About the Legislative Department

The Illinois Municipal League’s Legislative Office is charged with several duties to aid municipal governments in providing the best quality services for their citizens:

Monitoring Boards, Committees & Task Forces. There are several task forces created by action of the Illinois General Assembly on which the IML participates.

Developing the IML Legislative Agenda. The IML Legislative Staff is responsible for working closely with the IML Legislative Committee to develop an annual legislative agenda. Responsibilities of the Legislative Staff include coordinating the different legislative proposals received from local officials around the state and providing research and background information on the proposals.

Writing the IML Legislative Bulletin. Each Friday during the legislative session, the IML Legislative Bulletin is sent out to approximately 3,000 local officials. The Bulletin is a recap of the primary issues impacting local government from that week’s action in the State House.

Updating the IML Legislative Website.  We live in a world of rapidly accelerating information flows.  The Legislative Website provides a unique communication intersect between League staff and the membership whereby important information can be provided in a timely manner.  The quality of information and the speed with which it is provided is an essential part of a successful League legislative effort.

Coordinating Meetings of the Local Government and Municipal Government Coalitions. The IML Legislative Staff hosts meetings during the legislative session to bring different local government interests together to share intelligence and discuss upcoming legislation and issues. The Local Government Coalition consists of various entities including representatives of county, municipal, park district and township government. There will also be a Municipal Government Coalition consisting entirely of municipal government officials and representatives.

Contact Information

Matt Davidson - Director of Legislative Affairs:
Matt has been with the League since 2002. He focuses on coordinating the meetings for the Local Government Coalition and will be focusing on the Municipal Government Coalition in 2007. In that capacity, Matt spends a considerable amount of time collaborating with the various Regional Councils of Governments and Regional Municipal Associations. Some of the Committees which Matt handles in the Illinois General Assembly include Executive, State Government, State Government Administration & Transportation.

Joe Schatteman - Research & Information Services Coordinator:
Joe has been with the Illinois Municipal League since 1996. His focus for legislation is land use, open meetings and FOIA, municipal authority and environmental issues. He currently serves on the Task Force on Municipal Pre-Annexation Agreements. Joe also is the League’s liaison for the IML Public Works Committee. Joe serves on the Chatham Village Board. He is a native of the Quad City area.

Joe McCoy - Legislative Associate:
Joe has been with the League since 1999. He focuses on revenue, labor, insurance, personnel and pension issues that come before the General Assembly. Additionally, he works with the IML Manager’s Committee and represents municipal interests before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Pension Services Advisory Committee.  He is originally from Oak Lawn.