Bills & Legislation

DHS-DSP WAGE INCREASES

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide for a wage rate of 150% of the statewide, regional, or local minimum wage for services delivered on or after January 1, 2026, for all direct support personnel and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Provides that for services delivered on or after January 1, 2026, the rates shall include adjustments to employment-related expenses as defined by rule by the Department of Human Services. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement the rate increases. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to submit a Title XIX State Plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide for a wage rate of 150% of the statewide, regional, or local minimum wage for services delivered on or after January 1, 2026, for all direct support personnel and all other frontline personnel at ID/DD and MC/DD facilities. Provides that the State Plan amendment shall provide wage increases for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Effective immediately.

David KoehlerDemocrat

IL WORKS-APPRENTICE

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that the term "community-based organization" includes a high-school based program. Provides that funding from the Illinois Works Fund shall be categorized based on Illinois Department of Transportation regions. Adds a member to the Illinois Works Review panel who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that addresses high school-based workforce programs. Makes other changes.

David KoehlerDemocrat

LOCAL GOVT RETIREMENT PLANS

Creates the Local Government Retirement Plan Responsibility Act. Provides that any retirement plan offered by a unit of local government or school district must comply with the applicable provisions of the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code, including, but not limited to, fiduciary duties, funding, investments, and the rights of participants, regardless of whether the retirement plan is established under the Illinois Pension Code. Defines "retirement plan".

Robert F. MartwickDemocrat

COM COL-CHICAGO-ELECT BOARD

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2027 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Robert F. MartwickDemocrat

TIF-DEVELOPER LOT INITIAL EAV

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if (1) 3 or more improved lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property within a single redevelopment project area are purchased by a developer or a developer's parent company or wholly-owned subsidiary, or any combination thereof, within the 3 years prior to the date that the ordinance providing for the tax increment allocation was adopted by the municipality, and (2) an improvement on any of the lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property is demolished or otherwise rendered uninhabitable, then the initial equalized assessed value for the lot, block, tract or parcel of real property shall be the equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property on the date it was purchased by the developer, the developer's parent company, or the developer's wholly-owned subsidiary or purchased by any combination thereof. Limits the provisions to ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Robert F. MartwickDemocrat

TIF-INITIAL & TOTAL EAV

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a county clerk determines that any lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property within a redevelopment project area is not taxable or has an initial equalized assessed value of $0, then the fair market value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel shall be instead determined by a written MAI-certified appraisal or by a written certified appraisal of a State-certified or State-licensed real estate appraiser. Provides that this reappraisal shall be the initial equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel and shall be added to the total initial equalized assessed value of the taxable real property within the redevelopment project area. Limits the provisions to tax increment allocation financing ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Robert F. MartwickDemocrat

IMMUNITY CHILD WELFARE AGENCIE

Creates the Temporary Immunity for Child Welfare Agencies Act. Creates immunity from civil liability for a licensed child welfare agency that provides service for youth in foster care for a 2-year period unless the agency's acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton conduct. Provides that the immunity extends to the agency's employees, volunteers, and agents acting within the scope of their employment. Defines a "child welfare agency" to mean a public or private child care facility that receives a child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement or free care of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, adoption-only homes, or other facilities for child care apart from the custody of the child's or children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes (i) all agencies established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes; and (ii) all agencies, persons, groups of persons, organizations, corporations, institutions, centers, or group providing adoption services but does not include a circuit court, appointed juvenile probation officer, or youth counselor of the court who receive and place children under an order of the court. Creates the Child Welfare Agency Liability Task Force to develop and recommend a permanent solution to address the unavailability of liability insurance for child welfare agencies in the State. Requires that the Task Force submit its first report to the General Assembly no later than December 26, 2026. Effective immediately.

