Illinois

Creates the Equal Justice for Immigrant Crime Victims Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may represent a person before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office administrative body if (1) the person is a noncitizen who has never been placed in removal proceedings; (2) the Lake County State's Attorney believes the person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity because of a crime that occurred in Lake County; (3) the person is not barred from the immigration remedies before the administrative body; and (4) the Lake County State's Attorney may represent the person without creating a conflict of interest for the Lake County State's Attorney under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may adopt policies and procedures as the State's Attorney deems necessary to implement, administer, and carry out the purposes of the Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may initiate representation of noncitizen victims of qualifying crimes under the Act on or before December 31, 2031. Makes conforming changes in the Counties Code. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Rare Disease Commission Act. Changes the sunset date of the Act from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2032. In provisions regarding administrative support, adds that the administrative and other support to the Rare Disease Commission provided by the Department of Public Health includes printing services related to the distribution of the Commission's annual report. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding fetal death, deletes provisions referencing election in writing to arrange for burial or cremation under the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires a funeral director to file an Authorization for Disposition of Fetal Remains or a certificate of death (rather than only a certificate of death) before obtaining a permit for disposition of remains. Provides that, in the case of a fetal death that occurs after a gestation period of less than 20 weeks or in the case of an abortion, no fetal death certificate shall be required for the disposition of remains. Directs the Department of Public Health to create a form to be used by the funeral director to obtain a permit for burial, entombment, or cremation. Requires the local registrar to seal any form filed under these provisions, and prohibits a funeral director from retaining a copy. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In provisions regarding the disposition of a fetus, provides that no fetal death certificate shall be required in accordance with the Vital Records Act. Provides that the funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of fetal remains shall use the Department of Public Health form to obtain a permit for disposition of remains. Makes other conforming changes.

Amends the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Fund Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall establish the Natural Resource Restoration Trust Grant Program to make grants to applicants for the restoration or replacement of injured or damaged natural resources resulting from claims pursued under the laws of the United States, the laws of this State, other statutory laws, or common law. Provides that the following entities may apply for grants under the Act: (i) units of local government; (ii) soil and water conservation districts; (iii) area-wide agencies, including counties, regional planning agencies, or both; (iv) nonprofit organizations; (iv) public or private institutes of higher education; (v) port authorities; and (vi) federally recognized tribes. Provides that the Department shall issue grants if (i) the requested grant complies with the purpose for which the Department was to provide funds and is subject to the requirements of all applicable court orders and (ii) the grant complies with the criteria established by administrative rule for the issuance of the grant. Provides that grants shall not be awarded to a grantee that is responsible for the pollution event that is the subject or basis for the issuance of the grant. Effective July 1, 2027.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Creates the Illinois State Museum Collection Trust Fund as a nonappropriated trust fund in the State treasury. Provides that the Illinois State Museum Collection Trust Fund shall receive all moneys from the deaccession of objects of scientific, historic, and artistic value in the possession of the State Museum and may receive moneys from other sources. Provides that the moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Natural Resources for the State Museum to purchase and maintain objects for the State Museum. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Exempts from specified requirements of the Code expenditures from the Illinois State Museum Collection Trust Fund that are authorized by the Department. Makes other changes.

Amends the Chicago Park District Act. Authorizes the Chicago Park District, in collaboration with the botanic gardens authorized under the Forest Preserve Botanic Gardens Act, to establish, maintain, and manage small public gardens throughout the City of Chicago. Provides that each public garden shall include a native landscape aimed at protecting butterfly populations that migrate through the City of Chicago. Defines "Illinois native plants" and "native landscape".

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person shall not organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, or participate in any contest, organized competition, tournament, or derby that has as its objective the taking of a fur-bearing mammal for cash, prizes, or other inducement. Provides an exception for field trials, certain wildlife damage control activities, and certain lawful hunting or trapping activities. Establishes penalties for violations.

Creates the Municipal Water System Repurchase Act. Provides that a municipality may repurchase an investor-owned utility if the municipality finds that (1) the investor-owned utility is repeatedly non-compliant with the service quality standards mandated by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (2) water or wastewater service rates charged by the investor-owned utility have increased beyond the rate of inflation without corresponding improvements in service quality; or (3) a majority of the electorate in the municipality votes in favor of repurchase in a binding referendum. Provides that, if a municipality adopts an ordinance to repurchase an investor-owned utility, then the municipality shall provide written notice to (1) the investor-owned utility; (2) the Illinois Commerce Commission; and (3) all affected customers. Provides that a municipality may not repurchase an investor-owned utility unless (i)the municipality files a petition with the Illinois Commerce Commission and (ii) the Illinois Commerce Commission approves the petition. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may approve the repurchase if it finds that (1) the municipality has complied with notice and hearing requirements; (2) the municipality used a reasonable method to determine the value of the investor-owned utility; (3) the repurchase of the investor-owned utility shall not cause unreasonable harm to customers or service continuity; and (4) the transition plan provides for uninterrupted utility service. Provides that, if the Illinois Commerce Commission approves a municipality's petition to repurchase an investor-owned utility, then the investor-owned utility shall transfer all facilities, records, and customer accounts to the municipality or its designated public entity. Provides that the purchase price for any system repurchased shall be determined by the fair market value of the system, including all physical assets and customer accounts, less depreciation, as determined by an independent valuation agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Updates definitions and terminology. Expands Agency powers and responsibilities for emergency management and homeland security. Creates the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator within the Agency and specifies duties. Makes related changes concerning planning, coordination, and mutual aid. Effective immediately.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. Provides that if an animal shelter or an animal control facility offers a dog for adoption, it must provide, in addition to other requirements, the organization from which the dog was obtained, the organization's address, and the organization's phone number.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill and House Amendment No. 1.

