Illinois

Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources, after consulting with the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council and the Department of Insurance, to adopt rules establishing a Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program for the purpose of providing, for a period of 6 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, coverage for losses incurred by eligible persons as a result of prescribed burns conducted in accordance with the Act by certified prescribed burn managers. Sets forth programmatic requirements for the pilot program. Creates the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Fund. Allows the Department to impose and collect specified premiums and fees to implement and administer the Act and to maintain the solvency of the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be expended by the Department for purposes of the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program and its administration and for no other purpose. Allows the Department to contract with any entity to serve as the third-party administrator of the program and to assist in administering the Fund. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to limit the liability of a person who is enrolled in the pilot program for damages in excess of the cap established by the Department by rule. Further provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to impose liability on the State for any payment of any claim beyond the amount of moneys available in the Fund. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law to add references in confidentiality provisions to the Office of Executive Inspector General and the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code to extend the exemption period for implementing the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Amends the Use Tax Act, Service Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, and Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to include cannabis purchased by qualifying patients or caregivers as "prescription and nonprescription medicines and drugs" beginning July 1, 2026. Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act to rename the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program, eliminate the sunset of the Program and emergency rulemaking provisions, revise definitions, add references to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, supplant or sunset certain provisions on July 1, 2026, repeal certain provisions on January 1, 2027, and make conforming changes. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to update definitions, merge licenses, prioritize medical patients, allow license relocation, revise training and compliance requirements, and authorize integrated identification card systems. Establishes diversity spending and reporting requirements with penalties. Amends the Tobacco Accessories and Smoking Herbs Control Act to delete references to marijuana and hashish in the purpose of the Act. Effective immediately.

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.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, each water purveyor shall develop a cybersecurity program that defines and implements organizational accountabilities and responsibilities for cyber risk management activities, and establishes policies, plans, processes, and procedures for identifying and mitigating cyber risk to its public community water system. Provides that, within certain time periods after the effective date of the amendatory provisions, a water purveyor shall create a cybersecurity incident reporting process; obtain a cybersecurity insurance policy that meets certain standards; reasonably conform to the most recent version of one or more of specified industry-recognized cybersecurity frameworks; submit a compliance report; submit an incident report; and submit an annual status report. Sets forth provisions concerning violations of the amendatory provisions and rulemaking abilities of the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning colocation of photovoltaic community renewable generation projects, changes references from "community renewable generation project" to "photovoltaic community renewable generation project" and "community solar projects" to "photovoltaic community renewable generation projects". Requires a project labor agreement for the new construction of certain facilities related to community-driven community solar projects. In a provision applying prevailing wage requirements to facilities for which a renewable energy credit delivery contract is signed, removes an exception for multi-family residential buildings with aggregate geothermal system tonnage, including colocated projects, of no more than 29 tons. Amends the Energy Transition Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall jointly develop activities to support the recruitment of eligible candidates to the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program. Provides that the activities shall include coordinating on sharing with community-based providers the contact information of persons preparing to be released into the community, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, if the person preparing to be released consents to the person's contact information being shared. Makes other changes.

