Bills & Legislation

BIPA-VEHICLE SAFETY TECH

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to apply to an entity using vehicle safety technology for a vehicle safety purpose.

Cristina Castro

LIQUOR-MIXED DRINK DELIVERY

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Removes language repealing a provision concerning the delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on August 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Sara Feigenholtz

DCEO-TOURISM

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount in Fiscal Year 2026 and no less than 50% of the grant amount in subsequent years). Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Sara Feigenholtz

CHILD WELFARE DISCLOSURE ACT

Creates the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that parents receiving intact family services or reunification services from the Illinois child welfare system have specified rights, including, but not limited to, the right to: (1) be treated with dignity and respect and as a valued member of the child welfare team; (2) be consulted about relative placement options for their children prior to placement in a foster home; (3) be notified and considered as a placement resource, as the noncustodial parent, prior to protective custody; (4) receive timely visitation with their children; (5) be provided a copy of the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act at the time of case opening for intact family services or reunification services; (6) participate in the development of the hair care plan for their child; and other enumerated rights. Effective immediately.

Sara Feigenholtz

IDOT-MECHANIC WORKFORCE GOALS

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires, by August 1 of each calendar year, the Department of Transportation to make a report in writing to the Governor and the General Assembly, stating in detail the Department's efforts in the prior fiscal year to fill open mechanics positions. Requires the Department to establish and maintain a goal of filling at least 85% of all authorized and budgeted mechanic positions within the Department in each fiscal year. Requires the General Assembly to review the report and may request additional information or hold hearings regarding the Department's staffing levels, recruitment strategies, and efforts to meet the 85% workforce goal.

Robert Peters

MOBILE TELEDENTISTRY EXAMS

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Provides that a patient of record who is provided services through a mobile dental van or portable dental unit does not need to receive an in-person physical examination from a dentist prior to receiving treatment that utilizes teledentistry if such services are limited to certain procedures.

Michael E. Hastings

SCH CD-STUDY OF RECENT HISTORY

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school social studies course pertaining to American history shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the previous 30 years and the causes that led up to those events. Provides for what the unit of instruction shall and may include. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement, including professional development. Effective July 1, 2025.

Craig Wilcox

SCH CD-STAFF SHOWERING POLICY

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to create a policy that prohibits all school personnel from using a showering or bathing facility accessible to a student during school hours. Sets forth provisions concerning policy requirements and school personnel duties and prohibitions. Provides that school personnel that violate the policy may be subject to corrective action. Requires the school board to review the policy annually and update the policy as needed to comply with any changes to the law, best practices, or feedback from school personnel.

Dave Syverson

SCH CD-SUSPENSION/EXPULSION

Amends the School Code. Provides that out-of-school suspensions and expulsions should only be used when the student's presence poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that to ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider implementing proactive evidence-based interventions that improve behavioral outcomes for all students. Provides that out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's conduct poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes (rather than the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or) a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that the school board shall be solely responsible for determining, on a case-by-case basis, whether the student's conduct poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been attempted (rather than exhausted) and the student's conduct poses a threat to the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities (rather than the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school). Makes conforming changes.

Neil Anderson

WILDLIFE CD-COMPENSATION

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, if wild deer cause more than $500 in property damage on land in the State that is owned or leased by an Illinois resident, then the Department of Natural Resources shall compensate the Illinois resident for the actual property damages caused by the deer and incurred by the Illinois resident upon submittal by the Illinois resident of a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department by rule. Provides that a claim must be submitted within one year after the date that a claimant suffers damages and knows or has reason to know of the damages. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Provides for a private cause of action in the Court of Claims if the Illinois resident has not been compensated within 180 days after submitting a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.

Neil Anderson

SCH CD-CHARTER TERMS

Amends the Charter Schools Article of the School Code. Requires a charter school authorized by the State Board of Education to provide a copy of its charter renewal proposal to the local school board or boards of the resident district or districts at the same time that it submits its proposal to the State Board. Allows the local school board of each resident district to have an opportunity to negotiate with the charter school for a transfer of authorization prior to the State Board voting on the renewal proposal. Provides that authorization shall be transferred from the State Board to a local school board at the end of the charter term with the agreement of both the charter school and the local school board. Allows the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to implement the changes made by the amendatory Act.

