Bill
HB 3270
Automatically applies countywide stormwater planning in urbanized counties, removing the voter opt-in requirement and requiring coordinated, plan-based management.
Status & basic info
- Bill: HB 3270 (55 ILCS 5/5-1062.2)
- Title: Relating to the Emergency Board (amends Counties Code — stormwater management)
- Introduced: Feb 18, 2025 (filed Feb 25, 2025) by Rep. Anna Moeller
- Current status: In committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025)
- Companion: SB 2183
Purpose / intent
- To revise the scope and application of the Counties Code provision governing county stormwater management planning (Section 5-1062.2), effectively making countywide stormwater planning requirements applicable in all counties that contain an urbanized area (except where other county stormwater statutes apply), rather than applying only after voter approval to allow establishment of a stormwater management planning council.
Key changes and provisions
- Scope change: The bill removes the requirement that the question of allowing a county board to establish a stormwater management planning council be submitted to county electors and approved by majority vote. Instead, the stormwater provisions apply automatically in all counties containing all or part of an urbanized area, unless those counties are already covered by other stormwater provisions (e.g., Section 5-1062 or counties in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that already have authorities under Section 5-1062).
- Clarifies affected counties (lists several metropolitan counties) and that references to “county” in this Section apply only to those counties.
- Stormwater management planning committee: continues existing structure/requirements for forming a committee (county board and municipal representation; drainage district and soil & water conservation district representation), rules for appointment, bylaws, officers (county and municipal representative), and quorum/voting rules.
- Duties and authorities: committee to prepare a countywide stormwater management plan (may include watershed plans), meet quarterly, hold public meeting(s) during plan preparation, retain advisors, make grants to local units, nonprofits, and landowners; municipalities partially or wholly in NFIP-mapped floodplains must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program to receive grants.
- Restrictions: committee cannot exercise eminent domain; may not adopt rules that interfere with powers granted under the Illinois Drainage Code or the ability to operate/maintain agricultural drainage systems.
- Coordination: plan preparation must include coordination with adjoining counties for inter-county watershed impacts and retention facility capacities.
Who is affected
- County governments and county boards in all counties containing urbanized areas (unless covered by other statutory stormwater regimes).
- Municipalities located in those counties (including grant eligibility and plan compliance).
- Drainage districts, soil & water conservation districts, landowners, and not-for-profits involved in stormwater projects.
- Entities operating or planning stormwater infrastructure that must be coordinated across county lines.
Potential impacts
- Removes local electoral opt-in: counties with urbanized areas would be subject to these countywide stormwater planning provisions without a local voter referendum.
- Promotes uniform, countywide planning and minimum standards for stormwater/flood management in urbanized counties.
- Could increase planning, coordination, and administrative responsibilities for counties and municipalities; may enable broader grant programs tied to plan implementation.
- Preserves existing drainage code authorities and agricultural drainage protections.
Procedural timeline highlights
- First reading: Feb 18, 2025; filed Feb 25, 2025.
- Assigned to Counties & Townships Committee and Rules Committee; read and re-referred per House actions in March 2025.
- Status as of 2025-06-28: In committee upon adjournment.
Note: Text in the introduced version contains edits and truncation in places; this summary focuses on the clear substantive changes shown in the introduced bill (scope/opt-in repeal and effect on committee/plan structure).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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