Bills & Legislation

$FY27 SOS

Makes appropriations from various funds to the Office of the Secretary of State for its ordinary and contingent expenses in State fiscal year 2027. Effective July 1, 2026.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 COMPTROLLER

Makes various Fiscal Years 2027 appropriations to the Office of the State Comptroller. Effective July 1, 2026.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 TREASURER

Appropriates specified amounts from various funds to the State Treasurer for specified purposes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 COURT OF CLAIMS

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Court of Claims for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Effective July 1, 2026.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Appropriates $37,204,600 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Elections for operational expenses, grants, and reimbursements for the 2027 fiscal year. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the Elections Special Projects Fund to the State Board of Elections for operational expenses, grants, and reimbursements. Appropriates $4,973,500 from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund to the State Board of Elections for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Appropriates $11,661,100 from the Help Illinois Vote Fund to the State Board of Elections for implementation of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Effective July 1, 2026.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 GOV OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Office of the Governor for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 as follows: General Funds $19,750,000; Other State Funds $5,800,000; Total $25,550,000.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 LT GOV OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $3,497,900; Other State Funds $100,000; Total $3,597,900.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 AGING OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Department on Aging for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $1,999,065,468; Other State Funds $13,670,500; Federal Funds $213,105,600; Total $2,225,841,568.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 AGRICULTURE OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $33,781,300; Other State Funds $129,597,000; Federal Funds $56,568,400; Total $219,946,700.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 CMS OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Central Management Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $2,875,624,700; Other State Funds $5,761,439,800; Total $8,637,064,500.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DCFS OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Children and Family Services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $1,668,497,400; Other State Funds $826,507,600; Federal Funds $15,816,600; Total $2,510,821,600.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DCEO OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $90,988,300; Other State Funds $2,156,122,419; Federal Funds $1,587,813,049; Total $3,834,923,768.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DNR OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Natural Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $97,945,800; Other State Funds $479,723,783; Federal Funds $51,126,622; Total $628,796,205.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DJJ OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Juvenile Justice for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $174,906,100; Other State Funds $15,500,000; Total $190,406,100.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DOC OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Corrections for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $2,272,670,500; Other State Funds $164,500,000; Total $2,437,170,500.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DES OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Employment Security for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $20,855,000; Other State Funds $6,500,000; Federal Funds $419,066,800; Total $446,421,800.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DFPR OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: Other State Funds $186,398,800.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

$FY27 DHR OCE

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Human Rights for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $16,707,700; Other State Funds $7,002,560; Federal Funds $4,794,800; Total $28,505,060.

Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

SCH CD-SUB BACKGROUND CHECK

Amends the School Code. Creates the Substitute Teacher Background Check Task Force to research and identify paths through legislation, rules, and communication processes to expedite the background check process and provide reciprocity concerning background checks for licensed substitute teachers in the State to teach in school districts across Regional Offices of Education jurisdictions without having to complete multiple background checks. Sets forth meeting requirements, membership, administrative support, and compensation. Requires the Task Force to submit its findings in a report on or before October 31, 2026 to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly. Dissolves the Task Force upon submission of its report. Effective immediately.

Chapin Rose

LOC GOV-WIND/SOLAR FACILITIES

Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a commercial solar energy facility, commercial wind energy facility, or energy storage facility may not be constructed in a county, a township, or within 1.5 miles of a municipality unless the facility has the approval of (1) the county board of the county or, if the facility is located in Cook County, the Cook County Board of Commissioners; (2) if the facility would be located within a township, the township board of trustees; and (3) if the facility would be located within a municipality, the corporate authorities of the municipality. Effective immediately.

Chapin Rose

UTILITIES-RESTORE VARIOUS

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Removes a provision concerning energy storage projects. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning legislative findings. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall develop new energy procurement plans only through the method of least-cost procurement, regardless of the power source of the procurement, and only with the most reliable procurements possible. Defines "least-cost procurement" as the procurement of electric service in a manner that is cost-effective, reliable, and prudent. In provisions concerning the Planning and Procurement Bureau, provides that the total of renewable energy resources procured shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009 (removes provisions concerning an inflation adjustment). In provisions concerning the Energy Transition Assistance Fund, provides that the energy transition assistance charge shall not exceed 1.3% (instead of 1.45%) of the amount paid per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the year ending May 31, 2009. Removes provisions concerning an adjustment in the energy transition assistance charge for inflation. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, no commercial wind energy facility, commercial solar energy facility, or energy storage system shall be built in the State without the construction of such facility first being approved by the applicable unit of local government if the facility is within 1.5 miles of that unit of local government. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to prepare for introduction in the 2027 spring session of the General Assembly a bill effecting such changes in the statutes as may be necessary to conform the statutes to the changes in law made by the amendatory Act. Removes references to energy storage projects, energy storage resources, and energy storage systems. Amends the Property Tax Code and the Counties Code. Removes provisions concerning energy storage systems. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Chapin Rose

