HB2701 amends the Illinois Counties Code to increase the annual state-funded stipend, described in the bill as an “annual award,” paid to three categories of county officials: county clerks, county recorders, and chief clerks of county boards of election commissioners. Under the bill, the stipend would rise from $6,500 to $13,000 for calendar year 2025, $14,000 for 2026, and $15,000 for 2027 and each year after that. The payment remains separate from the officials’ base compensation and is intended to be paid in addition to any salary otherwise provided by law.
The bill also updates the administrative mechanics for how the stipend is funded and distributed. It directs the State Board of Elections to remit the required amount to each county for the stipend, with the money deposited into a dedicated county fund and then paid out by the county payroll clerk within 10 business days. The bill specifies that the stipend is not part of base compensation, but counties are responsible for related tax withholding and employer pension contributions. It also preserves the rule that county boards may not reduce other county-paid compensation because an official receives this state stipend.
In practical terms, HB2701 would increase state and county administrative costs associated with compensating county clerks, recorders, and election-related clerks, while leaving the underlying county compensation structure in place. It amends Section 4-6001 of the Counties Code, which governs compensation for certain county officers in counties under 2,000,000 population, but the stipend provision applies broadly to county clerks, recorders, and chief election clerks. The bill is effective immediately if enacted.
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no documented legislative sentiment from hearings or roll calls. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a straightforward compensation increase for county officials, likely framed as support for local election and recording administration rather than a controversial policy change. Because no transcripts or vote history are provided, there is no evidence of opposition or support from specific stakeholders in the available record.
The main point of contention, if any, would likely be fiscal: the bill increases the stipend substantially and requires ongoing appropriations and county-level payroll administration. Potentially affected parties include county governments, county clerks, county recorders, county election boards, the State Board of Elections, and county taxpayers. However, the provided materials do not show any explicit objections or endorsements.
HB2701 would amend Section 4-6001 of the Counties Code to increase the state-paid stipend for county clerks, county recorders, and chief clerks of county boards of election commissioners from $6,500 to a tiered schedule of $13,000 in 2025, $14,000 in 2026, and $15,000 beginning in 2027. It also revises the payment process by requiring the State Board of Elections to remit the stipend amounts to counties, which must deposit the funds into a dedicated account and pay the stipend within 10 business days. The bill preserves the stipend’s status as separate from base compensation and maintains protections against reducing other compensation because of the stipend.
No committee transcripts or votes are provided, so there is no direct record of legislative debate, support, or opposition. The bill appears to be a compensation adjustment for county officials and election administration personnel, suggesting a generally administrative and nonpartisan purpose. In the absence of recorded discussion, the sentiment can only be characterized as neutral based on the text.
The likely area of contention is cost: the bill more than doubles the stipend paid to county clerks, recorders, and chief election clerks, which could raise concerns about state appropriations and county payroll administration. Another possible issue is the shift in administrative responsibility to counties for withholding, reporting, and pension contributions on the stipend. No specific lawmakers, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified in the provided record as supporting or opposing the measure.