Laura FineDemocrat

NONCITIZEN COST TRANSPARENCY

Creates the Noncitizen Population Spending Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with relevant State agencies, shall prepare an annual report identifying all State spending on services and resources for noncitizen and asylum-seeking populations. Sets forth reporting requirements. Provides that, on or before November 15, 2025, and each year thereafter, the Department of Human Services shall submit the report to the General Assembly. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall post and maintain the report on its publicly available website. Provides that the Department of Human Services is authorized to coordinate efforts with other State agencies to prepare and submit a cohesive report for the General Assembly. Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, beginning with budgets prepared for fiscal year 2027, the budgets submitted by the Governor and appropriations made by the General Assembly for all executive branch State agencies must include a detailed accounting of all proposed spending on noncitizen and asylum-seeking populations. Effective immediately.

John F. CurranRepublican

REVENUE-TECH

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Seth LewisRepublican

INS-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, shall not impose any prior authorization or utilization management controls on covered behavioral health services. Makes conforming changes to the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a process for receiving complaints from providers and covered individuals for violations of the mandate. Grants the Department of Insurance and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services the authority to issue cease and desist orders and administrative fines. Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall adopt rules consistent with the Act. Provisions amending the Prior Authorization Reform Act are effective immediately.

Laura FineDemocrat

EDUC-SCH SOCIAL WORKER GRANTS

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts and other educational units that have school social work interns to assist those school districts and other educational units in the funding of school social work internships approved by the interns' educator preparation programs by providing stipends. Sets forth the stipend amount. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate to school districts and other educational units that have school social work interns a request for applications for grants. Provides that grant applications shall be accepted on an annual basis. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish procedures for submitting requests for stipends and issuing funds to approved applicants. Provides for prioritizing grants if an appropriation is insufficient to fund all applications for grants. Provides that for any school year in which grants are awarded, the State Board of Education shall produce a report on the awarding of grants, in cooperation with the school districts and educational units that are awarded grants. Sets forth requirements for the report. Provides that the report shall be posted on the State Board of Education's Internet website each school year in which grants are awarded. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall establish and administer a grant program to support the field placement of social workers. Provides that the Board shall distribute the funds appropriated for this purpose in the form of grants to public or nonpublic institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for students who are intending to become social workers and to assist students in pursuing social-work related field placements, internships, and other work opportunities. Sets forth other requirements concerning the operation of the grant program. Effective immediately.

Laura FineDemocrat

MEDICAID-NURSING FACILTY RATES

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

David KoehlerDemocrat

CARGO TRANSPORT ACT

Creates the Cargo Transportation Fee Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality or a county may impose a fee upon interstate carriers and intrastate carriers that (i) transport by common carrier tangible personal property in the State, (ii) transport that tangible personal property for the purpose of selling that tangible personal property at retail, and (iii) receive tangible personal property directly from an intermodal facility that is located in the municipality or county that enacts the ordinance. Sets forth the amount of the fee. Provides that 95% of the proceeds from the fee shall be deposited into the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and 5% of the proceeds shall be deposited into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and sets forth the uses for that Fund.

Rachel VenturaDemocrat

$EPA-EMERGING CONTAMINANTS

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, for the purpose of ensuring that there is appropriated to the Agency on an annual basis the funding necessary to address the risk to public health and safety caused by emerging drinking water contaminants that have the potential to threaten drinking water supplies in the State, there is hereby appropriated, on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Agency, the amount, if any, by which the total appropriation to the Agency from the General Revenue Fund for that fiscal year for that express purpose is less than $5,000,000.

Mike SimmonsDemocrat

FEE WAIVER-FORMER INCARCERATED

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all State agencies shall waive any fees assessed to a formerly incarcerated person for services provided by that State agency for a period of one year after the release of that person from a facility operated by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Mike SimmonsDemocrat

MEDICAID-ELIGIBILITY-COVERAGE

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if the United States Supreme Court holds to be unconstitutional a provision under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) that prohibits a group health plan and health insurance issuer from establishing lifetime or annual limits on the dollar value of benefits, or if the holding makes Medicaid eligibility allowed under that specified provision inoperable, then the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall fully cover the costs of medical assistance for individuals affected by that holding, subject to appropriation. Provides that the Department shall not require individuals receiving medical assistance to work a minimum amount of hours in order to receive benefits.

