Bill
HB 2784
Allows Illinois counties to enter long-term, up to 30-year contracts with private firms or other governments for garbage collection, disposal, and related facilities.
Purpose
- Authorizes Illinois counties to enter into long-term contracts (up to 30 years) for garbage collection and/or final disposal and to partner with private industry or other local governments to operate disposal, treatment, or recycling facilities. The measure is intended to facilitate multi‑decade public–private or intergovernmental arrangements for solid waste services and infrastructure.
Key provisions
- Adds Section 5-8002.5 to the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-8002.5).
- Contract term length: A county may contract for more than one year and up to 30 years for:
- collection and final disposition of garbage, or
- solely collection, or solely final disposition.
- Facility operation and delivery:
- A county may contract with private industry to operate a designated facility for disposal, treatment, or recycling of garbage.
- A county may contract with private firms or other local governments for delivery of garbage to such facilities.
- For contracts tied to construction/operation of a facility, the 30‑year term for that contract does not begin until the facility actually begins accepting garbage.
- Debt treatment: Payments required under such contracts “shall not be regarded as indebtedness of the county” for purposes of any statutory debt limits.
- Effective date: the Act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Who would be affected
- Counties: gain explicit authority to enter long-term arrangements and leverage private or intergovernmental partners for waste services and facilities.
- Municipalities, townships, and intergovernmental agencies: may be contracting parties.
- Private waste companies and infrastructure developers: eligible to operate county-designated facilities and receive long-term contracts.
- Residents and ratepayers: could be affected indirectly via contract pricing, service levels, and the county’s long-term obligations.
- Local government finance: exclusion of contract payments from debt limits affects how counties plan financing and measure indebtedness.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Pros: May encourage private investment in waste infrastructure, provide stable service arrangements, and allow counties to secure long-term delivery and disposal capacity.
- Cons/risks: Long-term contracts can limit future flexibility, potentially lock counties into unfavorable pricing or terms, and raise procurement oversight and competition concerns. Excluding payments from debt limits could obscure fiscal commitments and affect transparency.
- Regulatory issues: Environmental permits, service standards, labor and procurement rules still apply and would shape implementation.
Procedural status and sponsors
- Introduced in the Illinois House (2/6/2025) by Rep. Mary Beth Canty.
- Assigned to Counties & Townships Committee; Committee reported Do Pass (7–3) on 3/20/2025.
- Readings and calendar actions: First reading (2/6/2025); Second Reading and short debate actions in March 2025; Re‑referred to Rules Committee under Rule 19(a) on 4/11/2025.
- Cosponsors listed: Consuelo Hernandez, Quang H. Nguyen, Selina Bliss (and primary sponsors Mary Beth Canty and Quang H Nguyen indicated in document).
Note about source document
- The provided document also includes unrelated Arizona draft text on electronic monitoring in health care facilities. This summary concerns the Illinois Counties Code amendment (county garbage/hauler contract provisions) identified in the bill materials.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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