of the 2022 spring legislative session.
Short-Term Housing Rental Found to Violate R-1 Zoning Code By John M. O’Driscoll & Courtney Willits Local Government Law, April 2022 As vacation rental companies such as VRBO and AirBnb expand their property bases, it is important for municipal attorneys to understand what regulations are contained in zoning codes and how the courts have interpreted them.
Tax Increment Financing Concepts for the Future By Herbert J. Klein Local Government Law, March 2022 An overview of the numerous ways in which the Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act authorizes cities, towns, and villages in Illinois to work with other taxing bodies and developers to use tax increment financing to stimulate local economic activity for the benefit of the entire community.
Case Summaries: October 2021 – January 2022 By Phil Lenzini, Matt Dione, Brian Flynn, Chris Jump, Lisle Stalter, Todd Flemming, & Josh Herman Local Government Law, February 2022 Summaries of recent cases of interest.
Illinois Supreme Court Invalidates Cook County Taxes on Firearms and Ammunition By Michael J. Smoron Local Government Law, February 2022 In Guns Save Life, Inc. v. Ali, the Illinois Supreme Court determined that Cook County’s ordinances imposing taxes on the retail purchase of firearms and ammunition, respectively, violated the uniformity clause of the Illinois Constitution.
Public Act 102-0694: Second ‘Safe-T Act’ Trailer Bill By Jason Blumenthal Local Government Law, February 2022 In January 2021, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 3653, now known as Public Act 101-0652 or the Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, changing the landscape of criminal justice throughout Illinois.
Recent AG/PAC Opinions, Legislation, and Judicial Decisions Regarding FOIA and OMA By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, February 2022 Summaries of recent Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Act opinions, legislation, and judicial decisions.
Pension Obligation Bonds By James Snyder & Shelly Scinto Local Government Law, June 2021 A primer on pension obligation bonds.
Criminal Justice Reform Omnibus Act (House Act 3653): Statewide Use of Force Standardization Act (The Safe-T Act, Public Act 101-0652) By Jim Ferolo & George Wagner Local Government Law, March 2021 An overview of some of the more significant provisions of the Statewide Use of Force Standardization Act affecting law enforcement activities and citizens’ rights.
Recent PAC and Court Opinions Regarding FOIA and OMA By Michael T. Jurusik Local Government Law, July 2020 Summaries of recent Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act opinions.
Chicago Netflix Tax Upheld By Michael J. Smoron Local Government Law, February 2020 In Labell v. City of Chicago, the appellate court upheld the city’s amusement tax on streaming video, streaming audio, and online gaming services.
Communities Embracing Potential of Opportunity Zones By Jay Augustyn, Shelly A. Scinto, & James M. Snyder Local Government Law, December 2019 The Opportunity Zones incentive is a community investment tool established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long‑term private investments in low‑income urban and rural communities nationwide with the goal of developing those communities.
Amendment to the municipal code limits authority to appoint fire chiefs By Jennifer Gover Bannon Local Government Law, June 2019 SB 2619, which was signed into law in November 2018, expands the list of qualifications and certifications a person must possess in order to be appointed a fire chief, acting chief, department head, or other position responsible for day-to-day operation of a fire department.

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