IL HB5612

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to require a "backdoor referendum" for annexations of over 100 acres for private development in municipalities within 5 miles of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, if approved on or after April 1, 2018.

Referendum petitions must contain signatures equal to at least 50% of the total vote cast for mayor or municipal president at the last general election and must be filed within 30 days of the municipality's annexation approval.

Referendum is held at the next general or municipal election occurring at least 90 days after petition filing, with voters deciding whether the municipality should annex the specified territory.

If a majority of voters reject the annexation in the referendum, the municipality is prohibited from attempting to annex that territory for at least 2 years from the date of original annexation approval.

All provisions automatically expire and are repealed on January 1, 2025; the act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.