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the LEARN John & Kathy Schreiber Campus for facility renovation. Effective July 1, 2026.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Road to Census 2030 Act of 2026. Appropriates from the General Revenue Fund $500,000 to the Department of Human Services, $500,000 to the Secretary of State, and $1,600,000 to the Department of Public Health. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act to allow video gaming licensees (licensed establishments, licensed truck stop establishments, and license large truck stop establishments licensed under the Video Gaming Act) to apply to the Department of Revenue for a license to conduct pull tabs and jar games. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board, upon application by a licensed video gaming establishment (a licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment), may issue a license to sell sports betting squares as a low-stakes, chance-based promotional game. Provides conditions under which the sale of sports betting squares may be conducted.

Commends The Baby Bank and all of its volunteers on its one millionth diaper distributed and wishes the organization continued success in addressing the essential needs of so many families in its communities.

Congratulates Immanuel Lutheran Church of Glenview on the 150th anniversary of its founding and the 100th anniversary of its sanctuary and commends the congregation for its century and a half of dedicated service to the residents of Glenview and the surrounding area.

Congratulates the East St. Louis Senior High School boys basketball team, the Flyers, on winning the 2026 Illinois High School Association Class 3A State Championship.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Prohibits a person from selling a lottery ticket or share on a credit basis. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that an automated teller machine (ATM) located within a casino shall not be able to perform cash advances on credit cards. Prohibits a person from using a credit card to participate in a gambling game.

Congratulates Ethan Cepuran on his remarkable performance at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and his storied career in speedskating and commends him for his dedication, sportsmanship, and the pride he has brought to the Village of Glen Ellyn and the State of Illinois.

Congratulates Cyndi Oberle-Dahm on her retirement from Belleville Township District 201. Thanks her for her commitment to the community and to the State of Illinois.

Creates the Illinois Biometric Surveillance Act. Provides that law enforcement agencies may not obtain, retain, possess, access, request, use, or enter into an agreement with a third party, State or local government agency, or federal agency to obtain, retain, possess, access request, or use a biometric identification system. Provides a private right of action and for enforcement by the Attorney General. Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that the Secretary of State may not provide facial recognition search services except for verification of an individual's identity when issuing a mobile driver's license or identification card.

Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre shall be paid by the buyer or lessee of a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose of developing an industrial park, a commercial area, a single-family or multi-family dwelling or for being put to any other use that removes the agricultural land from production. Provides that the fee shall be collected by the Department of Agricultural. Provides for the creation of the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all Farmland Conversion Fees collected by the Department of Agriculture shall be contributed to the Fund. Further provides that moneys in the Fund may be exclusively used for the following purposes: (i) supporting education and programs that support healthy soil clean water, and climate-smart agricultural practices; (ii) supporting operations funding for soil and water conservation districts; (iii) covering costs associated with administering the Act; (iv) any other purposes that the Department of Agriculture determines are consistent with the purposes of the Act. Provides that, before expending moneys for any other purposes, the Department of Agriculture shall, subject to the availability of moneys in the Fund, ensure that during each State fiscal year, $10,000,000 is distributed to soil and water conservation districts, for the purpose of supporting their operations funding. Provides that $500,000 shall be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of collecting fees and administering the program created under the Act. Provides for penalties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person convicted of a felony, after the completion of his or her sentence, including the completion of his or her parole or mandatory supervised release term, shall be eligible to be nominated for, and elected to, an elective public office. Provides that the provision does not apply to a person convicted of a felony, bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime for an offense committed while he or she was serving as a public official in the State. Defines "elective public office". Amends the Election Code and the Illinois Municipal Code to make conforming changes.

Creates the Let the People Lift the Ban Act. Includes legislative findings and purpose. Defines terms. Excludes specified types of residences and occupancies from the Act. Includes provisions relating to rental agreements, tenant and landlord rights and obligations, tenant and landlord remedies, security deposits, retaliatory conduct, lockouts, and conflict with other provisions of law. Amends the Rent Control Preemption Act. Provides that a prohibition on a unit of local government enacting, maintaining, or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property does not apply if the voters of the unit of local government have approved a referendum allowing rent control. Adds provisions about local rent control regulation, including regulation within a district, precinct, ward, or other similar subdivision of a unit of local government. Changes the home rule preemption of the Act to concurrent exercise of home rule powers by a unit rather than exclusive exercise by the State. Repeals the Retaliatory Eviction Act. Effective immediately.