At the Michael A. Bilandic Building Tuesday, State Representative Ann Williams and her colleagues on the House Executive Committee heard testimony from civic leaders regarding the potential for Chicago to adopt a city charter. Chicago is the largest city in the United States without a city charter, which is effectively a constitution for a municipality. Advocates before the Executive Committee, which included House Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner as well as Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson, argued that Chicago is in a weaker place financially and governmentally due to its lack of a charter. The adoption of a charter, which would require a bill passed by the legislature, could establish ethics regulations, reshape the relationship between the Mayor and City Council, and provide long-term stability within city government, among other rules.

Advocates claimed that the idea has broad support throughout the city, and they hope to build momentum for the passage of HB 5282. The bill would not immediately enact a charter. Instead, it would create a framework for cities with populations over 500,000 to develop one, including details on the process for electing a charter committee, as well as rules for community engagement throughout the charter-building process.