Lake County Legislative Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026
Lake County Legislative Committee Meeting - September 1, 2026
The Lake County Legislative Committee met on September 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM. Due to the absence of two members (Roberts and Hart), a quorum was not present, so consent agenda items were postponed. The committee received updates on state and federal legislative developments and reviewed the draft 2027 legislative program, including discussions on data centers, solar farms, and EV fire safety.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were submitted.
Discussion Items
- State Legislative Update (Item 8.3): Lobbyists Mike O'Dara and Derek reported that the Governor signed all 300+ bills with no vetoes. The fall veto session is scheduled for November 16-December 3, with the lame-duck session likely in January 2027. Early sales tax collections exceeded expectations. In response to a question from Chair Wasek, they noted the Power Act (data center regulation) is considered a top-three issue but its agenda placement depends on post-election negotiations. They said amendments to the bill would be possible if a framework emerges.
- Federal Legislative Update (Item 8.4): Lobbyists Scott and Clayton reported that the House passed a continuing resolution funding the government through December 11, 2026, with strong bipartisan support. Six major non-appropriations bills (surface transportation, farm bill, flood insurance, etc.) face end-of-September deadlines and are likely to be addressed in the lame-duck session. They also discussed ongoing work with Representative Schneider's office on EV battery fire safety standards and opposition to heavier trucks pilot program.
- Draft 2027 Legislative Program Review (Item 8.5): Matt Present reviewed the draft program. Key items include:
- Support Items: Restoration of local health protection grant funding ($10M ask), tourism investment, decriminalizing homelessness, Waukegan coal plant remediation, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County program (including HHW, food scrap diversion, carry-out bag fee, vape recycling).
- New Item – Illinois Power Act (hyperscale data centers): Eric Wagner explained the bill would require data centers to pay for grid upgrades, supply their own power, adhere to environmental controls, and provide local authority for zoning and community benefit agreements. Committee members expressed support but concerns about preemption and decommissioning bonding were raised. The county is pursuing an eight-month moratorium to develop local regulations.
- Solar Farm Local Control: Member Hunter and Member Schlick raised concerns about state preemption on solar siting (e.g., setbacks). They requested staff to explore options to regain local authority, noting the state's lack of control for unincorporated areas. Eric Wagner cited the 50-foot setback as insufficient. Matt agreed to begin internal discussions and perhaps propose language for the 2027 program.
- Other Items: EV battery fire standards (Member Hunter highlighted ongoing risks), railway safety, opposition to heavier trucks, and support for firearm accountability legislation.
Key Outcomes
- The committee will consider the draft legislative program for adoption at the October 6 meeting.
- Staff will initiate discussions on potential state legislation to restore local control over solar farm siting.
- The county continues tracking the Power Act, Federal farm bill, and other federal reauthorizations.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Today is September 1st, 2026, and I call Lake County Legislative Committee to order at 1 p.m. In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda. This meeting is being recorded through Zoom. Per county board rules and the open meetings act attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons, as long as the majority of committee members are physically present. And we have been notified in advance by members, Roberts Volitzick and Hart that they will be unavailable. Yeah, we'll wait for the roll call. Okay. Kevin, please lead us in the bunch of legits. And two requirements for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Could we have a roll call, please, Teresa? Vice Chair Campos? Here. Member Frank. Member Hunter? Member Roberts is absent. Member Schlick. Here. And Chair Wasek. Here. So, Chair, we do not have a quorum today at this time. So when we get to the consent agenda, we'll have to um we'll have to postpone that item. Okay. Do we have to make a motion to put no? We can't even have an action. So we will skip those and go right into the discussions when we get there. Sounds good. So we'll skip 8.1 and 8.2 for now, do the next meeting onto the regular agenda and write to Mike and Derek. You are live, sir. And chair, just a comment. We we have no public comment for today. And we have no public comment. I don't have any chair's remarks either. Okay. And no addenda to the agenda. Sorry. Nothing else. I split right through it. Okay. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to join you today, and we'll be very, very brief because we find ourselves in the doldrums of summer. The governor concluded his actions on over 300 bills that were presented to him earlier this year by signing all of them. He vetoed zero bills, which has the opportunity to set up a very surgical and tight fall veto session, which is currently scheduled to convene on Tuesday, November 16th. And assuming it runs six days, we'll wrap up on Thursday, December 3 after the Thanksgiving holiday. Now historically, in an even numbered year veto session, very little is considered because we will return before inauguration day on Wednesday, January 13 to wrap up the 104th Illinois General Assembly with traditional consideration of large packages of proposals. Now, what will be in those proposals? Frankly, nobody knows yet, because the agenda for both the veto session and the lame deck session won't be set until after the November general elections. Having said that, in an even numbered year, traditionally veto session is light, the heavier, denser potential appropriation, budgetary revenue action, all postponed until the days before inauguration day in the middle of January.
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