Cristina Castro

MEDICAL LIABILITY INS-OB-GYN

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that companies that issue medical liability insurance must evaluate premium rates based on the specific scope of practice of each insured physician who specializes in obstetric and gynecologic services (OB-GYN), considering whether the OB-GYN provides obstetric services, including childbirth, or limits the OB-GYN's practice to gynecologic services only. Requires companies that issue medical liability insurance to classify OB-GYNs who do not provide obstetric services as lower-risk providers for the purposes of determining premium rates. Requires the Department of Insurance to establish guidelines for companies that issue medical liability insurance to classify and adjust premiums based on the risk profiles of OB-GYNs.

Paul Faraci

YOUTH SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

Creates the Youth Social Media Engagement Act. Creates the Commission on Youth Social Media Engagement. Provides that the Commission shall develop a resource bank of existing evidence-based and research-based scholarly articles pertaining to the mental and physical health impacts of social media use by youth, Internet safety, and cybersecurity and make recommendations to the General Assembly. Sets forth provisions concerning membership; terms; compensation; and administrative support. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, a social media platform operating in the State shall establish a function to provide users who are under the age of 18 with information about the user's engagement with social media. Provides that a violation of specified provisions is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Karina Villa

SCH CD-PROHIBT DENIAL FREE ED

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a child from being denied a free public education through secondary school while in the State based on the child's or associated person's perceived or actual citizenship or immigration status. Prohibits a school from excluding a child, or associated person, from participation in or denying a child, or associated person, the benefits of any program or activity on the grounds of that child's, or associated person's, actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. Provides that a school must not use criteria, measures, or methods of administration that have the effect of excluding from participation or denying the benefits of any program or activity because of a child's, or associated person's, actual or perceived immigration status. Prohibits a school from threatening to disclose information regarding or relating to the actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status of a child, or associated person, or actually disclosing information based on perceived or unverified citizenship or immigration status, to any other person, entity, or any immigration or law enforcement agency. Provides that a school must not allow an immigration agent to enter a school site or school district facility for any purpose without providing valid identification, a written statement of purpose, and a valid judicial warrant, and, to the extent possible, receiving approval from the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the charter school, and their legal counsel. Provides that a school district or school must not detain any individual solely on the basis of any formal or informal request, or immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant from an immigration agent. Requires a school district or school to adopt a policy for complying with the amendatory Act. Allows any party aggrieved by a violation of the provisions to bring a civil lawsuit no later than 2 years after the violation occurred. Provides that if the court finds that a violation has occurred, the court may award to the plaintiff 3 times actual damages or $17,000, whichever is greater. Makes other changes.

Karina Villa

CDB-WASTEWATER REGULATION

Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides, in a provision that limits the enforceability of ordinances of units of local government with respect to the remediation, redevelopment, or improvement of certain State facilities, that a unit of local government shall not include a municipal wastewater agency or unit of local government that is organized under the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the North Shore Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1917, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1936, the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974, or the Eastern Will Sanitary District Act. Provides that an ordinance or regulation of a municipal wastewater agency or unit of local government that is organized under the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the North Shore Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1917, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1936, the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974, or the Eastern Will Sanitary District Act regarding the use of or connection to the wastewater treatment or collection system of the agency or unit of local government is valid and enforceable by the agency or unit of local government with respect to the construction, reconstruction, improvement, or installation of a State facility on or after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Michael E. Hastings

ELEC CD-CANDIDATE NAME FORMAT

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning primary election ballots, provides that the lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority.

Sally J. Turner

CANNABIS-PAYMENT-PROPERTY TAX

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that, in addition to other grounds specified in this Act, the Department of Agriculture, upon notification by a county of a cultivation center's failure to pay all or part of any property tax or penalty due to the reporting county, shall refuse the issuance or renewal of a license, or suspend or revoke the license of the cultivation center. Effective immediately.

Sally J. Turner

PAID LEAVE-FIRST RESPONDERS

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that a public safety agency may, in lieu of paid leave, pay a first responder that is employed by the public safety agency the equivalent of the first responder's hourly rate of pay multiplied by the number of hours of paid leave that the first responder is entitled to under the Act. Provides that a first responder is eligible for the payment if the first responder has been continuously employed by the public safety agency for at least 60 days. Provides that the payment shall be paid to a first responder in its entirety once per calendar year. Provides for notice requirements. Makes conforming changes. Defines "first responder" and "public safety agency".

Mike Porfirio

VEH CD-CHANGE TO SPEED LIMIT

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, on and after October 1, 2025, the default speed limit is 20 (instead of 30) miles per hour within an urban district, and 10 (instead of 15) miles per hour in an alley within an urban district. Requires, by September 1, 2025, the Secretary of State to communicate the speed limit change to every licensed driver in the State via direct postal mail and a broad statewide communications campaign. Provides that a county, municipality, or township with speed enforcement authority may only issue warnings for violations during the first 60 days after the change of the speed limit is enacted. Effective immediately.