AQUIFER PROTECTION ACT

Creates the Data Center Water Transparency and Aquifer Protection Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no data center operating within the State shall use water from the Mahomet Aquifer. Prohibits State agencies from issuing or renewing a permit authorizing a data center to withdraw groundwater from the Mahomet Aquifer. Requires existing data centers to transition to alternative water sources and cease all groundwater withdrawals from the Mahomet Aquifer by no later than January 1, 2028. Provides that a unit of local government may not enter into, enforce, or renew any nondisclosure agreement, confidentiality clause, or similar contractual provision with a data center that restricts the disclosure of information related to the data center's water use. Contains provisions concerning data confidentiality and public access. Establishes penalties for violations. Grants the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking powers.

Chapin Rose

PROP TX-WIND AND SOLAR-REPEAL

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions concerning the valuation of commercial solar energy systems and wind energy devices apply only through taxable year 2026. Repeals those provisions on January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Chapin Rose

INC TX-BEEKEEPERS

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that any individual or entity that engages in beekeeping at a qualified beekeeping property during the taxable year shall be entitled to an income tax credit equal to the lesser of 100% of the liability insurance premiums paid by that individual or entity during the taxable year in connection with the qualified beekeeping property or $1,000.

Julie A. Morrison

NITA-VETERAN CONTRACT GOAL

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Requires the Northern Illinois Transit Authority to establish a goal to award not less than 3% of the total dollar amount of all contracts with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Division, and the Commuter Rail Division to qualified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and qualified veteran-owned small businesses. Provides that, by each March 1, the Board shall report to the Governor and General Assembly (1) the total number of qualified veteran-owned small businesses that submitted bids for contracts with the Authority and the total number of qualified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses in the immediately preceding fiscal year; (2) the total number of qualified veteran-owned small businesses, and qualified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, that entered into contracts with the Authority in the immediately preceding fiscal year; (3) a year-by-year comparison of awarded contracts to certified veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses; and (4) any other information that the Board deems necessary to assist veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to become certified with the State. Provides that, each year, the Board shall review the progress of the Authority and the Service Boards in meeting the goal, with input from statewide veterans' service organizations and from the business community, including businesses owned by qualified veterans, and shall make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding continuation, increases, or decreases of the percentage goal. Provides that the Board shall suspend any person who commits a violation of specified offenses under the Criminal Code of 2012 from bidding on, or participating as a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier in, any Authority contract or project for a period of not less than 3 years, and, if the person is certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business or a veteran-owned small business, then the Commission shall revoke the business's certification for a period of not less than 3 years. Makes conforming changes in the Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act.

Mike Porfirio

MISSING PERSONS IDENTIFICATION

Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Provides that, if biological samples are not available from a missing person, then biological samples may be used from any (rather than closely related) biological relatives of the missing person. Provides that biological samples from relatives must be provided voluntarily and that all consent and information forms must be completed and submitted with the samples. Provides that biological samples collected for DNA analysis shall be submitted to an accredited forensic laboratory for DNA testing for entry by a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) participating laboratory (rather than a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) or other accredited laboratory where DNA profiles are entered into local, State, and national DNA Index Systems) within 90 days from the date of the police report. Provides that the DNA profiles of biological samples from the remains of unidentifiable individuals collected by a coroner, medical examiner, or assisting law enforcement agency shall be entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) (rather than the appropriate State and National DNA Index System) within 90 days from the discovery of the remains.

