Bills & Legislation

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-TECH

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited transactions.

Dave Vella

SCH CD-PUPIL TRANSPORTATION

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that each school board may provide free transportation for any pupil residing within a one-half mile (rather than one and one-half miles) from the school attended where conditions are such that walking, either to or from the school to which a pupil is assigned for attendance or to or from a pick-up point or bus stop, constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil due to either vehicular traffic or rail crossings or a course or pattern of criminal activity.

Dave Vella

GROCERY INITIATIVE-DEFINITION

Amends the Grocery Initiative Act. Provides that the definition of "grocery store" includes a mobile grocer that satisfies specified requirements.

Maurice A. West, II

$ROCKFORD PEACE CENTER

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for administrative costs and grants associated with capital improvements to the City of Rockford Family Peace Center. Effective July 1, 2025.

Maurice A. West, II

LOCAL OFFICIAL VACANCY POSTING

Creates the Local Official Vacancy Posting Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall post every elected official vacancy on its website, if the full-time staff of the municipality maintain the website, and the county clerk shall also post the vacancy on the county clerk website. Provides that the unit of local government may not fill the vacancy until the posting has been on the municipality's website, or the county's website if the municipality does not have full-time staff maintaining a website, for at least 15 days. Limits home rule powers.

Margaret A. DeLaRosa

HUM RTS-RELIEF & PENALTIES

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a plaintiff may be awarded all forms of relief available in tort actions, including but not be limited to, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of a normal life. Provides that a plaintiff may also be awarded punitive damages.

Will Guzzardi

U OF I-FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that the Board of Trustees shall direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to not invest the assets of any endowment fund in the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any fossil fuel company or any subsidiary, affiliate, or parent of any fossil fuel company. Provides that this does not preclude the de minimis exposure of any funds held by the endowment fund to the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any fossil fuel company or any subsidiary, affiliate, or parent of any fossil fuel company. Requires the Board of Trustees to direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to not invest in any prime commercial paper or corporate bonds issued by a fossil fuel company. Provides that, beginning one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Board of Trustees, subject to an affirmative determination of prudence and in accordance with sound investment criteria and consistent with its fiduciary obligations, shall direct the University of Illinois System to ensure that any endowment fund does not have any indirect investments; defines "indirect investment". Provides that the Board of Trustees shall direct the University of Illinois System, in addition to the Office of Investments and external investment managers, to adopt updates to its written investment policies, if necessary, to meet the requirements of these provisions and publish a copy of those updated policies within 90 days after the adoption of the updated policies. Effective immediately.

Will Guzzardi

PRETREATED SEED BAN-ETHANOL

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall produce ethanol using seeds that have been treated with a pesticide.

Will Guzzardi

ELECTIONS-PASSOVER

Amends the Election Code, the Township Code, the Revised Cities and Villages Act of 1941, and the School Code. In provisions of those Acts concerning the postponing of specified elections and an annual meeting in the event of a conflict with the celebration of Passover, provides that the term "the celebration of Passover" includes the eight-day period beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew lunisolar month of Nisan.

Daniel Didech

INS-PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Defines "health benefit plan" and other terms. Provides that a pharmacy benefit manager or an affiliate acting on the pharmacy benefit manager's behalf is prohibited from conducting spread pricing, from steering a covered individual, and from limiting a covered individual's access to prescription drugs from a pharmacy or pharmacist enrolled with the health benefit plan under the terms offered to all pharmacies in the plan coverage area by unreasonably designating the covered prescription drugs as a specialty drug. Provides that a pharmacy benefit manager or an affiliate acting on the pharmacy benefit manager's behalf must remit 100% of rebates and fees to the health benefit plan sponsor, consumer, or employer. Provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may not reimburse a pharmacy or pharmacist for a prescription drug or pharmacy service in an amount less than the national average drug acquisition cost for the prescription drug or pharmacy service at the time the drug is administered or dispensed, plus a professional dispensing fee. Provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager and an insurer or health benefit plan sponsor must allow and provide for the pharmacy benefit manager's compliance with an audit at least once per calendar year of the rebate and fee records remitted from a pharmacy benefit manager or its contracted party to a health benefit plan. Provides that provisions concerning pharmacy benefit manager contracts apply to any health benefit plan (instead of any group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan) that provides coverage for prescription drugs and that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after July 1, 2020. Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to submit an annual report that includes specified information concerning prescription drugs. Makes other changes. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.

Thaddeus Jones

HIGHER ED-US FLAG-FUNDING

Creates the Protect the Flag Act. Provides that an institution of higher education that, pursuant to an official policy of the institution to prohibit the display of the flag of the United States by the institution, removes, censors, takes down, prohibits, or otherwise halts display of the flag of the United States is ineligible to receive State funds for the following fiscal year until the institution reports to the General Assembly and the Board of Higher Education the complete and proper reinstatement, by the institution in its official capacity, of the flag of the United States at any and all locations on campus property from which a previously displayed flag of the United States was removed, censored, taken down, prohibited, or otherwise halted from display pursuant to an official policy of the institution to prohibit the display of the flag of the United States by the institution.

Chris Miller

SCH/HIGHER ED-SEX SEGREGATION

Creates the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated spaces by the educational institution, including bathrooms and locker rooms. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated athletic or academic programs by the educational institution.

Chris Miller

FOREIGN LAND ACQUIS&CONTRACTS

Creates the Foreign Land Ownership and Foreign Countries of Concern Act. Provides that a foreign principal may not directly or indirectly own, have a controlling interest in, or acquire by purchase, grant, devise, or descent agricultural land or any interest, except a de minimis indirect interest, in such land in the State. Provides that a foreign principal has a de minimis indirect interest if any ownership is the result of the foreign principal's ownership of registered equities in a publicly traded company owning the land and if the foreign principal's ownership interest in the company is either: (1) less than 5% of any class of registered equities or less than 5% in the aggregate in multiple classes of registered equities; or a noncontrolling interest in an entity controlled by a company that is both registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is not a foreign entity. Provides for registration of certain foreign-owned property. Establishes requirements for acquiring foreign-owned land on or after the effective date of the Act. Provides that a foreign principal may not directly or indirectly own, or have a controlling interest in, or acquire by purchase, grant, devise, or descent any interest, except a de minimis indirect interest, in real property on or within 10 miles of any military installation or critical infrastructure facility in the State. Provides that persons or entities may not directly or indirectly own, have a controlling interest in, or acquire by purchase, grant, devise, or descent any interest, except a de minimis indirect interest, in real property in the State if the person or entity is: the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, or any official or member of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party, a business principally located in the People's Republic of China of or its subsidiaries, or any person who is domiciled in the People's Republic of China and who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. Provides exemptions. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code and the Property Owned By Noncitizens Act to make conforming changes.

Chris Miller

COUNTIES CD-SOLAR&WIND ENERGY

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a commercial wind energy facility owner or solar energy facility owner must file a land reclamation plan and a recycling plan with the Department of Agriculture prior to the required public hearing on the siting of a facility. Provides that the land reclamation plan must outline how the property on which a facility has been constructed will be returned to the state the property existed prior to the construction of the facility upon removal of the facility. Provides that the recycling plan must outline how the material used to construct the facility will be recycled. Provides that a commercial solar energy facility may not be sited on property where the property's soil's crop productivity index is greater than 110. Effective immediately.

Chris Miller

EPA-WINDMILL CONSTRUCTION

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a entity may not construct a windmill on land anywhere in the State unless an equal number of windmills have been or are constructed by the entity constructing the windmill within 3,000 feet of a county with a population more than 3,000,000.

Chris Miller

SCH CD-SPECIAL ED SCHOOLS

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a school district to place a student in a nonpublic day facility or residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education (rather than a nonpublic residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education) if the State Board of Education provides an emergency and student-specific approval for residential or day placement. Makes changes to provisions concerning the circumstances under which the State Board of Education will grant such an approval. Grants jurisdiction to the State Board's impartial due process hearing officer to resolve disputes involving the need for placement in a non-approved, student-specific, emergency placement, the selection of the facility, and whether an approved facility is an appropriate alternative to a non-approved facility. Makes conforming and other changes.

Daniel Didech

UTILITIES-JOB TRAINING CENTERS

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an electric utility that serves more than 3,000,000 customers in the State shall fund the construction of 5 employment training centers at a cost to be determined by the utility. Provides that the employment training centers shall be located in: the west side of Chicago; Ford Heights; Waukegan; Bloomington; and Peoria.

Thaddeus Jones

PROP TX-SOUTH SUBURBAN CREDIT

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the South Suburban Property Tax Relief Homestead Exemption Pilot Program. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 through 2030, certain qualified homestead property that is used as the primary residence of an individual who has occupied the property for at least 5 continuous years as of January 1 of the taxable year is eligible for a credit against the property taxes imposed on that property. Provides that the amount of the credit is the lesser of (i) the property tax liability for the property for the applicable taxable year or (ii) $5,000. Contains provisions concerning applications for the pilot program. Provides that the Cook County Assessor may not award credits under the pilot program for more than 7,500 properties in any taxable year. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the South Suburban Property Tax Relief Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used to make reimbursements to taxing districts that are affected by the South Suburban Property Tax Relief Homestead Exemption Pilot Program. Makes changes to provisions concerning the Cannabis Regulation Fund to provide for transfers to the South Suburban Property Tax Relief Fund. Amends the Video Gaming Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Thaddeus Jones

501(C)(3) LOBBYING FEE EXEMPT

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.

Maurice A. West, II

FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall develop and maintain a program to provide free tuition at one community college in each R3 Area (designated as such under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act) using money appropriated from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Authorizes the Board to adopt any rules necessary. Amends the State Finance Act to make related changes.

Rita Mayfield

INS-COST SHARING/DRUG REBATES

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall require that a covered individual's defined cost sharing for each prescription drug shall be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 100% of all rebates received in connection with the dispensation or administration of the prescription drug. Provides that an insurer shall apply any rebate amount in excess of the defined cost sharing amount to the health plan to reduce premiums. Provides that the provisions shall not preclude an insurer from decreasing a covered individual's defined cost sharing by an amount greater than the stated amount at the point of sale. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Rita Mayfield

AGG BATTERY DELIVERY DRIVER

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a person employed as a delivery driver or courier while in performance of the person's employment.

Rita Mayfield

INC TX-INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the maximum amount of the credit for instructional materials and supplies is $1,000 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025 (currently, $500). Effective immediately.

Rita Mayfield

CD CORR-ELECTRONIC MONITORING

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the rules promulgated by the supervising authority concerning electronic monitoring and home detention shall provide that travel to and from approved employment shall not be denied based solely on the transient or mobile nature of the employment, provided that the participant gives the supervising authority sufficient notice and the employer confirms the exact routes or locations, or both, of employment at least 24 hours in advance. Provides that travel to and from approved employment shall not be denied solely for failure to provide the supervising authority with timely notice, provided that the participant gives the supervising authority sufficient notice at least 24 hours in advance of travel.

Rita Mayfield

EPA-GREAT LAKES CCR PROTECTION

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are bordering Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal by off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator to remove from his or her site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by a facility that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment, and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by that CCR, in accordance with specified requirements. Requires owners or operators to submit specified plans and reports to the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that an owner or operator shall post with the Agency a performance bond or other security for the purpose of ensuring removal and remediation in accordance with the provisions. Provides that the Agency may enter into such contracts and agreements as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the provisions. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions. Contains other provisions. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.

Rita Mayfield

PROP TX-TIF INFO-BILL

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that there shall be printed on each tax bill, or on a separate slip mailed with each tax bill, a list of each redevelopment project that (i) is associated with a TIF district in which the property is located and (ii) has been completed during or before the taxable year for which the bill is prepared or is in the process of being completed during that taxable year.

Rita Mayfield

USE/OCC TAX-FIREARMS

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Imposes a 3.75% surcharge on firearms and firearm component parts. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of the proceeds. Effective immediately.

Rita Mayfield

JUV CT-COMMITMENT-AGE

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a minor found to be guilty may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice if the minor is at least 14 (rather than 13) years and under 20 years of age, provided that the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be made only if the minor was found guilty of a felony offense or first degree murder. Provides that when a minor of the age of at least 14 (rather than 13) years is adjudged delinquent for the offense of first degree murder, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or nonemergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that on or after July 1, 2026 and before July 1, 2027, any minor 12 years of age or older arrested pursuant to the Act if there is probable cause to believe that the minor is a delinquent minor and that secure custody is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity, in light of a serious threat to the physical safety of a person or persons in the community or in order to secure the presence of the minor at the next hearing, as evidenced by a demonstrable record of willful failure to appear at a scheduled court hearing within the past 12 months, may be kept or detained in an authorized detention facility. Provides that on or after July 1, 2027, minors age 12 years of age and under 13 years of age and charged with first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery in which a firearm was used in the offense, or aggravated vehicular hijacking, may be kept or detained in an authorized detention facility. Provides that no minor under 13 (rather than under 12) years of age shall be detained in a county jail or a municipal lockup for more than 6 hours. Provides that instead of detention, minors under the age of 13 who are in conflict with the law may be held accountable through a petition under the Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention Article of the Act, or may be held accountable through a community mediation program.

Rita Mayfield

INC TX-BLOOD DONATION

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit of $250 for taxpayers who make 4 or more qualified donations of human whole blood or human blood components during the taxable year. Effective immediately.

Maurice A. West, II

GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Jay Hoffman

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Jay Hoffman

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning veteran's and educational preference.

Rick Ryan

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning appointments by the board of fire and police commissioners.

Jay Hoffman

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.

Jay Hoffman

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.

Jay Hoffman

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-TECH

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.

Jay Hoffman

TOLL HWY-TOLL RATES-FREE

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Allows an individual who is a veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces to use any toll highway in the State without paying the toll if the veteran or active duty member of the United States Armed Forces displays a military license plate offered by the Secretary of State while using the toll highway.

Maurice A. West, II

INC TX-EMPLOYEE RAISES

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that an employer with 250 or fewer full-time equivalent employees during the reporting period may claim a credit against the withholding payments for each qualified employee. Provides that a qualified employee is an employee who receives a raise from an employer, whose post-raise annual salary attributable to that employer is not less than $31,200, and who continues to be employed by the employer during the reporting period for which the credit is taken.

Maurice A. West, II

EDUCATION-TECH

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Steven Reick

PEN CD-TEACHERS-FORFEITURE

Amends the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that none of the benefits provided for in either Article shall be paid to a person if the person first becomes a member on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and a board, after an administrative hearing, determines that the person sexually abused a student. Provides that an employer must notify a board if a retiring member has been accused of sexually abusing a student. Provides that a board may, through an administrative hearing, review the claim of sexual abuse and may order that benefits be forfeited. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall not operate to impair any contract or vested right acquired before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor to preclude the right to a refund. Provides that all teachers entering service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of the amendatory Act as a condition of membership. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Steven Reick

INC TX-PROP TX CREDIT

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if the amount of the credit for residential real property taxes exceeds the taxpayer's liability, that amount shall be refunded if the taxpayer is 65 years or older and has a federal adjusted gross income of not more than $50,000. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Steven Reick

PROP TX-SENIOR FREEZE-CPI

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2026, the maximum income limitation for the senior freeze shall be $73,700 for all qualified property (currently, $65,000). Provides that the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted each year according to the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Effective immediately.

Steven Reick

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Steven Reick

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Steven Reick

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Steven Reick

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Steven Reick

GUARDIAN-ADULT W/ DISABILITIES

Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that if guardianship is necessary under law and the petition for guardianship is filed by a person, corporation, nonprofit organization, or other entity with no legally recognized relationship to the alleged person with a disability, the court shall appoint the State Guardian or county public guardian as the temporary and permanent guardian of the person or estate or both except in counties in which there is no sitting county public guardian.

Margaret A. DeLaRosa

PROP TX-EXTENSION LIMITATION

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in taxable year 2026, no county clerk may extend against any property an annual property tax that exceeds the amount generated by multiplying the property tax liability for the property in the immediately preceding taxable year by one plus the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending in September of the immediately preceding taxable year, unless the increase in the property tax liability is the result of improvements to the property or the result of the removal of one or more exemptions that were granted with respect to the property for the immediately preceding taxable year. Effective immediately.

Rita Mayfield

POLICE TRAINING-BACK THE BADGE

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division. Provides that the Division shall establish a Back-the-Badge Program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. Provides that the Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.

Jason R. Bunting

$TEACH IL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Appropriates $8,000,000 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the administration of scholarships under the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Jed Davis