Mike Porfirio

MHDD-OIG INVESTIGATIONS

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes changes to a provision concerning initial Department of Human Services investigations of a facility employee's alleged abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a recipient of mental health or developmental disability services. Expands the provision to include allegations of material obstruction of an investigation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-de minimis financial exploitation (such as financial exploitation totaling a cumulative value equal to or greater than $100), or egregious neglect. Adds provisions concerning Department investigations where a facility employee is the perpetrator of, at most, neglect, de minimis financial exploitation (such as financial exploitation totaling a cumulative value of less than $100), or mental abuse.

Laura Fine

FOOD LABELING

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall, on or before July 1, 2027, adopt rules requiring food product labels to contain information regarding the quality date of a product and the safety date of a product. Provides for exceptions for eggs, beer and other malt beverages, and as limited by federal law. Provides for a civil penalty of $100.

Steve Stadelman

DNR REPORT-TIMBER HARVEST FEE

Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Provides that the report the Department of Natural Resources files in writing with the General Assembly on or before March 1 of each year must include, among other things, a description of the amount of revenue the Department received from the 4% timber harvest fee under the Timber Buyers Licensing Act from the preceding year. Effective immediately.

Chapin Rose

$IDOT-TECH

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.

Seth Lewis

GRADUATED LICENSE SUSPENSION

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions concerning the prohibition of a graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 from operating a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle who is under the age of 20, unless any additional passenger or passengers are siblings, step-siblings, children, or stepchildren of the driver, provides that, if a graduated driver's license holder is convicted of a moving violation due to having more than one passenger in the license holder's vehicle who is under the age of 20, the graduated license shall be suspended for one month.

Li Arellano, Jr.

WILDLIFE REMOVAL PERMIT

Amends the Wildlife Code. In provisions concerning permits for a person to remove or destroy any wild bird or wild mammal when the wild bird or wild mammal is known to be destroying property or causing a risk to human health or safety upon the person's land, requires the Department of Natural Resources to determine if the damage does exist and can be abated only by removing or destroying the wild bird or wild mammal within 14 days of receipt by the Department of information from the owner, tenant, or sharecropper that any one or more species of wild bird or wild mammal is damaging dams, levees, ditches, cattle pastures, or other property on the land the owner, tenant, or sharecropper resides or controls, together with a statement regarding location of the property damages, the nature and extent of the damage, and the particular species of wild bird or wild mammal committing the damage.

Li Arellano, Jr.

HUMAN RIGHTS-GENDER IDEOLOGY

Creates the Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism Act. Requires the Secretary of State to implement changes to require all Illinois-issued identification documents to reflect the holder's sex as defined in the Act. Requires all State agencies to remove or change their forms and communications to reflect the changes in the Act. Requires the Department of Human Rights to issue guidance to ensure the freedom to express the binary nature of sex and the right to single-sex space in workplaces. Requires the Department of Human Rights to prioritize investigation and litigation to the right and freedoms identified and created under the Act. Provides that the Act takes priority over and supersedes any other State law or rule that appears to or purports to be in conflict with the Act. Makes other changes. Repeals the Equitable Restroom Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to delete "gender-related identity" from the definition of "sexual orientation."

Andrew S. Chesney

EDUCATION-GENDER IN ATHLETICS

Creates the Gender in Athletics Act. Provides that in any intercollegiate athletic activity that is subject to rules, standards, or classifications that provide for student eligibility restrictions in order to ensure, enhance, or promote fair competition, each public institution of higher education shall make all determinations based on sex and not on gender. Grants rulemaking authority to the Board of High Education to implement and enforce the Act. Amends the School Code. Provides that no school district or nonpublic school whose students or teams compete against a school district or nonpublic school may operate, sponsor, or facilitate interscholastic or intramural athletics that permit a person whose gender is male to participate in any interscholastic or intramural athletics that are designated for females. Allows a student who is aggrieved by an alleged violation or anticipated violation to have the right to file a grievance complaint with the school district or nonpublic school for an immediate determination of whether a violation or anticipated violation exists. Provides that if a violation or anticipated violation is determined to exist, the school district or nonpublic school shall issue a decision immediately and may direct that such violation be terminated or adjusted to prevent a further violation, but if the grievance is rejected, the complaining party has the right to an immediate appeal to the State Board of Education for relief.

