Illinois Attorney General to Urge Rock Island to Rescind Social Service Licensing Ordinance

January 10, 2025

By Annika O’Melia

annika@rockislandline.com

(updated to say Illinois Attorney General's Office, not State's Attorney's Office)

An Illinois Attorney General's Office letter urging Rock Island to rescind its Social Service License Ordinance is forthcoming, according to Illinois State Representative Gregg Johnson.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity, said Johnson informed Rock Island city leaders—including Mayor Ashley Harris and City Manager Todd Thompson—that the Attorney General's Office, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Human Services, plans to send a letter asserting that the ordinance, as written, violates Illinois law and should be overturned or amended to ensure compliance.

Harris confirmed the meeting occurred and said city leadership was notified of legal concerns and an expected letter regarding the ordinance, but wishes to reserve further comment until the letter is received.

Harris said homelessness is a top priority for his administration and that he is working to find solutions that keep unhoused residents safe, respect their dignity, and preserve cleanliness, order, and safety for all Rock Islanders, particularly in downtown Rock Island. He added that his administration welcomes oversight and is committed to operating transparently and in compliance with all applicable laws, noting he has no appetite for defying state law or exposing the city to potential litigation.

Harris and Alderwoman Linda Barnes have consistently raised objections to the most restrictive provisions of the ordinance.

Barnes hosted a community listening session Monday night to hear concerns about the ordinance and the absence of a winter shelter. In her opening remarks, Barnes said, “I do not view the homeless community as criminals or as people without worth. I recognize their humanity and understand the circumstances that may have led them to where they are.” Her comments suggest that at least one City Council member may be prepared to revisit the ordinance to align it with the guardrails of Illinois’ Homeless Bill of Rights.

Unhoused Rock Islanders gathered outside City Hall before Monday night's Listening Session

Johnson separately confirmed that he learned about the forthcoming letter on Tuesday, in a conversation with the AG's Office. According to Johnson, the office has serious concerns about the ordinance’s legality, including potential violations of anti-discrimination protections. He said the ordinance could disproportionately impact people who are poor, African American, disabled, elderly, or veterans by restricting access to services and effectively pushing unhoused residents out of the community.

The City Council previously received a letter from the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness's Law Project on October 13, 2025, warning that the ordinance—particularly its heightened and targeted licensing requirements for shelters—violates the Illinois Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act. Alderman Dylan Parker dismissed the letter outright at the time and indicated it would have no bearing on his decision to pursue enforcement of the ordinance moving forward.

Illinois’ Homeless Bill of Rights, enacted in 2013, affirms that being homeless does not strip an individual of basic civil rights and prohibits governments from discriminating against people or blocking services solely based on housing status.

Johnson said Rock Island’s ordinance has been discussed in Springfield and used as an example as lawmakers consider Illinois House Bill 1429, which builds on the Homeless Bill of Rights and seeks to strengthen statewide protections for people experiencing homelessness while limiting municipalities’ ability to restrict homelessness-related services through local ordinances.

Johnson said he does not currently support the bill, citing concerns that it could limit local control. However, he added, “If cities don’t govern homelessness humanely on their own, the state will step in.”

Johnson said he is not aware of any lawsuit currently filed against the City of Rock Island but acknowledged that the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Illinois Department of Human Services would support legal challenges to ordinances found to be discriminatory or unlawful.

Read an overview of the Illinois Homeless Bill of Rights here: Bill of Rights

Read a draft of House Bill 1492, which seeks to strengthen rights for the unhoused here:

House Bill 1429.