Section Newsletters

Articles on Local Government

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.
Uncuff the fire and police pension funds By C. John McCauley Local Government Law, June 2019 In the event that the attempt at consolidation of downstate fire and police pension funds fails to become law, there is a substantial possibility that reamortization would be the only relief available.
Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act amendment (P.A. 100-1094) and its impact on the Local Government Travel Expense Act By Phillip Lenzini Local Government Law, February 2019 Effective January 1, 2019, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act was amended by P.A. 100-1094 to add an entirely new section for reimbursement of employee expenses.
Illinois local governments cannot pass their own ordinances regulating organized labor By Michael Cosgrove Local Government Law, December 2018 A summary of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 v. Village of Lincolnshire.
Manuel v. City of Joliet reconsidered by the seventh circuit on remand: Court rules that pretrial wrongful detention claim accrues at the end of detention By Yordana Wysocki Local Government Law, December 2018 The seventh circuit issued a decision in September on a statute of limitations issue in Manuel v. City of Joliet.
A new vague and contrived test for defining relevant property subject to regulatory takings claims By Aaron N. Gruen Local Government Law, May 2018 An overview of the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Murr v. Wisconsin and its new test for regulatory takings. 
Local governmental immunity for recreational property By Brian Murphy Tort Law, June 2013 The recreational property immunity is a powerful affirmative defense and a game changer of which attorneys for both plaintiffs and defendants should be aware.
An overview of TIF districts By Leslie Hairston Women and the Law, October 2008 The stated purpose of the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-1 et seq. (West) hereinafter referred to as the TIF Act, in the State of Illinois is to provide a mechanism for local governmental units in Illinois to spur economic development, in specific geographic areas that are deteriorating and/or declining, by providing gap financing for projects that would not occur without such public assistance.
Political trademarks: Intellectual property in politics and government By Daniel Kegan Local Government Law, January 2005 Confusion, deception, and mistake are generally unlawful in marketing campaigns. 14 USC § 1125 (a) [Lanham Act § 43(a)].
Political trademarks: Intellectual property in politics and government By Daniel Kegan Intellectual Property, October 2004 Confusion, deception, and mistake are generally unlawful in marketing campaigns. 14 USC § 1125 (a) [Lanham Act § 43(a)].
Case note By Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Local Government Law, October 2003 Tort Immunity Act limitations period does not apply to construction. Hager v. II In One contractors, Inc., The City of Chicago, and Public Building Commission, 1-01-4222, September 5, 2003; Reid, J.
Are you insured when the circus comes to town? By E. Regan Daniels Shepley Local Government Law, December 1999 Every town sees them­permit requests from organizations sponsoring a circus, carnival, festival or other "special event."
A guide to annexations and annexation procedures By Sharon L. Eiseman Local Government Law, December 1999 Division 1 of Article 7 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/7-1-1, et seq.) provides for several means of annexing property to a municipality. The following outline is intended as a guide for municipal staff and officials.
What might lie ahead with Illinois RFRA By Janet N. Petsche & Eric J. Fuglsang Local Government Law, November 1999 "Will police officers be allowed to refuse to guard abortion clinics based on their religion?"
State Gift Ban Act—Attorney General Opinion By Lynn Patton Local Government Law, August 1999 Recently, Attorney General Jim Ryan issued an opinion regarding the implementation of the provisions of the State Gift Ban Act (added by Public Act 90-737, effective January 1, 1999, to be codified at 5 ILCS 425/1 et seq.)
The death knell of the deliberative process privilege in Illinois By Patricia M. Moser Local Government Law, July 1999 The deliberative process privilege has long been recognized by the federal courts.
The nonending power struggle: County board vs. elected officers By Pat Lord Local Government Law, June 1999 The relationship between a county board and a county's elected officers (the auditor, circuit clerk, county clerk, state's attorney, treasurer, coroner, sheriff and recorder) is a legal set-up for continuous power struggles.
Proceed with caution in condemnation actions By Jeffrey A. Mollet Local Government Law, June 1999 A recent decision from the appellate court for the Second District may cause municipalities to proceed with more caution in pursuing condemnation actions.
State Gift Ban Law will have major impact on local government By David J. Silverman Local Government Law, March 1999 Governor Edgar recently signed into Law House Bill 672 which was passed by the 90th General Assembly.
What’s this stuff about prevailing interest rates? Public fund investment standards, policies, and more By Thomas L. Kilbride Local Government Law, January 1999 I've heard about the Prevailing Wage Act, but what's this talk about prevailing interest rates!
Zimmerman and Harinek: After two strikes is the special duty doctrine really “out”? By Janet N. Petsche Local Government Law, January 1999 After two recent Illinois Supreme Court decisions, one issued in February and one in June 1998, there can't be much uncertainty that the application of the special duty doctrine to contravene governmental immunities to tort liability granted by the General Assembly is unconstitutional.

Select a Different Subject