Bills & Legislation

EDUCATION-TECH

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

Steven ReickRepublican

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 ReickRepublican

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 ReickRepublican

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 ReickRepublican

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

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

Steven ReickRepublican

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

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

Steven ReickRepublican

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

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

Steven ReickRepublican

STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

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

Steven ReickRepublican

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. DeLaRosaDemocrat

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 MayfieldDemocrat

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. BuntingRepublican

$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 DavisRepublican

INS CD-CANCER SCREENINGS

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In a provision concerning coverage of certain cancer screenings, adds having a high level of CA-125, as indicated by a blood test screening, to the definition of "at risk for ovarian cancer". Provides that "surveillance tests for ovarian cancer" means all medically viable methods for the detection and diagnosis of ovarian cancer, including, but not limited to, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and CA-125 blood test screenings (instead of an annual screening using (i) CA-125 serum tumor marker testing, (ii) transvaginal ultrasound, (iii) pelvic examination). Effective January 1, 2027.

Jed DavisRepublican

ONLINE AGE VERIFICATION-MINORS

Creates the Online Age Verification for Material Harmful to Minors Act. Requires any commercial entity that knowingly or intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to verify that any person attempting to access such material is 18 years of age or older. Provides that verification must be done through the use of (i) a commercially available database that is regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age and identity verification or (ii) another commercially reasonable method of age and identity verification. Provides that any commercial entity that violates the Act shall be subject to civil liability for damages resulting from a minor's access to such material harmful to a minor and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Exempts from liability providers or users of an interactive computer service on the Internet, as defined.

Jed DavisRepublican

LOC GOV EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE

Amends the Decennial Committees on Local Government Efficiency Act. Provides that a governmental unit may form a committee (rather than must form a committee) to study local efficiencies and report recommendations regarding efficiencies and increased accountability to the county board in which the governmental unit is located.

Patrick SheehanRepublican

DONATE BLOOD-MRNA VACCINES

Amends the Illinois Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank Act. Requires a blood bank to test or have tested donated blood for evidence of any COVID-19 vaccine and any other messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine components, and requires a blood donor to disclose during each blood donor screening process whether the blood donor has received a COVID-19 vaccine or any other mRNA vaccine during the donor's lifetime. Requires blood or blood components to include on their labels a designation that the blood or blood components tested positive for evidence of a COVID-19 vaccine or any other mRNA vaccine component or was drawn from a blood donor who disclosed the donor have received a COVID-19 vaccine or any other mRNA vaccine during the donor's lifetime. Provides that the Department of Public Health must adopt rules to implement the changes made by the amendatory Act.

Jed DavisRepublican

ADVISORY COMMITTEE SPECIAL ED

Creates the Local Advisory Committees on Special Education Act. Allows each school district or regional cooperative program providing special education services to establish and appoint a local advisory committee on special education if a local advisory committee is requested by more than 3 parents or guardians of the students receiving the services. Establishes the membership and responsibilities of a local advisory committee and the duties of the school district or regional cooperative program. Provides that members of a local advisory committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Jed DavisRepublican

SCH CD-BIAS & SUPPORT TRAINING

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Establishes findings. Requires teachers, administrators, and school support personnel to complete training to develop cultural competency, including understanding and reducing unconscious bias and stigmatizing assumptions about persons with disabilities. Sets forth the requirements of the training. Effective July 1, 2025.

Jed DavisRepublican

DHS-CCAP-CHILD CARE WORKERS

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the child care assistance program, expands the categories of families eligible for assistance to include, beginning January 1, 2026, all child care workers with incomes at or below 325% of the federal poverty level for each family size.

Charles MeierRepublican

GUN-FREE ZONE LIABILITY ACT

Creates the Gun-Free Zone Liability Act. Provides that the State is liable for harm or damage suffered by a concealed carry licensee or any individual otherwise legally entitled to carry a firearm if the harm or damage occurs in a gun-free zone, as defined by State law, and the harm or damage could have been reasonably avoided if the individual had been allowed to carry his or her concealed firearm in that gun-free zone. Provides that liability includes, but is not limited to, medical expenses, compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income, property damage, and wrongful death claims brought by the victim's estate. Provides that the plaintiff must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the harm or damage suffered could have been reasonably avoided or mitigated if the plaintiff had been permitted to carry a concealed firearm, and that the plaintiff is otherwise in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations regarding firearm possession and use. Provides exceptions. Provides that any individual who is harmed, if the harm or damage occurred in a gun-free zone, may bring a civil action against the State of Illinois in the circuit court of the county of the plaintiff's residence. Provides that if the plaintiff prevails, he or she is entitled to full compensatory damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, and any other relief the court deems just and equitable. Contains a severability provision. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Jed DavisRepublican

ELEC CD-DECEASED VOTERS

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from an electronic reporting system for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who died during the preceding month.

Jed DavisRepublican

EDUC-TRADE COURSES-METT

Amends the School Code. Allows a METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade (METT) to be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade. Provides that a METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. Sets forth other provisions regarding the license. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Department of Labor, shall expand a database to identify METT labor shortages. Provides that by July 1, 2028, school districts in identified regions shall be notified by the State Board and shall participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement. Makes other changes.