Creates the Database Resources for Students Act. Provides that a school district, State agency, public library, or public university or community college may offer digital or online library database resources to students in grades kindergarten through 12 only if the provider of the resources verifies that all the resources have safety policies and technology protection measures that prohibit and prevent a user of the resources from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading and filter or block access to child pornography, obscene materials, or materials that depict child sexual exploitation. Provides that, notwithstanding any contract provision to the contrary, if a provider fails to comply with these provisions, the school district, State agency, public library, or public university or community college shall withhold further payments to the provider pending verification of compliance. Provides that if a provider fails to timely verify that the provider is in compliance, then the school district, State agency, public library, or public university or community college shall consider the provider's act of noncompliance as a breach of contract. Provides that nothing in the Act exempts from prosecution an employee of a school district, State agency, public library, or public university or community college for a willful violation of the provisions of the Criminal Code of 2012 regarding obscenity and child pornography. Sets forth reporting provisions. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code to provide that the Act applies to charter schools. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no later than December 31 of each even number year, the State Board of Elections shall report to the General Assembly (rather than to the General Assembly and the Federal Election Commission) the number of accessible and inaccessible polling places in the State on the date of the next preceding general election, and the reason for any instance of inaccessibility.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to procurement expenditures that are necessary for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to respond to a radiological incident, to monitor a nuclear power plant, or to use at a nuclear facility. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property certified by the Department of Revenue as mega project property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that, if property is certified as mega project property, then, during the incentive period, the value added to the property by the project shall not be considered for assessment purposes, and the total valuation of the property during the incentive period shall be limited to the base year valuation. Provides that "mega project" means a project that satisfies certain minimum investment, investment period, and other requirements. Contains provisions concerning incentive agreements between a company that plans to undertake a mega project and a local municipality obligating the company to make special payments in addition to property taxes. Effective June 1, 2025.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Requires a public body to respond to a request for records submitted by a mass requester within 21 business days after receipt. Requires the response to (i) provide to the requester an estimate of the time required by the public body to provide the records requested and an estimate of the fees to be charged, which the public body may require the person to pay in full before copying the requested documents, (ii) deny the request pursuant to one or more of the exemptions set out in the Act, (iii) notify the requester that the request is unduly burdensome and extend an opportunity to the requester to attempt to reduce the request to manageable proportions, or (iv) provide the records requested. Provides that, unless the records are exempt from disclosure, a public body shall comply with a request for records within a reasonable period considering the size and complexity of the request and giving priority to records requested by requesters who are not mass requesters. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to knowingly obtain a public record without disclosing the person's status as a mass requester, if requested to do so by the public body, within 5 business days. Allows the public body to deny the request based upon the violation. Requires a mass requester to notify the public body of an objection before seeking review of a denial of a request with the Public Access Counselor, and requires review by a Public Access Counselor before judicial review. Limits awards of attorney's fees to mass requesters under the Act. Defines "mass requester". Makes conforming changes.

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.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are within 4,000 feet of Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal and off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator of an electric generating plant located within 4,000 feet of Lake Michigan that generates or has generated CCR that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment to remove from the owner's or operator's site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by the facility that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by the 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.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that a person commits the crime of violation of an order of protection under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 if the person, in violation of an order to surrender the person's firearms and firearm parts, knowingly transfers a firearm or firearm parts to the respondent or otherwise allows the respondent access to a firearm or firearm parts. Provides that, if the law enforcement agency seeks to correct or negate the warrant for the seizure of the respondent's firearms and firearm parts, it shall take reasonable steps to notify the petitioner before appearing before the court. Makes technical changes.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. In provisions concerning registered professional nurse licensure by examination, provides that, prior to September 1, 2029 (rather than September 1, 2026), no professional nursing program shall be placed on probationary status for failing to reach a licensure examination passage rate of less than 75%.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the written statement and explanation of the rights of crime victims provided by a law enforcement agency that investigates an offense committed in the State to a crime victim shall include the ability to file a complaint against an individual who is licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that the statements that are to be provided by pesticide registrants under the Act must include either a specific statement that the pesticide to be registered contains no PFAS or, if the pesticide (including its active and inert ingredients) contains any PFAS, certain information regarding the PFAS, including the name of the specific chemical and the quantity of the chemical in the product. Provides that the Director of Agriculture shall not register any pesticide product that contains a chemical that is an intentionally added PFAS and that the use of any pesticide that contains any chemical that is an intentionally added PFAS is prohibited. Further provides, beginning January 1, 2030, that the use of any spray adjuvant that contains intentionally added PFAS is prohibited. Requires the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Defines "PFAS" and "intentionally added PFAS".

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Adds provisions authorizing the Department of Agriculture to issue a transfer site endorsement for licensed cannabis transporters with a social equity designation. Provides that the endorsement allows operation of secure transfer sites for short-term storage and logistical consolidation of cannabis or cannabis-infused products. Sets conditions for use, security requirements, insurance, and compliance standards. Requires coordination with local zoning authorities and rulemaking by the Department. Makes related changes to findings and definitions.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if an applicant or a member of the applicant's household incurs qualified medical expenses in the taxable year and withdraws moneys from a tax-deferred account to pay those qualified medical expenses, then the applicant may apply to the chief county assessment officer to deduct those amounts from the applicant's household income for the purpose of determining the applicant's eligibility for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in making a decision upon a complaint filed by a complainant's agent, the board of review shall be limited to the evidence presented by the complainant or the complainant's agent, the county assessor, and a taxing district, and each complaint shall be limited to the grounds listed in the petition, the supporting documents filed with the board, and the rebuttal evidence filed with the board. Provides that no assessment may be revised and corrected until the complainant or the complainant's agent has been given a period of 30 days to review and rebut a decision of the board. Provides that an oral hearing shall be granted on request of any complainant or any complainant's agent. Provides that, when a board of review decision is made on a complaint, the board shall transmit a computer printout of the results, or make and sign a brief written statement of the decision (currently, a brief written statement of the reason for the change and the manner in which the method used by the assessor in making the assessment was erroneous).

