IL HB2407

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to allow municipalities to annex territory separated by lakes, rivers, or other waterways, treating such separated territory as contiguous for annexation purposes.

When annexing territory separated by a waterway, the municipality also annexes the portion of the waterway needed to make the areas contiguous, unless it is within another municipality's corporate limits or restricted by federal law.

Expands the definition of contiguous territory to include areas separated by strip parcels (no wider than 30 feet), railroads, public utility rights-of-way, or converted railroad recreational trails without annexing these separating features themselves.

Clarifies that in counties with populations between 600,000 and 3,000,000, parcels less than one acre separated by forest preserves or conservation areas may be annexed without meeting the artificial barrier requirement.

Requires municipalities to notify fire protection districts, public library districts, and township officials by certified mail at least 10 days before annexation proceedings, with failure to notify resulting in municipal liability for losses caused by the omission.