HB4261 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16516 RTM 29912 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4261

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Martha Deuter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

75 ILCS 10/8	from Ch. 81, par. 118
75 ILCS 10/8.1	from Ch. 81, par. 118.1
75 ILCS 10/8.4	from Ch. 81, par. 118.4

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. Increases the amounts to be provided by the State Librarian for annual library system grants, for annual grants to qualified public libraries in the State, and for annual school library grants. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Library System Act is amended by changing Sections 8, 8.1, and 8.4 as follows:

(75 ILCS 10/8) (from Ch. 81, par. 118)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-108)

Sec. 8. State grants.

(a) There shall be a program of State grants within the limitations of funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly together with other funds made available by the federal government or other sources for this purpose. This program of State grants shall be administered by the State Librarian in accordance with rules and regulations as provided in Section 3 of this Act and shall include the following: (i) annual equalization grants; (ii) Library System grants; (iii) per capita grants to public libraries; and (iv) planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems. Libraries, in order to be eligible for grants under this Section, must be members of a library system.

(b) An annual equalization grant shall be made to all public libraries for which the corporate authorities levy a tax for library purposes at a rate not less than .13% of the value of all the taxable property as equalized and assessed by the Department of Revenue if the amount of tax revenue obtained from a rate of .13% produces less than $17.50 per capita in property tax revenue from property taxes for Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. In that case, the State Librarian is authorized to make an equalization grant equivalent to the difference between the amount obtained from a rate of .13% and an annual income of $17.50 per capita for grants made in Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. If moneys appropriated for grants under this Section are not sufficient, then the State Librarian shall reduce the per capita amount of the grants so that the qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita, but in no event shall the grant be less than equivalent to the difference between the amount of the tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $4.25 per capita. If a library receiving an equalization grant reduces its tax levy below the amount levied at the time the original application is approved, it shall be ineligible to receive further equalization grants.

If a library is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code and its tax levy for library purposes has been lowered to a rate of less than .13%, the library will qualify for this grant if the library levied a tax for library purposes that met the requirements for this grant in the previous year and if the tax levied for library purposes in the current year produces tax revenue for the library that is an increase over the previous year's extension of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, and the tax revenue produced by this levy is less than $17.50 per capita in property tax revenue from property taxes for the Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. In this case, the State Librarian is authorized to make an equalization grant equivalent to the difference between the amount of tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $17.50 per capita for grants made in Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. If moneys appropriated for grants under this Section are not sufficient, then the State Librarian shall reduce the per capita amount of the grants so that the qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita, but in no event shall the grant be less than equivalent to the difference between the amount of the tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $4.25 per capita. If a library receiving an equalization grant reduces its tax levy below the amount levied at the time the original application is approved, it shall be ineligible to receive further equalization grants.

(c) Annual Library System grants shall be made, upon application, to each library system approved by the State Librarian on the following basis:

(1) For library systems, the sum of $1.46 per capita of the population of the area served plus the sum of $50.75 per square mile or fraction thereof of the area served except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(2) If the amounts appropriated for grants are different from the amount provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the area and per capita funding shall be proportionately reduced or increased accordingly.

(3) For library systems, additional funds may be appropriated. The appropriation shall be distributed on the same proportional per capita and per square mile basis as provided in paragraphs (1) and (4) of this subsection.

(4) Per capita and area funding for a multitype library system as defined in subparagraph (3) of the definition of "library system" in Section 2 and a public library system in cities with a population of 500,000 or more as defined in subparagraph (2) of the definition of "library system" in Section 2 shall be apportioned with 25% of the funding granted to the multitype library system and 75% of the funding granted to the public library system.

(d) The "area served" for the purposes of making and expending annual Library System grants means the area that lies within the geographic boundaries of the library system as approved by the State Librarian, except that grant funding awarded to a library system may also be expended for the provision of services to members of other library systems if such an expenditure is included in a library system's plan of service and is approved by the State Librarian. In determining the population of the area served by the library system, the Illinois State Library shall use the latest federal census for the political subdivisions in the area served.