Mike SimmonsDemocrat

SCHOOL BUS-SEAT SAFETY BELTS

Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.

Julie A. MorrisonDemocrat

SCH CD-FOREIGN LANG CURRICULA

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Requires a school board to offer courses in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Telugu, and Malayalam as a part of its school foreign language curricula.

Ram VillivalamDemocrat

DHFS-DHS-DIRECT SUPPORT WAGE

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for front-line personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after July 1, 2025 shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $2.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in effect on June 30, 2025 for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support professionals, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage as defined, by rule, by the Department. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for ID/DD facilities and MC/DD facilities, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after July 1, 2025, shall be increased sufficiently to: (i) provide a minimum $2.00 per hour wage increase over the wages in effect on June 30, 2025 for front-line personnel; and (ii) provide wages for all other residential non-executive direct care staff, excluding direct support professionals, at the U.S. Department of Labor's average wage as defined, by rule, by the Department. Requires the same increase for front-line personnel employed at community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services emergency rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Celina VillanuevaDemocrat

LIQUOR-DISTILLERIES

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a distillery shipper's license, a class 3 craft distiller license, and a spirits showcase permit. Provides that a class 3 craft distiller license, which may be issued to a distiller or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 100,000 gallons of spirits per year and shall allow the sale of spirits from the class 3 craft distiller's in-state or out-of-state class 3 craft distillery premises to retail licensees, class 3 brewers, and class 3 craft distillers as long as the class 3 craft distiller licensee meets certain requirements. Authorizes a class 3 craft distiller to self-distribute subject to certain requirements and limitations. Provides that a distillery shipper's license shall allow a person with an Illinois distiller license, a craft distiller license, a class 1 craft distiller license, a class 2 craft distiller license, or a class 3 craft distiller license or who is licensed to make spirits under the laws of another state to ship spirits directly to a resident of this State who is 21 years of age or older for that resident's personal use and not for resale. Provides that a spirits showcase permit shall allow an Illinois-licensed distributor to transfer a portion of its spirits inventory from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; in the case of a class 3 craft distiller, to transfer only spirits the class 3 craft distiller manufactures from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; and to sell or offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, the transferred or delivered spirits for on or off premises consumption, but not for resale in any form and to sell to non-licensees not more than 156 fluid ounces of spirits per person. Sets forth provisions concerning licensure application; fees; recordkeeping; and shipping and delivery of spirits. Preempts home rule powers. Makes conforming and other changes.

Celina VillanuevaDemocrat

PUBLIC DEFENDER-COOK COUNTY

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population over 3,000,000, representation by the public defender in immigration cases shall be limited to those arising or being heard within the geographical boundaries of the county where the public defender has been appointed to office and to those of county residents with immigration cases outside of the county unless the county board authorizes the public defender to provide representation beyond those limits (rather than limited to those arising in immigration courts located within the geographical boundaries of the county where the public defender has been appointed to office unless the county board authorizes the public defender to provide representation outside the county).

Omar AquinoDemocrat

INC TAX-MANUFACTURING

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to 10% of the manufacturing capital expenditures incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year or, if the taxpayer is located in a rural or economically challenged area, 15% of the manufacturing capital expenditures. Provides that the total amount of credits awarded under those provisions may not exceed $10,000,000 for any particular taxpayer in any taxable year, except that, if the capital investment is made in a rural or economically challenged area, then the maximum amount of the credit shall be $20,000,000. Effective immediately.