Michael E. Hastings

ABORTION ACCESS FUND GRANTS

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish the Abortion Access Fund Grant Program to award grants from the Abortion Access Fund to support access to abortion care services throughout the State. Provides that grants awarded under the Program shall only be used to fund abortion services for which the use of federal funds is prohibited for patients who are uninsured or underinsured with respect to those services. Allows the Department to establish rules necessary to implement the Abortion Access Fund Grant Program, including eligibility criteria, grant limits, application standards, requirements for the distribution and obligation of grant funds, accounting for the use of the funds, and standards for monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Abortion Access Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Law. Requires specified health insurance issuers that have offered one or more qualified health plans through the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange to report to the Department of Insurance an accounting of receipts, disbursements, transfers of funds between accounts, total dollar claims paid, accrued interest, and the year-end balance for each reporting year for the separate allocation accounts that the issuer has established under specified provisions of federal law for abortion services for which federal funding is prohibited. Establishes further reporting requirements for health insurance issuers. Provides that, if the amount of premiums collected during the plan year for abortion services for which federal funding is prohibited exceeds total claims paid for such services rendered during the plan year, the Director of Insurance shall order the health insurance issuer to transfer funds, and the issuer shall complete the transfer, to the Abortion Access Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Mary Edly-Allen

MEDICAID-MIUR-MENTAL HLTH

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning October 1, 2026, for rate year 2027 and thereafter, the Medicaid inpatient utilization rate, as defined and used in the determination of eligibility for specified inpatient adjustment payments to hospitals, shall be modified to exclude, from both the numerator and denominator, all days reimbursed by the Department of Human Services for mental health services provided under a specified provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 as contracted by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Effective immediately.

Adriane Johnson

LONG TERM CARE-NOTICE

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the MC/DD Act, and the ID/DD Community Care Act. Provides that notice of closure of an establishment or facility licensed under those Acts shall be given to the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman.

Kimberly A. Lightford

SCH CD-VARIOUS FUNDING

Amends the School Code. Provides that certain provisions concerning the recomputation and adjustment of a school district claim for general State aid or evidence-based funding shall end with Fiscal Year 2026. Provides that when a child from an orphanage, foster family home, other State agency, children's home, or State residential unit eligible for special education services is placed in a separate public day school, that school shall meet the programmatic requirements and regulations for separate public day schools. Provides that any funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used, among other purposes, for indirect costs necessary for Program operation. Provides that an annual retention bonus of up to $4,000 (rather than $4,000) per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools and such funds must be disbursed equally on an annual basis among all qualified educators (rather than on a first-come, first-served basis). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Meg Loughran Cappel

CANNABIS-VARIOUS

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department may disclose information collected in the course of an examination of a licensee or registrant to the Office of the Executive Inspector General. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, as used in each Act, "adult use cannabis" means cannabis subject to tax under the Cannabis Cultivation Privilege Tax Law and the Cannabis Purchaser Excise Tax Law. Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 cultivation centers registered under this Act are subject to regulation exclusively as a cultivation center under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no driver or passenger, otherwise authorized to possess medical cannabis, may within any area of any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State except in a secured, sealed or resealable, odor-proof, and child-resistant container that is inaccessible. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Kimberly A. Lightford

HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS

Amends the Environmental Protection Act, Energy Efficient Building Act, Illinois Power Agency Act, Public Utilities Act, and related statutes to establish comprehensive environmental, water, and energy regulations for hyperscale data centers. In the Environmental Protection Act, requires cumulative impact assessments, public notice, and community benefits agreements for data centers; prohibits nondisclosure agreements; and creates the Data Center Community Intervenor Compensation Fund and Hyperscale Data Center Public Benefits and Affordability Fund funded by annual fees based on peak demand. Mandates water resource planning, quarterly water usage reporting, water scarcity plans, and Water Impact Permits with public hearings and renewal every 5 years. Requires compliance with stringent energy codes and annual energy and water reporting to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Expands renewable energy procurement programs, establishes a hyperscale data center self-direct program, and strengthens equity, transparency, and labor standards in clean energy initiatives. Creates the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Platform Act to require municipalities and counties to adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform on or before July 1, 2027, and authorizes persons to file a civil action against a municipality or county in violation.

Ram Villivalam

STATEWIDE INNOVATION-PILOT

Amends the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act. Creates a New Opportunities for Vacation and Adventure Urban District or NOVA urban district. Sets forth the capital investment and job creation requirements to be certified as a NOVA urban district. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Megaproject Assessment Freeze and Payment Law. Provides that property that receives a megaproject certificate from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is eligible for an assessment freeze. Contains provisions concerning megaproject incentive agreements.

Bill Cunningham

ENTERPRISE ZONE-STAR BONDS

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that, if a municipality has adopted an enterprise zone pursuant to the Act and subsequently establishes a redevelopment project area pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, the municipality may provide for a partial abatement of taxes for property located within both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area. Provides that, if a municipality has established a redevelopment project area pursuant to Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act and subsequently adopts an enterprise zone that includes property within the redevelopment project area, the municipality may provide for a partial abatement of taxes for property located within both the enterprise zone and the redevelopment project area. Amends the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act. Provides that certain local hotel taxes are considered local taxes for purposes of the Act.