(e) In order to be eligible for a grant under this Section, the corporate authorities, instead of a tax levy at a particular rate, may provide an amount equivalent to the amount produced by that levy.

(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 7-1-24.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-108)

Sec. 8. State grants.

(a) There shall be a program of State grants within the limitations of funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly together with other funds made available by the federal government or other sources for this purpose. This program of State grants shall be administered by the State Librarian in accordance with rules and regulations as provided in Section 3 of this Act and shall include the following: (i) annual equalization grants; (ii) Library System grants; (iii) per capita grants to public libraries; (iv) planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system; and (v) grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.

(b) An annual equalization grant shall be made to all public libraries for which the corporate authorities levy a tax for library purposes at a rate not less than .13% of the value of all the taxable property as equalized and assessed by the Department of Revenue if the amount of tax revenue obtained from a rate of .13% produces less than $17.50 per capita in property tax revenue from property taxes for Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. In that case, the State Librarian is authorized to make an equalization grant equivalent to the difference between the amount obtained from a rate of .13% and an annual income of $17.50 per capita for grants made in Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. If moneys appropriated for grants under this Section are not sufficient, then the State Librarian shall reduce the per capita amount of the grants so that the qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita, but in no event shall the grant be less than equivalent to the difference between the amount of the tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $4.25 per capita. If a library receiving an equalization grant reduces its tax levy below the amount levied at the time the original application is approved, it shall be ineligible to receive further equalization grants.

If a library is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code and its tax levy for library purposes has been lowered to a rate of less than .13%, the library will qualify for this grant if the library levied a tax for library purposes that met the requirements for this grant in the previous year and if the tax levied for library purposes in the current year produces tax revenue for the library that is an increase over the previous year's extension of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less, and the tax revenue produced by this levy is less than $17.50 per capita in property tax revenue from property taxes for the Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. In this case, the State Librarian is authorized to make an equalization grant equivalent to the difference between the amount of tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $17.50 per capita for grants made in Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter. If moneys appropriated for grants under this Section are not sufficient, then the State Librarian shall reduce the per capita amount of the grants so that the qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita, but in no event shall the grant be less than equivalent to the difference between the amount of the tax revenue obtained from the current levy and an annual income of $4.25 per capita. If a library receiving an equalization grant reduces its tax levy below the amount levied at the time the original application is approved, it shall be ineligible to receive further equalization grants.

(c) Annual Library System grants shall be made, upon application, to each library system approved by the State Librarian on the following basis:

(1) For library systems, the sum of $1.75 $1.46 per capita of the population of the area served plus the sum of $60.90 $50.75 per square mile or fraction thereof of the area served except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(2) If the amounts appropriated for grants are different from the amount provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the area and per capita funding shall be proportionately reduced or increased accordingly.

(3) For library systems, additional funds may be appropriated. The appropriation shall be distributed on the same proportional per capita and per square mile basis as provided in paragraphs (1) and (4) of this subsection.

(4) Per capita and area funding for a multitype library system as defined in subparagraph (3) of the definition of "library system" in Section 2 and a public library system in cities with a population of 500,000 or more as defined in subparagraph (2) of the definition of "library system" in Section 2 shall be apportioned with 25% of the funding granted to the multitype library system and 75% of the funding granted to the public library system.

(d) The "area served" for the purposes of making and expending annual Library System grants means the area that lies within the geographic boundaries of the library system as approved by the State Librarian, except that grant funding awarded to a library system may also be expended for the provision of services to members of other library systems if such an expenditure is included in a library system's plan of service and is approved by the State Librarian. In determining the population of the area served by the library system, the Illinois State Library shall use the latest federal census for the political subdivisions in the area served.

(e) In order to be eligible for a grant under this Section, the corporate authorities, instead of a tax levy at a particular rate, may provide an amount equivalent to the amount produced by that levy.

(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 7-1-24; 104-108, eff. 1-1-26.)