Paul FaraciDemocrat

COURT OF CLAIMS-AWARDS

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons, in county jails, in county juvenile detention facilities, or in Illinois Youth Centers, on parole or probation, or registered as a sex offender if the person was unjustly convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and received a pardon from the Governor on the ground of innocence of the crime for which the person was convicted or adjudicated a delinquent or the person received a certificate of innocence. Removes language providing the amount of the award the court may give for a successful claim. Provides instead that the court shall make an award of $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully incarcerated and $25,000 for each year during which the person was wrongfully on parole or probation or required to register as a sex offender. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Allows any person who is convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and then serves any part of a sentence of incarceration in a State prison, in a county jail, in a county juvenile detention facility, or in a Illinois Youth Center, on parole or probation, or registered as a sex offender (rather than convicted and subsequently imprisoned) for one or more felonies by the State that the person did not commit may file a petition for certificate of innocence. Requires the court to make an award of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses after awarding a certificate of innocence. Provides that any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. Effective immediately.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.Democrat

LIQUOR-VARIOUS

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Increases the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers that meet certain requirements to not more than 77,500 (instead of 6,200) gallons of beer from each in-state or out-of-state class 3 brewery premises, which shall not exceed 232,500 (instead of 18,600) gallons annually in the aggregate, that is manufactured at a wholly owned class 3 brewer's in-state or out-of-state licensed premises to retail licensees and class 3 brewers and to certain brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers. Provides that a special event retailer's license (not-for-profit) shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale, at retail, alcoholic liquors for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license (instead of for use or consumption), but not for resale in any form and only at the location and on the specific dates designated for the special event in the license. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, a special use permit license shall allow the sale or offering for sale of certain transferred or delivered alcoholic liquor at retail for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license. Provides that a retail licensee or manufacturer with retail privileges may operate a loyalty program, reward program, or mug club for alcoholic liquors the retailer or manufacturer with retail privileges is licensed to sell so long as the price of the product is not below the retail licensee's or manufacturer with retail privileges' costs. Provides that a retail licensee or licensed manufacturer with retail privileges may offer incentives to consumers for participation in a rewards program, loyalty program, or mug club. Set forth further provisions concerning rewards programs, loyalty programs, and mug clubs. Makes conforming and other changes.

Cristina CastroDemocrat

EMPLOYEE CLASSIFY-DEVELOPER

Amends the Employee Classification Act. Provides that a developer, general contractor, and subcontractor are jointly and severally liable for any subcontractor's failure to properly classify persons performing services as employees unless specified conditions are satisfied. Provides that it is a violation for a developer or a general contractor to utilize a subcontractor at any tier who commits a violation of the Act unless specified conditions are satisfied. Makes conforming and other changes. Defines terms.

Cristina CastroDemocrat

LIQUOR-BOND REQUIREMENT

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision requiring certain licensees to file a bond with the Department of Revenue, provides an exception for a manufacturer or importing distributor who is applying for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license for the first time. Provides that the bond may be required as a condition to renew a license for subsequent annual license terms if a manufacturer or importing distributor exceeds $50,000 in tax liability. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission shall not renew a license for any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license if the State Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that the applicant is required to file and has not filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that the bond has not been approved by the Department. Removes language providing that the State Commission shall not issue a license to any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license unless the Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that such applicant has filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that such bond has been approved by the Department.

Cristina CastroDemocrat

LAND TRANSFER-LOGAN COUNTY

Authorizes the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice to convey to the City of Lincoln the described parcel of land in Logan County upon payment of $1, subject to specified conditions. Effective immediately.

Sally J. TurnerRepublican

LIMITS-CHILDHOOD SEX ABUSE

Amends the Personal Actions Part of the Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that for purposes of making claims against a bankruptcy estate, an action for personal injury brought by a victim of childhood sexual abuse based on childhood sexual abuse, or an action brought by a victim of childhood sexual abuse asserting any claim resulting from childhood sexual abuse, may be brought at any time after the cause of action accrues.

Steve McClureRepublican

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM-BURDEN

Amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Provides that any order, rule, regulation, or other directive issued by government pursuant to an emergency, health, or safety determination that requires closure or limitation of any place of worship entitled to the religious exemption found in Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code is considered a substantial burden even if the order, rule, regulation, or other directive is one of general applicability.