Creates the Lubricant and Related Product Producer Responsibility Act. Requires a producer of covered products to register with a producer responsibility organization and notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Prohibits an unregistered producer from selling, offering for sale, importing, or distributing a covered product in the State. Sets forth various requirements for a producer responsibility organization and a producer responsibility plan. Lists duties of a lubricant service provider and requires the Agency to provide certain information to a producer responsibility organization. Lists financial duties of the producer responsibility organization and the Agency. Requires participant producers, through the producer responsibility organization, to pay certain costs. Creates the Lubricant and Related Product Producer Responsibility Fund in the State treasury. Requires the producer responsibility organization to reimburse certain lubricant service providers for specified costs. Sets forth requirements for records, audits, and reports related to the producer responsibility organization. Prohibits a retailer, dealer, producer, or distributor from selling, distributing, offering for sale, or importing a covered product in or into the State unless certain requirements are met. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Requires deposit of penalties into the Lubricant and Related Product Producer Responsibility Fund. Provides for judicial review of administrative decisions and for enforcement of judgments. Limits liability for anticompetitive conduct. Sets timelines for implementation of various parts of the Act. Allows the Agency to adopt rules that are necessary to implement and administer the Act. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning primary election ballots, provides that the lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that any qualified resident of a cultural district designated by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may petition the corporate authorities of any taxing district in which the person resides to abate up to one-half of the property tax levied against homestead property occupied as a primary residence by the qualified resident.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Contains findings. Requires each health carrier to annually submit completed templates with both plan-level and carrier-level data to the Director of Insurance in the form, manner, and time prescribed by the Director by no later than July 1 of each year for data from the previous calendar year. Provides that data must be sufficient to support independent technical evaluation and to enable meaningful public understanding of access to and coverage for each facility type and specified professional provider type. Requires each health carrier to report, disaggregated by facility type, professional provider type, youth, adult, in-person, and telehealth, the specified data elements. Requires the Director to post, in an easily accessible, consumer-friendly manner, on a public website, all underlying data and data files reported no later than 3 months after receipt. Sets forth provisions concerning certification of health carriers and administration and enforcement of the provisions. Provides that the data submission requirements apply to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2028, a treatment hospital, treatment hospital with approved pediatric transfer, or approved pediatric health care facility may submit a sexual assault treatment plan which includes the use of a TeleSANE interactive telecommunications system which allows a qualified medical provider to precept a medical forensic examination while located at a distant site. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that in inspection and copying of law enforcement records maintained by law enforcement agencies that relate to a minor who has been investigated, arrested, or taken into custody before the minor's 18th birthday by victims and their attorneys, the information identifying the nonrequesting victims shall be redacted in cases of multiple minor victims or multiple victims of sex offenses. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that a victim shall not be excluded from any part of the trial unless a written motion to exclude a victim from trial was filed at least 60 days prior to the date set for trial. Makes other structural and technical changes in the Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, or Stalking Act. Defines "eligible person" as a person 18 years of age or older who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking; the parent or guardian of a minor or disabled adult who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking; and a household member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking. Allows household members who are not victims to participate in the program. Provides that a participant whose certification has not been withdrawn or cancelled may reapply to the Address Confidentiality Program to renew certification for an additional 4 years. Changes notice process for certification cancellation. Allows the Attorney General discretion to continue the participation of participants who have a change of legal name and specifies notice in that process. Makes other changes.

Creates the Youth Public Safety and Social Media Accountability Act. Provides that no person shall coordinate or promote an unlawful large youth gathering, including through the use of a social media platform. Provides that a person who violates the provision commits a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that an operator of a social media platform shall take reasonable measures to restrict content that coordinates or promotes an unlawful large youth gathering. Provides that an operator of a social media platform shall maintain at least $5,000,000 in liability insurance filed with the Department of Insurance to cover harms arising from a violation of the provision. Provides that a person injured in connection with an unlawful large youth gathering may bring a civil action against a social media platform.