Jed DavisRepublican

SCH CD-CHAPLAINS

Amends the School Code. Allows each school board to employ or accept as a volunteer a certified chaplain to provide to a school support, services, and programs for students, staff, and parents as assigned by the school board. Sets forth the selection process, certification requirements, and amount of chaplains a school may employ or accept as a volunteer. Requires a chaplain to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check and check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database before the chaplain begins employment or volunteering at a school. Prohibits a chaplain from being employed or accepted as a volunteer if the chaplain is registered or is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act or the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. Provides that no person shall have a cause of action against a chaplain for any action taken or statement made in adherence with the provision of support, services, or programs for students, staff, or parents. Establishes exceptions to a chaplain's liability immunity.

Jed DavisRepublican

LIMITATIONS-VICTIM UNDER 18

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons and related offenses may be commenced at any time (rather than within 25 years of the victim attaining the age of 18 years).

Nicole La HaRepublican

PROP TX-GOLD STAR PARENT

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that homestead property that is owned and used as a primary residence by a Gold Star Parent is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Travis WeaverRepublican

STUDENT-ATHLETE ENDORSEMENT

Amends the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. Provides that if a student-athlete earns more than $250,000 from the use of the name, image, likeness, or voice of the student-athlete, then any academic scholarship granted to the student-athlete shall be reduced by $1 per dollar the student-athlete earns over $250,000.

David FriessRepublican

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS-GENDER

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that any athletic team or sport that is under the jurisdiction of an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and student must be expressly designated as (i) a male athletic team or sport, (ii) a female athletic team or sport, or (iii) a coeducational athletic team or sport. Provides that an athletic team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex. Requires a school district or nonpublic school to obtain a written statement signed by a student's parent or guardian or the student verifying the student's age, biological sex, and that the student has not taken performance enhancing drugs; provides for a penalty for false or misleading statements. Prohibits a governmental entity or an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against a school district or nonpublic school for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with these provisions.

Regan DeeringRepublican

SCH CD-EDUCATOR LICENSE-RENEW

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows a lapsed Professional Educator License to be immediately reinstated upon payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the license has lapsed. Effective immediately.

Regan DeeringRepublican

SCH CD-TEACHER-FIRST RESPONDER

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a candidate for a State educator license who is either a former or active first responder or a military service member shall receive a refund for any costs associated with completing a test of content area knowledge or a teacher performance assessment. Provides that no former or active first responder or military service member may be charged an application fee under provisions regarding a Professional Educator License, an Educator License with Stipulations, a Substitute Teaching License, and a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Effective July 1, 2025.

Regan DeeringRepublican

ELEC CD-DECEASED VOTERS

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from an electronic reporting system for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who died during the preceding month.

Kevin SchmidtRepublican

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. In a provision requiring a facility licensed under the Act to notify the Department of Human Services when emergency calls are made from the facility, provides that the notification is required regardless of whether the Office of the Inspector General has substantiated the allegations or the call resulted in a criminal charge, arrest, or incarceration. Provides that the Department shall adopt by rule a definition for "emergency calls".

Charles MeierRepublican

HOSPITAL DIST BD-REIMBURSEMENT

Amends the Hospital District Law. Provides that each director of a hospital district may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the director's duties. Effective immediately.

Charles MeierRepublican

AGING-LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to display, in multiple, conspicuous public places within the facility accessible to both visitors and residents and in an easily readable format, the address and statewide toll-free telephone number (rather than phone number) of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Internet web address of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website. Requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to post on the home page of the facility's website the statewide toll-free telephone number of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and a link to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website.

Charles MeierRepublican

VEH CD-WAIVE REG FEES-MILITARY

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes language providing for reduced registration fees for active duty military personnel. Provides instead that the standard vehicle registration fee for passenger motor vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds shall be waived for active duty military personnel. Effective immediately.

Kevin SchmidtRepublican

CORR-DOC&DJJ EMPLOY-CONTRABAND

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections shall immediately discharge from their employment: (1) any Department employee against whom a conviction is entered on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act for an offense of unauthorized bringing of contraband into a penal institution by an employee; unauthorized possessing of contraband in a penal institution by an employee; or unauthorized delivery of contraband in a penal institution by an employee; or (2) any Department employee who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act is determined by the respective Department to have violated the Department policy prohibiting: (A) facilitating the bringing or delivering of an item of contraband into a Department facility; (B) bringing or delivering an item of contraband into a Department facility; or (C) possessing an item of contraband in a Department facility. Provides that any employee discharged for a violation of these provisions shall not be eligible to be rehired by either the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Corrections. Defines various terms. Effective immediately.

Charles MeierRepublican

JUDICIAL ELECTION/RETENTION

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a Judge that could seek retention of the Judge's office may not resign and seek election to the same office unless the former Judge has not served as elected or appointed Judge for that office for at least 2 years. Makes other changes.