Steve McClureRepublican

$IDOT-MODOC FERRY

Appropriates $250,000 to the Department of Transportation for expenses relating to the operations of the Ste. Genevieve – Modoc River Ferry. Effective July 1, 2025.

Terri BryantRepublican

CMS-MEDICARE AUDIT

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Disability Benefits Maximization Program. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Central Management Services, in conjunction with the 5 State-funded retirement systems, may enter into a contract with an administrator to establish and conduct a Disability Benefits Maximization Program to identify relevant individuals eligible for Medicare but not enrolled in Medicare, and to assist those individuals with enrolling in Social Security and Medicare. Provides that the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall conduct an annual audit of the State health benefits program for everyone covered under the State Employees Group Insurance Program, the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program, and the College Insurance Program for the purpose of identifying participants and their dependents who are eligible for Medicare under federal law and shall also ensure that those annuitants, retirees, benefit recipients, survivors, or dependents who are eligible for Medicare are enrolled in Medicare with Medicare as their primary health care benefits coverage and the State Health Benefits Program being the secondary provider of their health care benefits coverage. Provides that the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall assist any annuitant, retiree, benefit recipient, survivor or their dependents who becomes disabled, and is not enrolled in Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare, with enrolling in and obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. Provides that the administrator of the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall provide the Department, the 5 State-funded retirement systems, and the General Assembly with an annual report. Effective January 1, 2026.

Neil AndersonRepublican

PEN CD-SERS-CONTRACT SERVICE

Amends the State Employees Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that any person who rendered contractual services to a member of the General Assembly as a worker providing constituent services to persons in the member's district may establish creditable service for up to 8 years of those contractual services by making a specified contribution and applying to the System by no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Dave SyversonRepublican

PEN CD-GARS-LIMIT MEMBERSHIP

Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Neil AndersonRepublican

OPEN MTGS-LICENSING BOARDS

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that if an open meeting of a public body that is a licensing board authorized by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is held simultaneously at one of its offices and one or more other locations in a public building, which may include other of its offices, through an interactive video conference and the public body provides public notice and public access as required under the Act for all locations, then members physically present in those locations all count towards determining a quorum.

David KoehlerDemocrat

USE/OCC TX-SOLAR PANELS

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that leases of solar energy systems are exempt from the taxes imposed under the Acts.

Donald P. DeWitteRepublican

LOBBYIST FELONY

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that any person who is convicted of any felony relating to, arising out of, or in connection with any activity regulated by the Act is prohibited for a period of 5 years from the date of such conviction from lobbying as a registered lobbyist under the Act. Effective immediately.

Julie A. MorrisonDemocrat

CHILD LABOR-PARK EMPLOYMENT

Amends the Child Labor Law of 2024. In provisions requiring the supervision of minors on site, provides that the requirement does not apply with respect to: (i) any minor working for a park district, a municipal parks and recreation department, or a township parks and recreation department who is supervised by an adult 18 years of age or older who is an employee of the park district, the municipal parks and recreation department, or the township parks and recreation department if no alcohol or tobacco is being sold on site; or (ii) any minor working as an officiant of youth sports activities if an adult 21 years of age or older who is an employee of the park district, the municipal parks and recreation department, or the township parks and recreation department is on call. Effective immediately.

Adriane JohnsonDemocrat

SCH CD-COMPUTER SCIENCE REQ

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other and conforming changes.

Adriane JohnsonDemocrat

CONSERVATION-OPEN SPACE FUND

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.

Adriane JohnsonDemocrat

CRIMINAL RECORDS-EXPUNGEMENT

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Modifies the definition of "criminal offense" for the purposes of the Act to include, among other things, an arrest under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act. Provides that a petitioner may petition the circuit court to expunge the records of the petitioner's arrests and charges not initiated by arrest when each arrest or charge not initiated by arrest sought to be expunged resulted in, among other things, extradition to another state under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act. Provides that a court may not consider an outstanding legal financial obligation established, imposed, or originated by a court, law enforcement agency, or a municipal, State, county, or other unit of local government when ruling upon a petition to seal criminal records of adults and minors prosecuted as adults.

