Bill
SB 1309
DCEO may certify an additional River Edge Redevelopment Zone in Sterling (and possibly Alton), enabling focused riverfront redevelopment for up to 30 years with inclusion plans.
Status snapshot
- Bill number: SB 1309
- Short title: RIVER EDGE REDEVELOP‑STERLING
- Introduced: Feb 14, 2025 (Filed by Sen. Michael W. Halpin)
- Statute amended: River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act (65 ILCS 115/10‑5.3)
- Current procedural status (per provided record): Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 filed 3/3/2025; Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments (6/2/2025). Senate amendment would add the City of Alton as an additional zone along with Sterling. Verify final enrollment for current status.
Purpose and intent
- To authorize the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to certify an additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Sterling. A later committee amendment would authorize two additional pilot zones, including one in Alton and one in Sterling.
- The River Edge Redevelopment Zone program targets riverfront and adjacent areas for focused economic redevelopment through a pilot zone designation under the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act.
Key provisions and changes
- Amends Section 10‑5.3 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act to add authorization for DCEO to certify the additional pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone(s).
- Confirms certification procedures:
- DCEO issues a certificate upon approval; the certificate references and attaches the municipal designating ordinance and is filed/recorded in the appropriate public offices (including the county recorder).
- A zone becomes effective upon certification; DCEO transmits a copy to the Department of Revenue and the designating municipality.
- Zone term and limits:
- A River Edge Redevelopment Zone is effective for the period stated in the certificate, not to exceed 30 calendar years; zones terminate at midnight on December 31 of the final calendar year of the certified term (subject to Section 10‑5.4).
- The statute contains prior authorizations for specific pilot zones in other cities; the bill inserts Sterling (and, per Amendment 001, Alton) as an additional authorized pilot location.
- Participation / equity requirement:
- Within 60 days after certification, the municipality must submit to DCEO a plan to encourage participation by minority persons, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans in zone activities. DCEO may assist with plan development and implementation.
- Definitions for minority person, woman, person with a disability, and veteran are referenced from existing statutory sources.
Who would be affected
- Primary: City of Sterling (and City of Alton if the Senate Committee amendment is adopted). Municipalities that seek certification would be able to pursue the pilot zone designation and associated redevelopment tools.
- State agencies: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (certification authority and oversight), Department of Revenue (receives certification).
- Local stakeholders: property owners, developers, businesses, contractors, local workforce (including minority, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities targeted for inclusion plans).
- Counties where the zone lies (for recording of certificates).
Procedural/timeline notes and caveats
- A Senate Committee amendment filed 3/3/2025 (Amendment 001) would broaden the bill to authorize two additional pilot zones, explicitly naming Alton and Sterling. That amendment was re‑referred to Assignments on 6/2/2025.
- The text packet includes unrelated legislative language from other jurisdictions (other SB 1309 drafts concerning electric generation in Arizona and procedural listings from other legislatures). This summary isolates the Illinois River Edge Redevelopment Zone content (65 ILCS 115/10‑5.3). Users should confirm the correct jurisdiction/version and final enacted language before relying on implementation details.
- If enacted, the change is limited to adding certification authority for the named municipality(ies); it does not itself set tax rates or specify new financial incentives beyond what the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act and related rules already provide.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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