HB5755

Illinois HB5755 mandates a back-door referendum for data center siting in municipalities.

HB5755 amends the Illinois Municipal Code to require municipalities to hold a back-door referendum before approving the siting of a data center. The bill specifies that a public hearing must be held within 60 days of the application notice. If a petition signed by 15% of the municipality's recent general election voters is filed within 60 days, the referendum must be held at the next regularly scheduled election. The referendum question must describe the data center's parameters, size, location, and scale. If a majority votes in favor, the municipality may approve the application.