DuPage County will spend $147,000 on two Springfield lobbying firms over the coming year after the Legislative Committee approved both contracts Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The 12-minute meeting also produced a potentially bigger development: committee Chair Dawn DeSart directed staff to invite State's Attorney Robert Berlin to brief members on the pros and cons of Flock automated license-plate reader cameras, the surveillance technology drawing scrutiny across Illinois.

The lobbying renewals, both moved by DeSart and seconded by member Kari Galassi, break down as follows:

• Marquardt & Humes, Inc. — up to $94,500 for the period Sept. 15, 2026, through Sept. 14, 2027
• Raucci & Sullivan Strategies, LLC — up to $52,500 for Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027

Both firms represent DuPage County before the Illinois General Assembly and state executive branch. The contracts are the second of three optional renewals and are exempt from competitive bidding under state law. No public comments were offered at the meeting.

At the committee's July 7 meeting, Marquardt & Humes lobbyist Chip Humes reported on the spring legislative session, citing the reappropriation of DuPage County capital projects as a win. He called it "a weird session especially with the inconsistent scheduling with limited time having both chambers in session at the same time."

Flock cameras on the county's radar

DeSart told the committee she attended two Illinois Association of County Officials Zoom meetings during the board's recent break. Flock cameras topped the list of issues other counties are wrestling with, alongside affordable housing, solar farm siting, AI regulations and public transit reform.

After committee discussion on guardrails for the technology, DeSart asked staff member Kate Kissane to explore scheduling Berlin's appearance. No date has been set.

The request comes weeks after Berlin publicly defended the cameras. On July 27, when announcing felony charges against three men accused of stealing five Flock cameras in Lisle, Berlin called license-plate readers "a critical tool used by law enforcement under strict statutory guidelines" and said tampering with them "diminishes public safety."

But the technology faces growing opposition elsewhere in Illinois. Evanston halted its Flock camera program after Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias alleged the company violated state law by giving U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to camera data, according to a Fortune report on the national Flock debate.

The Flock discussion wasn't limited to the Legislative Committee on Aug. 4. At the same day's Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting, member Zay requested a Flock-related agenda item for the next full County Board meeting. Member Krajewski noted that many types of cameras are used for different purposes.

The next DuPage County Board meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m., where the Flock item may appear on the agenda. The lobbying contracts still require Finance Committee approval before taking effect.