Andrew S. Chesney

CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY ACT

Creates the Curriculum Transparency Act. Requires each school that is operated by a school district or as a public charter school to disclose, not more than 10 days after the first use, on a publicly accessible portion of the school website or the school district website: (1) the procedures or processes in effect for the school principal or other staff to document, review, or approve lesson plans or the learning materials and activities used for student instruction at the school; (2) a listing of the teacher and staff training materials and activities used at the school in the current school year; and (3) a listing of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction at the school in the current school year. Provides that neither the State Board of Education nor the governing board of a public school or public charter school, nor any staff employed thereby and acting in the course of his or her official duties, shall purchase or contract for copyrighted learning materials to be used for student instruction at a school, unless provision is made to allow parents and guardians of enrolled students to review the materials within 10 school days of the submission of a written request to the school. Sets forth ways a party may enforce the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Andrew S. Chesney

VEH CD-FLEET PLATES-LOCAL GOV

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a unit of local government that engages in the operation of fleet of motor vehicles to register and license the fleet for operations in the State.

Neil Anderson

ADULT CONTENT AGE VERIFICATION

Creates the Adult Content Age Verification Act. Defines terms. Provides that a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors shall be subject to civil penalties if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material. Provides that the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations and initiate a civil action for an injunction and to assess civil penalties. Provides that the civil penalties shall be deposited into the Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund, which shall be expended for the investigation of cybercrimes involving the exploitation of children and for no other purpose. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Erica Harriss

PROP TX-INDEMNITY FUND

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning payments from the Indemnity Fund to provide that all property owners who sustain loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a tax deed are entitled to payments from the Indemnity Fund. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

PROP TX-FAIRNESS TASK FORCE

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Creates the Fairness in Property Tax Foreclosure Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study and make recommendations concerning issues associated with property foreclosure for failure to pay property taxes. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

LIQUOR-FROZEN DESSERTS

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that "alcoholic liquor" and "alcohol-infused products" does not include frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that "frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor" means ice cream or other frozen desserts that are made with liquor, wine, beer, cider, or any combination thereof and that contain more than 0.5% but not more than 5% of alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts that contains more than 5% alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell, give, or deliver frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of 21. Provides that a person under the age of 21 may not purchase, possess, or consume frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises or for consumption on the premises unless it contains specified notices and warnings. Provides that no manufacturer or distributor of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor shall sell the product to a person intending to sell at retail individual servings of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor or packages of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises, unless, with each shipment, the manufacturer or distributor provides a written notice that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor may be sold at retail only if the retailer complies with specified requirements and provides a written copy of those requirements. Provides that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor are subject to all applicable food safety laws, rules, standards, and requirements, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to make a conforming change.

Erica Harriss

PROP TX-SENIOR FREEZE

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2025, the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is $75,000. Provides that, for taxable year 2026 and subsequent taxable years, the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

STATES ATTY-PEACE OFCR-PRIVACY

Creates the State's Attorney and Peace Officer Privacy Act. Provides that government agencies shall not publicly post or display publicly available content that includes the personal information of a State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer if the government agency has received a written request in accordance with the Act that it refrain from disclosing the personal information of a State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer. Provides that if a government agency fails to comply with a written request to refrain from disclosing personal information, the State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer may bring an action seeking injunctive or declaratory relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to knowingly publicly post on the Internet the personal information of a State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer or of the immediate family of a State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer if the person knows or reasonably should know that publicly posting the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the health and safety of the State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer or the immediate family of the State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer, and the violation is a proximate cause of bodily injury or death of the State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer or the immediate family of the State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, or peace officer. Provides that a person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 3 felony. Provides exemptions. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

WASTE-THERMAL CONVERSION

Amends the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act. Adds thermal conversion to the State's solid waste management hierarchy. Defines "thermal conversion" as the process by which a solid feedstock can be converted to produce environmentally safe products, including, but not limited to, liquid fuels, chemicals, hydrogen, and other products.