Adriane JohnsonDemocrat

VEH CD-INSURANCE VERIFICATION

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurance company that provides automobile liability insurance to any registered vehicle required to have liability coverage under the Illinois Vehicle Code must notify the Secretary within 30 days after a policy cancellation. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, within 30 days after an insurance company notifies the Secretary of a liability insurance policy cancellation, the Secretary of State shall notify the owner of the motor vehicle that is the subject of the canceled liability insurance policy that the owner has 30 days after the issuance of the notice to provide verification of a liability insurance policy for the vehicle and that, if the owner fails to provide the verification with the 30-day period, the Secretary shall cancel the owner's license or permit until the owner provides the required verification.

Adriane JohnsonDemocrat

VITAL RECORDS-DEATH CERT

Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding information required on forms, provides that (i) the decision with respect to burial or cremation shall be made by the authorized person and shall be properly communicated to relevant persons within 7 days after a death, and (ii) the funeral director shall indicate the name of cemetery on the death certificate within 7 days before burial. In provisions regarding death certificates, provides that (i) the administrator of the nursing home, hospital, or hospice facility where the death occurred shall be responsible for creating the death registration file in the electronic reporting system for death registrations, and (ii) signatures may be electronic.

Napoleon Harris, IIIDemocrat

CD CORR-DOC SCAN PRISONER MAIL

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall achieve 100% scanning capacity of all mail arriving at each correctional institution and facility not later than 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Department shall utilize all means necessary to achieve synthetic drug interdiction in order to: (1) protect staff and committed persons from exposure to synthetic drugs and opioids introduced to correctional institutions and facilities through the mail; and (2) ensure that after a piece of mail is received at a correctional institution or facility, each committed person receives a digital copy of any mail that is addressed to the committed person. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules regarding the delivery of mail and mail scanning services necessary to achieve the scanning capacity described in this provision. Provides that beginning one year after the date on which the strategy is submitted under this provision, and each year thereafter, the Director of Corrections shall submit to the Governor and General Assembly a report on the total quantity of detected synthetic drugs and opioids. Contains a findings provision.

Terri BryantRepublican

IMDMA-VISITATION-NONPARENTS

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that, in addition to the factors the court shall consider when determining whether to grant visitation to certain non-parents, the court shall also consider whether there exist any other facts that establish that the loss of the relationship between the grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, or step-parent and the child is likely to harm the child.

Terri BryantRepublican

PROP TX-SENIOR FREEZE

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2025, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be increased each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Sue RezinRepublican

PROP TX-TIF INFO ON BILL

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each tax bill shall contain a statement for each tax increment financing (TIF) district in which the property is located setting forth the amount that each taxing district that contains all or part of the TIF district would have received for the taxable year in the absence of the TIF district. Effective immediately.

Sue RezinRepublican

INC TX-STANDARD EXEMPTION

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the additional standard exemption for taxpayers who have attained the age of 65 before the end of the taxable year and their spouses is $2,000 (currently, $1,000). Effective immediately.

Sue RezinRepublican

INC TX-EARLY CHILDHOOD

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed as an early childhood teacher or an early childhood assistant during the taxable year and who have a federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year of $75,000 or less. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2027, the amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that, for subsequent taxable years, the credit amount shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year.

Sue RezinRepublican

INC TX-EDUCATION

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are the custodians of one or more children who attend an eligible preschool program in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 100% of the eligible expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year in sending the child to the eligible preschool program, but not to exceed $1,500 per child. Effective immediately.

Darby A. HillsRepublican

ENTERPRISE ZONE-SOLAR & WIND

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may designate a business that intends to establish a new wind power facility or a utility-scale solar facility as a high impact business only if the municipality in which the facility will be located (or the county in which the facility will be located, if the facility will be located in an unincorporated area of the county) approves, in writing, the designation of the business as a high impact business. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Prevailing Wage Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Sue RezinRepublican