Bill Cunningham

VIDEO GAMING TERMINAL PAYOUTS

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Provides that each licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, and licensed veterans establishment at which video gaming terminals are available shall have a payout device approved by the Board. Removes provisions requiring a player to turn in the player's ticket to the appropriate person at those establishments. Provides that no cash award for the maximum wager on any individual hand shall exceed the W-2G reporting requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service (instead of $1,199). Requires cash awards to be awarded in denominations rounded to the nearest 5 cent credit.

Bill Cunningham

DISTRICT ENERGY STORAGE

Creates the District Energy and Thermal Energy Storage Parity Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish an optional certification process for Qualified District Energy Infrastructure. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to support certain projects. Provides that, within 180 days after the effective date of the Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed proceeding to develop standardized thermal service agreement templates, suitable for developer financing and underwriting, and minimum requirements for customer rate stabilization options. Provides that a developer shall obtain a District Energy Feasibility Assessment from a qualified preparer for certain projects. Sets forth requirements for the content of the District Energy Feasibility Assessment. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and make available to units of local government a municipal alignment toolkit to facilitate the development and expansion of district energy systems. Requires the Department to establish and administer a district energy expansion program to support the development expansion, modernization, and decarbonization of district energy systems in the State. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Authority may provide loans, credit enhancements, interest rate buydowns, loan loss reserves, or other financial assistance for the development, construction, expansion, or operation of the Qualified Energy Infrastructure and Dispatchable Thermal Energy Storage. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Creates the Thermal Energy Storage Credit procurement program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy evaluation in State procurements. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions. Amends the Property Tax Code. Defines "commercial energy storage system". Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy enabling measures and heat recovery incentives. Makes other changes.

Bill Cunningham

EPA-ORPHAN UST CLEANUP

Amends the Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Title of the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a municipality or county may, to the same extent as an owner or operator, conduct tank removal, abandonment, site investigation, and corrective action with respect to a petroleum orphan underground storage tank in accordance with the requirements of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program, except that a municipality or county does not have to elect to proceed as an owner and the costs shall be eligible for payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund. Defines "orphan underground storage tank". Makes conforming and other changes in provisions regarding the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

Sara Feigenholtz

ELECTRONIC TRANSACT-GOVERNMENT

Amends the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Removes language providing that a governmental agency of the State is not required to use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures. Provides that the State Board of Elections is exempt from the requirement to accept electronic records and signatures. Makes other changes.

Christopher Belt

DFPR-HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In conjunction with applications for health care professional licensure and renewals, requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall require applicants to provide practice information that include areas of practice specialty, addresses of all current practice locations, hours spent at each practice location on direct outpatient care, the applicant's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number if applicable, and anticipated date of retirement. Provides that the Department shall share the information with authorized personnel at the Department of Public Health. Specifies that the data is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. Defines "health care professional". Provides that data published in conjunction with applications for health care professional licensure shall not identify a health care professional's name or any other data that leads to identification.

Christopher Belt

TRANSFER CARE SPECIALISTS

Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code. Provides that "funeral establishment", "funeral chapel", "funeral home", or "mortuary", when used in reference to transfer care specialists, means a building or a separate portion of a building having a specific street address or location devoted to activities relating to the shelter, care, custody and preparation of a deceased human body that contains facilities for funeral and wake services and operates from a fixed place of business. Defines "general supervision", "immediate and direct supervision", and "transfer care specialist". Requires a funeral establishment, funeral chapel, funeral home, or mortuary to operate from a fixed place of business. Creates the Transfer Care Specialists Article under the Code. Sets forth provisions concerning license requirements; address of record and email address of record; license qualifications; applications; the issuance and display of transfer care specialist licenses; renewal, reinstatement, and restoration of a license; the applicability of the Article; and rulemaking authority of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In provisions concerning practicing without a license, provides that the practice of removing a deceased human body from its place of death, institution, or other location as a transfer care specialist by any person who has not been issued a license by the Department, whose license has been suspended or revoked, or whose license has not been renewed is hereby declared to be inimical to the public welfare and to constitute a public nuisance. In provisions concerning grounds for discipline, provides that engaging in practice as a transfer care specialist without a license is a Class A misdemeanor. Makes other changes.

Ram Villivalam

SCH CD-FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQ

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit to any student who either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of language proficiency for a language other than English at the level required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an official transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of high-school equivalency in which the language of instruction was in a language other than English.

Kimberly A. Lightford

LOTTERY-VARIOUS

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Removes language providing that the Department of the Lottery shall publish each January in the Illinois Register a list of all game-specific rules, play instructions, directives, operations manuals, brochures, or other game-specific publications issued by the Department during the previous year and instructions concerning how the public may obtain copies of these materials from the Department. Removes language regarding the selection of a private manager for the total management of the Lottery. Removes language providing that moneys in the Department's account shall be deposited by the Department into the Public Treasurers' Investment Pool. Provides that the Department shall make an effort to more directly inform players of the odds of winning prizes by publishing the information for all games on the Department's public website (rather than by requiring all ticket agents to display a placard stating the odds of winning for each game offered by that agent). Requires the Department to make written play instructions available on the Department's public website or by the Department by request (rather than to all players through sales agents licensed to sell game tickets or shares). Allows the Department (rather than the State Treasurer) to contract with any person or corporation to perform financial functions. Allows the State Treasurer to act as an agent of the Department to perform the financial functions. Removes language providing that moneys in the Department's account for paying validated prizes shall be deposited in the Public Treasurer's Investment Pool. Repeals a provision related to a specialty retailers license. Makes other and conforming changes.

Bill Cunningham

UTILITY-INTERCONNECTION RULES

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the recovery of costs associated with the provision of delivery and other services, provide that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall, within 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, initiate and complete a rulemaking proceeding to revise 83 Ill. Adm. Code 466 and 83 Ill. Adm. Code 467 to address barriers to timely and cost-effective interconnections for distributed generation facilities with a nameplate capacity of at least 40 kilowatts but no greater than 2 megawatts, including stand-alone solar photovoltaic systems, battery energy storage, hybrid gas-electric systems, and renewable natural gas integrations. Requires the revisions to include certain factors. Provides that the Commission shall coordinate the revisions with a Future of Gas proceeding pursuant to the final Order of the Commission in Docket No. 24-0158 to ensure compatibility with gas decarbonization pathways and to prioritize market-driven distributed resources that enhance reliability and affordability. Provides that the revised rules shall take effect no later than July 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

Terri Bryant

PROP TX-SENIOR FREEZE

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2029, 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 Rezin

BORDER COMMUNITY ZONES

Creates the Border Community Act. Provides that a municipality may, by ordinance, apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be certified as a border community if all or part of the territory of the municipality is located within 10 miles of the border between Illinois and another state and the municipality meets other stated criteria. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to provide that an investment credit available to a River Edge Redevelopment Zone is also available within a border community. Creates a border community construction jobs credit. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to provide an exemption for building materials to be incorporated into real property in a border community. Amends the Property Tax Code to create a property tax abatement for property located in a border community.

Paul Faraci

SCH CD-BULLYING ACCOUNTABILITY

Amends the School Code. Sets forth measures to be taken when an offense of bullying occurs and is reported to a public school, including a charter school, depending on the severity of the bullying offense, including hearing requirements, compulsory, school-based, restorative-justice requirements, community service requirements, and counseling requirements for minor offenders; hearing requirements, administrative fee requirements, and education session requirements for parents or guardians of minor offenders; and victim support. Requires the State Board of Education to annually report to the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics any incidents of bullying, the number of hearings relating to incidents of bullying, restorative-justice program outcomes, disciplinary actions, and follow-up metrics by demographics. Requires the State Board to conduct an annual audit of schools that participate in the restorative measures to determine anti-bullying metrics for the report. Makes other changes.

Willie Preston

$DCEO-BCOE

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Black Contractors, Owners, and Executives to expand the organization statewide to help black business owners grow their businesses. Effective July 1, 2026.

Willie Preston

EDUC-ATTACKS ON SCH PERSONNEL

Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026, each school district shall determine a plan for responding to all incidents of battery committed by students against teachers and other school personnel, which shall include reporting and documentation procedures, student safety plans, behavioral intervention plans, and remedies for injured teachers and school personnel. Effective immediately.

Willie Preston

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PRORGAM

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being made publicly available online. Effective immediately.

Michael W. Halpin

JACKSON CNTY-CONSERVANCY DIST

Amends the River Conservancy Districts Act. Provides that a trustee on a board representing a river conservancy district that embraces Jackson County may be removed for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office by the appropriate appointing presiding officer or officers, without the advice and consent of the corporate authorities, by filing a written order of removal with the appropriate county or municipal clerk or clerks.

Terri Bryant