Erica Harriss

USE/OCC TX-SCHOOLS

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. In provisions concerning organizations that are operated exclusively for educational purposes, provides that the term "tax-supported public school" includes any student organization that meets both of the following: (1) enrollment in the student organization is limited to students from a particular public elementary or secondary school; and (2) the student organization is affiliated with the public elementary or secondary school but is not sponsored by the public elementary or secondary school. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

ABUSIVE WEBSITE LITIGATION ACT

Creates the Stop Abusive Website-Access to Litigation Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to file a civil action in a State court against a party, attorney, or law firm that initiated the litigation that alleges any website-access violation for a determination as to whether it is abusive litigation. Provides that in determining whether the litigation alleging a website-access violation constitutes abusive litigation, the trier of fact shall consider the totality of the circumstances to determine if the primary purpose of the litigation that alleges a website-access violation is obtaining a payment from a defendant because of the costs of defending the action in court. Creates criteria for the trier of act to determine if the litigation is abusive under the Act. Provides that if the trier of fact determines that the litigation qualifies as abusive litigation under the Act, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the defendant. Provides that the court may also award punitive damages not to exceed 3 times the amount of attorney's fees awarded by the court.

Erica Harriss

HUMANE CARE ANIMALS-SERV ANIM

Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Provides that a person convicted of willfully or maliciously torturing, mutilating, injuring, disabling, poisoning, or killing (i) any animal used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in confinement off duty, (ii) any service animal, (iii) any search and rescue dog, (iv) any law enforcement, service, or search and rescue animal in training, or (v) any accelerant detection canine used by a fire officer for arson investigations in the performance of his or her functions or while off duty is guilty of a Class 3 (rather than a Class 4) felony if the animal is not killed or totally disabled; if the animal is killed or totally disabled, the person is guilty of a Class 2 (rather than a Class 3) felony.

Erica Harriss

STALKING NO CONTACT ORDER

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order. Provides that an order issued under the Act may be expunged if the petitioner who sought the emergency or plenary order agrees that the order was issued in error as a mistake in fact and that the court makes a similar finding. Requires that the clerk of the court to immediately file a certified copy of the expungement order with the Illinois State Police and that all records related to an emergency order required to be expunged no later than 3 business days after the court issues the expungement order.

Erica Harriss

INC TX-PROP TX CREDIT

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for residential real property taxes is refundable. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

FISCAL NOTE ACT-NOTE REQUIRED

Amends the Fiscal Note Act. Provides that no rule of either house may authorize or require a note request to be deemed inapplicable. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

PROP TX-GENERAL HOMESTEAD

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2025, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption shall be $10,000 in all counties. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 and thereafter, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption in all counties shall be the maximum reduction for the immediately preceding taxable year, increased by the lesser of (i) 5% or (ii) the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the immediately preceding taxable year. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

VETERINARY PRACTICE OWNERSHIP

Creates the Veterinary Medical Practice Ownership Act. Provides that one or more persons licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, or one or more persons or entities not licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, may form a veterinary practice in any legal form under applicable laws to own, operate, and maintain an establishment for specified purposes related to animal ailments and injuries, subject to specified restrictions. Contains provisions regarding the death of an owner, actions based on violations, relationships with clients, discipline, severability, and other matters.

Erica Harriss

INC TX-ADOPTION

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Erica Harriss

SAFETY-TECH

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Erica Harriss

ATHLETIC TRAINER LICENSE FEES

Amends the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act. Creates a notice requirement for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation regarding the expiration of licenses. Provides that, if an athletic trainer's license has been expired for no longer than 5 years, the athletic trainer was practicing in another jurisdiction during the period of expiration, and the athletic trainer furnishes to the Department an affidavit to that effect, then the Department shall waive any restoration fee or lapsed renewal fee for restoration of that license.

Erica Harriss

MANDATORY COURT APPEARANCES

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a court appearance, either in person or remote, including by telephone or video conference, is required for the following violations: (i) all alleged major traffic offenses of the Vehicle Code, (ii) all alleged violations of certain provisions of the Code, (iii) all alleged violations of the Child Passenger Protection Act, (iv) any traffic offense that results in a crash causing the death of any person or injury to any person other than the accused, (v) Class A conservation offenses or offenses for which civil penalties are required under certain provisions in the Fish and Aquatic Life Code or certain provisions of the Wildlife Code, (vi) offenses arising from multiple charges, except if the only charges alleged are nonmoving violations, (vii) violation of any ordinance of any unit of local government defining offenses comparable to those specified in certain provisions of the Code, and (viii) any minor traffic offense where the statutory minimum fine is greater than $95, except those offenses involving truck violations pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 531(a) or similar municipal ordinances.

Erica Harriss

INC TX-STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of such assistance so furnished to any individual. Effective immediately.

Meg Loughran Cappel

ELEC CD-RANKED-CHOICE VOTING

Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting Article. Provides that a unit of local government may allow for any local primary election, general election, or special election to be conducted by ranked-choice voting. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked choice voting elections. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Laura M. Murphy