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Will County ordinance committee approves updates on alcohol, tobacco and video gaming
Summary
The Will County Ordinance Committee approved several code amendments affecting alcoholic beverage licensing, tobacco/alternative nicotine regulations and video gaming business rules, forwarding the alcohol changes to the county executive; fee increases and state preemption were key points of discussion.
The Will County Ordinance Committee on Tuesday approved a package of amendments to county code covering alcoholic beverage licensing, tobacco and alternative nicotine products, and video gaming business rules.
Committee members voted to forward revisions to Title 11, Chapter 110 on alcoholic beverages to the county executive after staff explained that the county will maintain its current licensing process: licenses exist only for facilities that are currently licensed, and any new applicant must apply through the county executive and the board. "If somebody new comes along, they go to the county executive and then the board," staff said during discussion.
On tobacco and alternative nicotine products (Title 11, Chapter 120), the committee approved updates that reflect limits imposed by state law. Staff told members the county can regulate nicotine products but not necessarily other vaping products that do not contain nicotine. The committee also noted a license-fee change cited in the draft: the per-license fee shown in the materials increased from $25 to $100. One member suggested a higher fee might be appropriate given health concerns; another said the fine schedule for offenses seemed reasonable and that clerks working at small stores should not be unduly penalized for inadvertent violations.
The committee also approved a short amendment to video gaming business regulations. Members discussed administrative details — including how bills would be issued and how applicants remit payments — and voted to adopt the changes.
All actions on these items were approved by voice vote during the meeting and carried; staff will process the ordinances and the alcohol ordinance will be sent to the county executive for further action.
Why it matters: the updates align local licensing and enforcement with recent state statutes and administrative practice. Fee increases and the limits of local authority under state law were the most consequential items for businesses and enforcement going forward.
What’s next: staff will reformat and publish the approved ordinance texts and the alcohol ordinance will be forwarded to the county executive for subsequent review or signature.
