Illinois

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to federal approval, any individual who is initially approved to provide personal care services as a live-in caregiver under the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Waiver or the Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults but is subsequently ordered by the Department of Human Services to complete mandatory electronic visit verification (EVV) training on account of the individual submitting an incomplete or insufficient application for the live-in caregiver exemption from EVV requirements shall be allowed a one-time waiver of the mandatory EVV training if: (i) the individual's application for the live-in caregiver exemption was determined by the Department to be incomplete or insufficient due to missing documentation; (ii) the individual is otherwise eligible for the live-in caregiver exemption; and (iii) the individual has not previously been ordered to complete mandatory EVV training. Provides that, subject to federal approval, any individual who is approved for the live-in caregiver exemption either through formal application or a waiver shall be required to renew the exemption by written application every 5 years. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a federally licensed firearm dealer shall, upon the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person whom the dealer reasonably believes to be a first-time purchaser or transferee of a firearm, provide the purchaser or transferee of the firearm with printed or digital information about firearm safety courses available locally or electronically and the safe storage of firearms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2025 and thereafter, the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities carries over to the benefit of a deceased veteran's remarried surviving spouse as long as the surviving spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the property and permanently resides on the property (currently, the surviving spouse is not eligible for the exemption if the spouse remarries). Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. In provisions regarding notice of changes to regular meeting dates, deletes requirements for publication in a newspaper or, in certain cases, posting in at least 3 prominent places within the governmental unit. Adds a requirement that notice of changes to regular meeting dates shall also be posted on the website of the public body.

Creates the Illinois Moorish-American Family Commission Act. Creates the Illinois Moorish-American Family Commission to advise the Governor and General Assembly, as well as work directly with State agencies, to improve and expand existing policies, services, programs, and opportunities for Moorish-American families, children, and adults and guide the efforts of and collaborate with State agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Employment Security, and others. Sets forth provisions concerning the members of the Commission, funding, addresses and reports, and oversight. Provides that administrative, technical, and staffing support for the Commission shall be provided by the Commission on Equity and Inclusion. Effective immediately.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include an employee who is engaged in the operation of a vessel that is documented by the United States under a specified federal law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Equipment of Vehicles Chapter of the Illinois Vehicle Code to create the Autonomous Vehicles Article. Establishes requirements for the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle being operated. Allows the Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department to adopt various rules regarding the operation and manufacture of autonomous vehicles. Includes requirements for manufacturers of autonomous vehicles. Requires a notice of autonomous vehicle noncompliance for violations of the Code or local traffic ordinances. Sets forth prohibitions for dealers and manufacturers.

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.

Creates the Single-Use Plastic Foodware Reduction Act. Defines terms. Provides that a third-party food delivery platform or third-party online ordering platform must allow consumers to request single-use foodware when ordering food or beverages from a restaurant through the platform. Prohibits restaurants using a third-party food delivery platform or third-party online ordering platform from providing single-use foodware unless specifically requested by the consumer. Exempts certain foodware items, including items necessary for safety, items in vending machines, items prepackaged by manufacturers, items at restaurants at Chicago O'Hare or Chicago Midway Airports, and items provided at drive-through windows. Provides for civil penalties for a violation. Limits home rule powers. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Extreme Weather Recovery Act. Creates a private cause of action for a harmed party against a responsible party in which the amount in controversy is $10,000 or more. Authorizes a harmed party who has suffered damages in that amount that is alleged to have been caused by climate disaster or extreme weather attributable to climate changes or both to sue a responsible party. The Act's covered period is from 1965 to the effective date of the Act. Prohibits the State or unit of local government or an agent or employee of these governmental units from commencing an action under the Act. Makes legislative findings. Makes definitions. Creates a 3-year statute of limitation in which a harmed party must file or commence an action under the Act. Authorizes the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to adopt rules implementing the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Referendum Neutrality and Taxpayer Protection Act. Provides that a public body may only expend public funds related to a local referendum for specified purposes. Provides for the designation of an official committee in favor and the official committee opposed to the local referendum. Provides for the preparation of arguments in favor of or in opposition to the local referendum by the committees. Provides that an election authority shall review the arguments and publish the arguments in a voter information package. Sets forth provisions concerning conduct by public employees and public bodies. Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that activities intended to influence voter support for or opposition to a referendum or potential referendum, when conducted using public funds, public facilities, or employee compensated time, constitute prohibited political activity. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to in-service training programs, provides that the school board of each school district operating a secondary education program shall annually conduct in-service training on iron deficiency and iron anemia caused by participation in athletics for all coaches of high school interscholastic athletics in the school district. Provides that the training shall include menstrual dysfunction, low-energy availability, low bone-mineral density, signs and symptoms, the impact on health and performance, and what measures can be taken to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of these conditions.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a vintage distilled spirits license that allows a vintage distilled spirits licensee to purchase vintage distilled spirits from a vintage distilled spirits seller and sell vintage distilled spirits. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions, license fees, monthly reporting requirements, labeling requirements, and limits on the purchase and sale of vintage distilled spirits. Provides that a vintage distilled spirits seller shall not sell more than 24 vintage distilled spirits packages to any single or combination of vintage distilled spirits licensees in any given 12-month period. Sets forth a fine for a vintage distilled spirits seller who violates that limit.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In provisions concerning volunteer emergency workers, provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, "volunteer emergency worker" also includes a community policing volunteer, a volunteer auxiliary police officer, or a volunteer auxiliary deputy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Requires each school district to provide transportation to all students with an Individualized Education Program, based solely on the student's eligibility for special education. Provides that the transportation shall be provided at no cost and is presumed necessary for a free appropriate public education. Provides that the type, method, route, and accommodations for transportation shall be individualized to the student's needs. Sets forth how mileage shall be determined and verified. Requires school districts to maintain mileage records, provide the mileage records to parents or guardians within 10 business days of request, and include the mileage records in the student's educational record. Establishes transportation restrictions for school districts. Allows parents or guardians to seek relief for the failure to provide transportation as a denial of a free appropriate public education. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to pay safety-net hospitals a health care equity add-on payment that is based on such hospitals' Medicaid inpatient utilization rate, removes the December 31, 2026 sunset date for the add-on payments. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. In provisions regarding the Cannabis Equity Commission, adds to the ex officio membership the chairperson of the Agriculture Committee of the Senate, or his or her designee, who shall serve as co-chair of the Commission, and the chairperson of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives, or his or her designee, who shall serve as co-chair of the Commission, as well as members of the Illinois Black Caucus and the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus (previously, the Governor, or his or her designee, served as chair of the Commission). Further adds to the membership of the Commission one individual who is a journalist and representative of the news media with work experience covering the national and local cannabis market as well as issues related to disproportionately impacted areas. Requires appointment by the co-chairs of the Commission within 90 days after a vacancy in membership under certain provisions. Provides that the Commission shall issue an annual report to the General Assembly that includes, without limitation, an evaluation of the current market, data regarding social equity operations in the State, community reinvestment data from the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program, and tax revenues, as well as recommendations for policy changes that focus on supporting social equity applicants, operators, and communities harmed the most by the failed war on drugs.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that, upon request by an owners licensee authorized to conduct casino gambling in the City of Waukegan and upon a showing of good cause by the owners licensee, the Illinois Gaming Board shall extend the period during which the licensee may conduct gaming at a temporary facility by up to 48 (rather than 30) months. Effective immediately.

Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take powers may be used by the Village of Oak Park for a period of 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act for the acquisition of specified properties in Cook County for the purpose of a public building and facility. Repeals the provisions added by the amendatory Act 3 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that an applicant or licensee is not in violation of the Act or certain Illinois Gaming Board rules and shall not be subject to disciplinary action, delay of any Board consideration, or denial of any license for operating a gaming device if operation of the gaming device is in compliance with, and not considered gambling under, the Criminal Code of 2012. Removes language providing that nothing shall be deemed to prohibit the use of a game device only if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that of the tax collected on net terminal income, 80.84% (rather than 83.7%) shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund and 17.16% (rather than 14.3%) shall be deposited into the Local Government Video Gaming Distributive Fund. Repeals a provision regarding the prohibition of video gaming by political subdivisions. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a gambling offense involving a vending or other electronic machine or device, is a Class 4 felony. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the supportive living facilities program, prohibits a supportive living dementia care setting from limiting a resident's access to the sink, microwave, or refrigerator located within the respective resident's room, provided a comprehensive safety assessment deems the resident's use of the appliances safe. Requires the comprehensive safety assessment to be conducted prior to any resident moving in and at least once per quarter thereafter. Requires social and recreational programming to be provided no less than 3 times daily, including at least one time and location separate from a meal service. Requires newly constructed supportive living dementia care settings to provide no less than 300 square feet for a single occupancy apartment or no less than 450 square feet for a double occupancy apartment, which may include the closets and bathroom. Requires each apartment to include a sink, microwave, and refrigerator within the unit. Provides that any newly constructed supportive living dementia care setting shall provide a common area completely separate from the dining area.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the sum of $10,000 (rather than $8,000) for burial expenses shall be paid by the employer to the widow or widower, other dependent, next of kin, or person or persons incurring the expense of burial.

Creates the Social Media Data Clean Slate Act. A social media platform shall provide a clear and conspicuous button that enables a user to delete the user's account that satisfies specified requirements. Provides that the social media platform shall, when the button is clicked, provide a user with the steps necessary to complete an account deletion request, which shall include deletion of the user's personal information. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the account and personal information deletion process. Provides that any waiver of the rights provided under the Act shall be void and unenforceable. Provides that the Attorney General shall adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce the Act. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Name Change Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that for a petition for name change by a person who is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, or the Arsonist Registry Act and not yet pardoned, if the petition alleges that it is sought because of marriage, religious beliefs, or status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity, the court may grant or deny the petition after making a determination based on certain factors. Provides that any denial of a name change sought for one of those reasons must be in writing stating the reasons for the denial. Provides that a person who has been convicted as an adult of a felony offense and whose sentence has not been completed, terminated, or discharged is not permitted to file a petition for a name change unless pardoned for the offense. Provides that the State's Attorney may file an objection to the petition within 30 days of being served if the petitioner has been convicted of and not been pardoned or has a pending case for any of these enumerated charges: identity theft, aggravated identity theft, felony or misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse if the victim of the offense at the time of its commission is under 18 years of age, felony or misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child, felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of a child, or felony or misdemeanor indecent solicitation of an adult. Provides the same opportunity to object if the petitioner has any pending charge that would require compliance, if convicted, with the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, or the Arsonist Registry Act. Provides that those objections must be in writing, filed with the circuit court clerk, served upon the petitioner, and state with specificity the basis of the objection, including, but not limited to, any evidence of specific intent for requesting the name change and any specific and detailed facts demonstrating that any potential risk to another individual or group would outweigh any potential harm or negative impact to the individual making the request for the name change. Makes other changes.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the fee for a fishing or hunting license is $5 for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces.