Bill
HB 2500
HB 2500 extends minimum lead times after park district referenda/resolutions: 225 days before size/term changes take effect, and 151 days before vacancy elections.
Status and sponsor
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Ryan Spain (introduced in Illinois General Assembly; companion SB 740).
- Amends the Park District Code (70 ILCS 1205), specifically sections 2‑10a, 2‑12a, and 2‑25.
- Legislative activity (as provided): introduced Feb. 2025; referred to Rules/committee(s); public hearing held (3/26/2025); left pending in committee.
Purpose
- To change timing rules governing park district board size changes, term‑length transitions, and vacancy election timing by extending several statutory minimum time intervals. The amendments give election officials, districts, candidates and voters additional lead time following referenda or board resolutions.
Key provisions and changes
- Longer waiting period before effect of referenda/resolutions:
- When a district board’s membership is expanded (e.g., from 5 to 7) or reduced (7 to 5) by referendum or board resolution, the statute currently requires the change to take effect at an election occurring at least 197 days after the referendum/resolution. HB 2500 increases that minimum to 225 days.
- Similarly, when the term length of commissioners is changed (from 6 to 4 years or vice versa), the first regular park district election at which the new term length takes effect must be at least 225 days after the referendum or resolution (up from 197 days).
- Vacancy timing adjustment:
- If a vacancy occurs with more than 28 months remaining in the term but less than a specified number of days before the next regularly scheduled election for that office, the appointee serves until the second regularly scheduled election following appointment (so an election is held to fill the unexpired term). HB 2500 raises that cutoff from 123 days to 151 days before the next election.
- Effective date: immediate (per bill text).
Who is affected
- Park district boards, commissioners, candidates, election authorities, and voters within affected park districts across Illinois.
- Administrative staff and county election officials who must adjust filing windows, ballots and transition schedules.
Practical impact
- Provides more lead time (an additional 28 days) after board or term‑length referenda/resolutions before changes take effect — this can aid election administration, candidate filing and transition planning.
- Extending the vacancy cutoff from 123 to 151 days may increase the occasions on which an appointed commissioner serves until the second subsequent regular election, effectively lengthening appointed tenures in some timing scenarios.
- No changes to substantive election procedures or term lengths themselves — only the timing windows that control when changes take effect and when vacancies trigger elections.
Next steps / procedural notes
- The bill has been through introductory readings and committee referral(s). As of the latest actions noted, it was considered in public hearing and left pending in committee. Companion bill SB 740 exists in the Senate.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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