Bill Text: IL HB4261 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: 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.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-3)

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-05-22 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [HB4261 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4261-Engrossed.html

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.