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HB 3842

TOWNSHIP CD-POLICE PROTECTION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Beth Canty and 8 co-sponsors

Allows Cook County townships to create a special police district, levy a capped tax up to 0.10%, and fund police protection and public-safety activities in unincorporated areas.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0335
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Bill Summary · HB 3842

Summary — HB 3842 (Public Act 104-0335)

Statutory citation: 60 ILCS 1/30-160 (Township Code)
Public Act: 104-0335 — Effective August 15, 2025

Main purpose

HB 3842 amends the Township Code to clarify and limit how townships in large counties can create a special police district, levy a dedicated tax, and spend those funds to provide police protection and other public‑safety activities in unincorporated township areas.

Key provisions and changes

  • Applicability: Applies to townships located in counties with population of 1,000,000 or more (in Illinois, currently Cook County).
  • Elector authorization: Electors in such a township may authorize the township board to contract with one or more municipalities or with the county to furnish police protection in the township’s unincorporated area. The statute specifies these services must be paid from funds levied under subsection (b).
  • Special police district tax:
    • The township board may declare the unincorporated area a special police district for tax purposes.
    • Proof of declaration authorizes the county clerk to extend a tax specified in the township’s annual tax levy.
    • Tax cap: not to exceed a rate of 0.10% of the value of taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Permitted uses of the special police district funds:
    • Funds may be used to provide and maintain police protection and to provide for public safety in unincorporated areas as prescribed by Section 85-13 of the Township Code.
    • The statute gives examples of “public safety”: public information campaigns; traffic safety/control measures and related signage; anti-gang and anti-violence community support/intervention programs; graffiti abatement; and other crime‑prevention/community‑safety measures.
  • Prohibited uses:
    • Funds may NOT be used to pay any portion of a school resource officer’s (SRO) wages or to facilitate agreements to hire an SRO (as defined in Section 10-20.68 of the School Code).
    • Funds may NOT be used to pay for any portion of a red light camera, speed camera, or automated license plate reader (ALPR).

Who is affected

  • Townships in counties with population ≥1,000,000 (practically Cook County).
  • Township electors (must authorize contracting authority).
  • Township boards (gain explicit authority to create special police districts and levy the capped tax).
  • Municipalities or the county that might contract to provide police services to unincorporated township areas.
  • Property owners in the special police district, who may be subject to the additional tax (up to 0.10% of taxable value).
  • Schools and school districts: the law prohibits using these township funds for SRO wages or to enable SRO hiring agreements.

Procedural/timeline status

  • Introduced Feb–Mar 2025; passed both chambers May 2025.
  • Sent to Governor June 24, 2025; approved by Governor August 15, 2025.
  • Became Public Act 104-0335 and took effect August 15, 2025.

Notes

  • The amendment both clarifies the funding source for contracted police protection (funds levied under the special police district tax) and broadens allowable “public safety” spending beyond direct police services while explicitly excluding certain law‑enforcement technological equipment and SRO wage funding.

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

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