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SB 3624

STATE'S ATTORNEY SALARY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Halpin and 5 co-sponsors

The bill ties State’s Attorney pay to 100% of local judge salaries starting July 1, 2026, with state funding 66 2/3% and counties covering 33 1/3%.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3624

Summary of SB 3624 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Status: Introduced February 5, 2026. Referred to Appropriations. Co-sponsors include Sen. Seth Lewis, Sen. Mike Halpin, Sen. Linda Holmes, Sen. Sue Rezin, and Sen. Sally Turner.

Purpose and intent
- This bill revises State’s Attorney salaries in Illinois counties, establishing new compensation rules beginning July 1, 2026.
- The core goal is to align State’s Attorney pay with a specified percentage of local judicial salaries and to set state-funded components of compensation, with ongoing annual adjustments.

Key provisions and changes

1) Salary basis and rate (effective July 1, 2026)
- For State’s Attorneys whose term begins after July 1, 2026, compensation shall be set at 100% of the mean of the amount paid to resident circuit judges in the county courthouse for the State’s Attorney.
- This creates a formula tying State’s Attorney pay to the local judge salaries.

2) State funding of compensation (ongoing)
- The State shall furnish 66 2/3% of the total annual compensation to each State’s Attorney, based on the salary in effect on December 31, 1988, plus 100% of the increases in salary taking effect after December 31, 1988.
- The funding is to be transferred via the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund (or General Revenue Fund, as applicable).
- The county is responsible for income tax withholding, tax reporting, and employer contributions under the Illinois Pension Code for the amounts received.

3) County funding requirement
- Each county must furnish 33 1/3% of the total annual compensation for its State’s Attorney, based on the December 31, 1988 salary level.

4) Longevity stipend authority (deadlines and conditions)
- Within 90 days after the Act’s effective date, counties with populations between 15,000 and 50,000 may approve a longevity stipend to increase compensation for eligible State’s Attorneys for that year if the attorney has served at least 20 consecutive years and participates in an alternate annuity program with required contributions.

5) Historical salary framework (context)
- The bill retains a detailed schedule from prior statutes (effective through various dates) that previously established salaries based on county population sizes and various cost-of-living or board-determined adjustments.
- It references the Compensation Review Board for determining greater amounts where applicable and for administering COLA-type increases post-1988.

6) Other compensation provisions (preexisting/ancillary)
- Provisions related to prohibited private practice for State’s Attorneys (as of 2000, with older transitional allowances in some counties) remain part of the statutory backdrop but are superseded to the extent referenced by this bill.
- Additional allocations exist for State mental health institutions, corrections institutions, and state universities (assistant State’s Attorneys and related subsidies) under various conditions, with funding either from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund or General Revenue Fund. These sections establish separate incentive and support payments for specific counties or institutional contexts (these are retained in structure but may be affected by the new salary formula if applicable).

Who is affected

  • State’s Attorneys in counties other than Cook County (Cook County is exempt in the traditional framework and is not explicitly included in this bill’s salary formula text).
  • County fiscal offices: responsible for administering payroll, with state reimbursements channeled through the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund or General Revenue Fund.
  • County treasurers: responsible for depositing funds into dedicated accounts and handling tax withholdings and pension contributions for the compensated salaries.
  • State employees in related compensation structures: those receiving subsidies or supplements under sections about correctional institutions and universities may be affected by broader funding decisions but are governed by separate provisions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date of the key salary change: July 1, 2026.
  • The biennial calculation of 100% of the mean local judge salary occurs on July 1 of each year thereafter to set the compensation for State’s Attorneys whose terms begin after July 1, 2026.
  • The state contributes 66 2/3% of the total annual compensation (based on December 31, 1988 salary levels) plus increases after 1988; the county covers the remaining 33 1/3% and any applicable withholdings and pension contributions.
  • The bill contemplates an authorization window for longevity stipends within 90 days of enactment for eligible counties.

Notes for readers
- The bill is focused on restructuring how State’s Attorney salaries are funded and aligned with local circuit court judge salaries, with specific funding responsibilities split between the state and counties.
- It references historic salary schedules and establishes a defined funding mechanism via the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund, subject to appropriation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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