Bill
HB 2666
HB 2666 requires staggered alderman terms in IL cities; next election: even wards get 2 years, odd wards 4 years, then 4-year terms; Chicago and Chicago Heights exempt.
Status (legislative context)
- Bill: HB 2666 (Illinois) — amends 65 ILCS 5/3.1‑20‑22 (Illinois Municipal Code)
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Thaddeus Jones
- Companion: SB 295
- Key procedural steps: introduced Feb 6, 2025; referred to Rules Committee; assigned to Ethics & Elections; held public hearings and reported favorably in committee. (See legislative record for current chamber calendar status.)
Purpose
- To require all Illinois municipalities to use staggered terms for their alderpersons (city council members), rather than leaving staggered terms to be adopted by voter proposition or local petition. The change is intended to ensure continuity on municipal councils by having approximately half of alderpersons elected every two years.
Key provisions
- Mandatory staggering: Every municipality must stagger alderpersons’ terms. The statutory language replaces the prior optional/proposition-based approach in the Municipal Code.
- Transition rule: If a municipality has not already adopted a staggering proposition before the effective date of this amendatory Act, then at the next regular election for alderpersons:
- One alderperson from each even‑numbered ward is elected for a 2‑year term.
- One alderperson from each odd‑numbered ward is elected for a 4‑year term.
- Thereafter, successors for all wards are elected to 4‑year terms (thus establishing the ongoing stagger).
- Exemptions: The City of Chicago and the City of Chicago Heights are explicitly exempt from this requirement.
- Statutory location: Amends Section 3.1‑20‑22 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/3.1‑20‑22).
Who is affected
- All Illinois municipalities (cities, towns) that elect alderpersons, except Chicago and Chicago Heights.
- Local election authorities — scheduling and ballot design must reflect the transition in wards that have not previously staggered terms.
- Incumbent alderpersons — some will have their next term adjusted (shortened to 2 years or set to 4 years) as part of the transition.
Implementation/timeline
- The transition applies only to municipalities that have not adopted staggered terms prior to the act’s effective date; for those municipalities the change takes effect at their next regular aldermanic election following the law’s effective date.
- The act’s effective date will be the effective date specified when the bill becomes law.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Governance continuity: Staggering is intended to reduce wholesale turnover and preserve institutional knowledge on councils.
- Electoral effects: Some incumbents may serve shortened initial transition terms; voter outreach and ballot materials must explain the change.
- Administrative adjustments: Local clerks, election authorities, and municipal charters will need to align election schedules and update records to implement the staggered schedule.
- Legal/structural: Cities with nonstandard ward numbering or at‑large positions should review applicability; the statute uses even/odd ward numbering to assign transition terms.
For specifics about final status (passage, enactment dates, governor action), consult the official Illinois General Assembly bill page or the Secretary of State’s records.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
