Mayors across Illinois are calling on the General Assembly to pass a resolution that would put a referendum on the November 2018 ballot to grant home rule status to 169 of the state’s 1,298 municipalities.

If placed on the ballot, this constitutional amendment (SJRCA9, primary sponsor Sen.

Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights) would allow Illinois voters the opportunity to lower the population threshold for home rule status. Currently, communities can become home rule either automatically when they reach a population of more than 25,000 or by local referendum. This amendment would lower the threshold to more than 5,000. Municipalities with home rule status can adopt any policy unless prohibited by state law. Non-home rule municipalities can only adopt policies for which expressed authority by state law is provided. For additional resources on the expansion of home rule eligibility, visit iml. org/homerule.