104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2740
 
Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Linda Holmes
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
65 ILCS 5/1-1-14 new
    Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, upon adoption of an enacting ordinance by a majority vote of the corporate authorities then holding office, a municipality with a population of more than 5,000 may exercise the powers and authorities provided to home rule units under Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. Effective January 1, 2027.


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A BILL FOR
 
SB2740LRB104 14801 RTM 27944 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by 
5adding Section 1-1-14 as follows:
 
6    (65 ILCS 5/1-1-14 new)
7    Sec. 1-1-14. Home rule powers for nonhome rule 
8municipalities.
9    (a) Upon adoption of an enacting ordinance by a majority 
10vote of the corporate authorities then holding office, a 
11municipality with a population of more than 5,000 inhabitants 
12may exercise the powers and authorities provided to home rule 
13units under Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois 
14Constitution.
15    (b) A municipality that has adopted an ordinance under 
16subsection (a) may rescind the local enactment of powers and 
17authorities under this Section by adoption of an ordinance 
18approved by a majority vote of the corporate authorities then 
19holding office, or by approval of a referendum submitted to 
20the voters of the municipality, which shall include an 
21effective date not less than 6 months after its adoption.
22    (c) If a municipality that has adopted an ordinance under 
23subsection (a) suffers a loss in population so that its 
 
 
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1population determined as provided in Section 1-7-2 is 5,000 or 
2less, then the municipality may continue to exercise the 
3powers of a home rule unit until it holds a referendum to 
4become a home rule unit. Unless the referendum is held sooner, 
5the municipal clerk shall certify for submission to the voters 
6of the municipality at the next general election following the 
7determination of population, in the manner provided by the 
8general election law, the proposition of whether the 
9municipality shall elect to become a home rule unit. If the 
10municipality does not elect to become a home rule unit, then 
11the municipality may not continue to exercise the powers of a 
12home rule unit.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
141, 2027.