summary
Introduced
04/27/2026
04/27/2026
In Committee
05/05/2026
05/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, before a municipality grants an application for siting approval of a data center the corporate authorities of a municipality in which the facility will be located or the zoning board of appeals for the municipality shall hold at least one public hearing. Provides that notice of a public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation. Provides that the siting of a data center shall be subject to back-door referendum. Provides that a back-door referendum shall be held within 60 days after the municipality publishes notice of the application for sitting approval of the data center, a petition is filed with the municipal clerk and signed by the necessary number of electors, asking that the application for siting approval of the data center be submitted to referendum. Sets forth the requirements of notice. Provides that the municipal clerk must certify the question for submission at a regularly scheduled election held in accordance with general election law. Sets forth the requirements of a back-door referendum. Defines "data center" and "application for siting approval of a data center".
AI Summary
This bill amends the Illinois Municipal Code to require that before a municipality can approve the location of a data center, which is defined as a facility for digital data storage, management, and processing with a significant electrical load, or a qualifying Illinois data center, the municipality must hold at least one public hearing. Notice of this hearing must be published in a local newspaper. Furthermore, the siting of a data center will be subject to a "back-door referendum," meaning that if a sufficient number of registered voters (15% of those who voted in the last general election) sign a petition within 60 days of the municipality publishing notice of the application, the decision to approve the data center will be put to a public vote at the next scheduled election. The referendum question will ask whether the proposed data center should be authorized, and the outcome will be binding on the municipality's decision. If no petition is filed, the municipality can proceed with approving or denying the application.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee (on 05/05/2026)
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