It’s that time of year folks! Today, we highlight the top 10 Municipal Minute blog posts of 2024. Thank you for your continued readership of Municipal
Minute.
U.S.
Supreme Court’s Analysis: Use of Social Media by Government Officials
The Supreme Court held that when a government official or employee posts
on social media, the official’s or employee’s speech will only be attributable to the
government in limited circumstances. The Court adopted a two-factor test that looks at whether the official or employee had actual authority from the government and exercises that authority in his or her social media activities..
First
Amendment Auditor Case Decided in Massachusetts
In a First Amendment auditor case, a Massachusetts court
held that individual school defendants did not have qualified immunity for
First Amendment claims.
PAC
Finds Village Board Meetings Were Not Open or Convenient Under OMA
Village Board Meetings with limited seating capacity and
heightened security measures did not properly accommodate the public under the OMA.
Regulating
Election and Campaign Signs
To stay ahead of possible election issues, public bodies
should confirm their sign ordinances do not single out political signs and that they allow candidates to place temporary signs on public property used as a polling place.
It’s
Time to Establish Elected Officials’ Compensation for Terms Starting in 2025
The Local Government Officer Compensation Act specifies the
compensation of elected officers must be fixed 180 days before the beginning of
their terms.
New Illinois
Law Regulates Low-Speed Electric Scooters
P.A. 103-0899 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to add
provisions for low-speed electric scooters.
Changes
to Building Code Statutes
P.A. 103-0510 amends the Capital Development Board and
the Illinois Residential Building Code Act to establish certain filing requirements for local codes and to further the standardization of building codes, among other changes.
Newly
Hired Independent Contractor Reporting Requirements under Unemployment
Insurance Act
All employers, including units of local government, must
report newly hired employees and independent contractors within 20 days after
the date the employee or contractor begins employment.
Court
Upholds Contiguity Determination in Annexation Challenge
An Appellate Court ruled in favor of a
city, finding a 19.5 shared boundary met the contiguity requirements for the
annexation to be valid.
Seventh
Circuit Upholds Denial of Outdoor Athletic Lights
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a City in a lawsuit filed by a private religious school that claimed the City violated RLUIPA, the Free Exercise Clause, and vested rights law when the City denied a permit for outdoor athletic lighting.
Post Authored by Alexis Carter & Julie Tappendorf, Ancel Glink