(75 ILCS 10/8.1) (from Ch. 81, par. 118.1)

Sec. 8.1. The State Librarian shall make grants annually under this Section to all qualified public libraries in the State from funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Such grants shall be in the amount of up to $1.77 $1.475 per capita for the population of the area served by the respective public library and, in addition, the amount of up to $0.228 $0.19 per capita to libraries serving populations over 500,000 under the Illinois Major Urban Library Program. If the moneys appropriated for grants under this Section fail to meet the $1.77 $1.475 and the $0.228 $0.19 per capita amounts above, the funding shall be decreased pro rata so that qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita. If the moneys appropriated for grants under this Section exceed the $1.77 $1.475 and the $0.228 $0.19 per capita amounts above, the funding shall be increased pro rata so that qualifying public libraries receive the same amount per capita.

To be eligible for grants under this Section, a public library must:

(1) Provide, as determined by the State Librarian, library services which either meet or show progress toward meeting the Illinois library standards, as most recently adopted by the Illinois Library Association.

(2) Be a public library for which is levied a tax for library purposes at a rate not less than .13% or a county library for which is levied a tax for library purposes at a rate not less than .07%. If a library is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code and its tax levy for library purposes has been lowered to a rate of less than .13%, this requirement will be waived if the library qualified for this grant in the previous year and if the tax levied for library purposes in the current year produces tax revenue for library purposes that is an increase over the previous year's extension of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. Beginning in State Fiscal Year 2012, the eligibility requirement in this subsection shall be waived if a library's tax levy for library purposes has been lowered to a rate of less than 0.13%, and the State Librarian determines that the library (i) continues to meet the requirements of item (1) of this Section and (ii) received a grant under this Section in the previous fiscal year.

Any other language in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, grants under this Section 8.1 shall be made only upon application of the public library concerned, which applications shall be entirely voluntary and within the sole discretion of the public library concerned.

In order to be eligible for a grant under this Section, the corporate authorities, in lieu of a tax levy at a particular rate, may provide funds from other sources, an amount equivalent to the amount to be produced by that levy.

(Source: P.A. 102-39, eff. 6-25-21.)

(75 ILCS 10/8.4) (from Ch. 81, par. 118.4)

Sec. 8.4. School library grants. Beginning July 1, 1989, the State Librarian shall make grants annually under this Section to all school districts in the State for the establishment and operation of qualified school libraries, or the additional support of existing qualified school libraries, from funds appropriated by the General Assembly. Such grants shall be in the amount of $1.06 $0.885 per student as determined by the official enrollment as of the previous September 30 of the respective school having a qualified school library. If the moneys appropriated for grants under this Section are not sufficient, the State Librarian shall reduce the amount of the grants as necessary; in making these reductions, the State Librarian shall endeavor to provide each school district that has a qualifying school library (i) at least the same amount per student as the district received under this Section in the preceding fiscal year, and (ii) a total grant of at least $1,000 $850, which, in the event of an insufficient appropriation, shall not be reduced to a total grant of less than $100.

To qualify for grants under this Section, a school library must:

(1) Be an entity which serves the basic information and library needs of the school's employees and students through a bibliographically organized collection of library materials, has at least one employee whose primary duty is to serve as a librarian, and has a collection permanently supported financially, accessible centrally, and occupying identifiable quarters in one principal location.

(2) Meet the requirements for membership in a library system under the provisions of this Act.

(3) Have applied for membership in the library system of jurisdiction if the system is a multitype library system under this Act.

(4) Provide, as mutually determined by the Illinois State Librarian and the Illinois State Board of Education, library services which either meet or show progress toward meeting the Illinois school library standards as most recently adopted by the Illinois School Library Media Association.

(5) Submit a statement certifying that the financial support for the school library or libraries of the applying school district has been maintained undiminished, or if diminished, the percentage of diminution of financial support is no more than the percentage of diminution of the applying school's total financial support for educational and operations purposes since the submission of the last previous application of the school district for the school library per student grant that was funded.

Grants under this Section shall be made only upon application of the school district for its qualified school library or school libraries.

(Source: P.A. 102-39, eff. 6-25-21.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.