Charles MeierRepublican

FIREARM OWNERS ID-18 YEARS

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Lowers the age at which a person may apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without parental or legal guardian consent from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. Makes corresponding changes.

Charles MeierRepublican

ELEC CD-VOTER REGISTRATION

Amends the Jury Commission Act. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall notify the jury administrator or jury commissioners of each jury summons that is returned indicating a change of address. Provides that, not less often than every 3 months, the jury administrator or jury commissioners shall send the local election authority a list of each such change of address. Amends the Election Code. Contains provisions concerning the cancellation of voter registration if the county clerk is of the opinion that the person is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter. In provisions requiring election authorities to automatically register a voter who has moved to a new jurisdiction in Illinois or within the jurisdiction, requires the election authority to act within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address Linkage System. Requires county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to complete verifications of voter registrations after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day allowed for circulation of a petition for nomination for a candidate for the following primary election in an even-numbered year (rather than at least once in every 2 years). Requires the county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to certify to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed within 30 days of completion of the verification.

Charles MeierRepublican

CONCEALED CARRY-FEES

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a licensee requesting a new license shall submit $5 (rather than $75, of which $60 shall be apportioned to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, $5 shall be apportioned to the Mental Health Reporting Fund, and $10 shall be apportioned to the State Crime Laboratory Fund). Provides that the fees collected under this provision shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund.

Charles MeierRepublican

FIREARM DEALERS-FEE AMOUNTS

Amends the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act. Provides that the fee amount for a certified licensee shall be based upon the number of firearms sold per year. Provides that if the certified licensee sells less than 150,000 firearms per year, the fee is $200. Provides that if the certified licensee sells 150,000 to 500,000 firearms per year, the fee is $500. Provides that if the certified licensee sells over 500,000 firearms per year, the fee is $1,000.

Charles MeierRepublican

REVENUE-SPENDING REDUCTION

Creates the Spending Reduction and Revenue Control Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall not pass any bill that either (i) creates new State taxes or (ii) increases existing State taxes until an appropriation bill or bills are passed that, in the aggregate, represent a reduction in the spending levels from the previous fiscal year. Provides that every State agency shall submit to the General Assembly a recommended list of spending efficiencies and budget reductions they deem necessary in order to help the General Assembly comply with the provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.

Charles MeierRepublican

CILA-PERSONAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the personal needs allowance for a qualifying medical assistance recipient who is a resident in a facility licensed under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act shall equal $100. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the personal needs allowance shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.

Charles MeierRepublican

CHOATE MENTAL HLTH & DEV CNTER

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to permit any resident of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center at Anna to remain at the facility upon request of the resident or the resident's family or legal guardian if the resident maintains an Illinois home address in a county located within the geographically organized service region designated by the Department as Division of Mental Health Region 5, excluding the following counties: Madison, Bond, Fayette, Clay, Jasper, or Crawford.

Charles MeierRepublican

MHDD CENTERS-READMISSIONS

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary, a State-operated developmental center funded, certified, or licensed by the Department of Human Services shall readmit, upon request, any former resident who transferred to and currently receives services at a licensed community-integrated living arrangement, if the former resident consents or if the former resident has a guardian with placement authority and that guardian consents based on a determination that the former resident's medical needs cannot be met by the program of services administered by the community-integrated living arrangement.

Charles MeierRepublican

FIREARMS-NON RESIDENT MILITARY

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that, notwithstanding whether the laws of the state or territory where the non-resident resides related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act, the Illinois State Police shall, no later than 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, allow for a non-resident license application if the applicant is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State and lives in the State. Provides that a non-resident active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State and lives in the State shall apply to the Illinois State Police and must meet all of the qualifications under the Act and shall submit: (1) the application and documentation required and the applicable fee; (2) a photocopy of a valid military identification card or Official Proof of Service Letter; and (3) a photocopy of permanent change-of-station orders to an assignment in the State. Provides for emergency rulemaking to implement the amendatory Act. Establishes fees. Makes conforming changes to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Charles MeierRepublican

IEMA-PERFORMANCE GRANTS

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security must adopt amendments to its rules governing the administration of the Emergency Management Performance Grant program to ensure that every county emergency services and disaster agency in the State receives a base allotment of no less than $25,000 per fiscal year, with the remaining allocation of funds to be distributed to county emergency services and disaster agencies as deemed appropriate by the Director of the Agency. Provides that, in distributing the remaining allocation of funds, the Director shall consider, among other things, any limitation on a county's tax base, the increased costs of accreditation requirements for smaller agencies, and the increase in the number of disasters that affect smaller counties in the State. Effective immediately.

Charles MeierRepublican

PARENTAL NOTICE OF ABORTION

Creates the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 2025, with provisions similar to those of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995. Effective immediately.

Travis WeaverRepublican

TRAFFICKING-PERSONS/GROOMING

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor or trafficking in persons if the victim is under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that no person charged with grooming shall be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that prosecutors are prohibited from offering plea bargains to lesser offenses to those individuals charged with grooming. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, volunteer at, be associated with, or knowingly be present at any facility providing entertainment exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18.

Jed DavisRepublican