Illinois

Amends the Airport Authorities Act. Provides that, in an order finding the results of an election to be favorable to the establishment of an airport authority, the circuit court shall determine, among other things, the population of each municipality within the authority having 5,000 or more inhabitants who reside within the corporate limits of the authority (rather than the population of each municipality within the authority having 5,000 or more inhabitants). Provides that, if a municipality not wholly located within the Springfield Airport Authority attains 5,000 or more inhabitants who reside within both the corporate limits of the municipality and the corporate limits of the Springfield Airport Authority, then a referendum may be held to determine whether those residents may be deannexed from the Springfield Airport Authority. Authorizes the referendum to be initiated either (i) by a petition signed by a number of voters equal to of at least 8% of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the last gubernatorial election by the registered voters who reside in the corporate limits of the municipality and the corporate limits of the Springfield Airport Authority or (ii) by the corporate authorities of a municipality not wholly located within the corporate limits of the Springfield Airport Authority with 5,000 or more inhabitants who reside within both the corporate limits of the municipality and the corporate limits of the Springfield Airport Authority. Specifies that, if the majority of those voting on the referendum approve of deannexation, then the Springfield Airport Authority shall either deannex all the territory within the corporate limits of the municipality or accept the appointment of one additional commissioner to the board who shall be appointed by the municipality that voted for deannexation. Requires the Springfield Airport Authority to vote to either deannex the affected property or accept the appointment of an additional commissioner within 45 days after certification of the vote. Requires all appointments of commissioners to boards of commissioners of airport authorities to indicate whether or not the person appointed resides within or without a municipality having a population of 5,000 or more inhabitants within the corporate limits of the authority (rather than a municipality having a population of 5,000 or more inhabitants).

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the 15-year penalty enhancement for committing various offenses with a firearm, applies only if the person committed the offense while personally armed with the firearm.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Replaces references to the Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program and the Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Pilot Program with references to the Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Program. Repeals provisions that would automatically repeal the Program on July 1, 2026. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants from appropriations from the Cannabis Business Development Fund to community colleges licensed under the Community College Vocational Training Program, and requires the Department to adopt rules. Provides that the community colleges that received a license before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to be licensed Responsible Vendor Program Training Providers and that such designation may be revoked for cause under rules adopted by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines "CCR management unit" as any area of land at any facility with a CCR surface impoundment, on which any noncontainerized accumulation of CCR is received, is placed, or is otherwise managed, and that is not itself a CCR surface impoundment. Provides that the term "CCR management unit" does not include CCR used in a manner that meets the definition of coal combustion by-product, unless the owner or operator, or the Agency, determines that the CCR is causing or contributing to a statistically significant concentration of one or more constituents above the groundwater protection standard established by the Board. Provides that no later than February 8, 2027, the owner or operator of a CCR surface impoundment must submit to the Agency a copy of the Facility Evaluation Reports Part 1 and 2. Provides that the Board shall adopt rules establishing permit requirements, reporting, financial assurance, and closure and post-closure care requirements for CCR management units. Provides that the owner or operator of a CCR management unit shall pay an initial fee of $75,000 for each CCR management unit by July 1, 2027 and an annual fee of $25,000 for each CCR management unit that has not completed closure; and $15,000 for each CCR management unit that has not completed post-closure care, beginning July 1, 2028.

Creates the Prohibition of Algorithmics in Rent Act. Provides that in setting the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant for the occupancy of a residential premises, including determining any change in the amount of rent to be charged for the renewed occupancy of a residential premises, a landlord shall not employ, use, or rely upon, or cause another person to employ, use, or rely upon, an algorithmic device that uses, incorporates, or was trained with nonpublic competitor data. Defines "algorithmic device" to mean a device that uses one or more algorithms to perform calculations of data, including data concerning local or statewide rent amounts being charged to tenants by landlords, for the purpose of advising a landlord concerning the amount of rent that the landlord may consider charging a tenant. Provides that this definition does not include (i) any report published periodically, but no more frequently than monthly, by a trade association that receives renter data and publishes it in an aggregated and anonymous manner; or (ii) a product used for the purpose of establishing rent or income limits in accordance with the affordable housing program guidelines of a local government, the State, the federal government, or other political subdivision. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a corresponding change. Provides that any person who violates the Prohibition of Algorithmics in Rent Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that any person, firm, corporation, co-partnership, limited liability company, association, or business, including an online retailer, that intentionally manufactures, delivers, possesses, or sells, with intent to manufacture, deliver, sell, or otherwise transfer nitrous oxide for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication, elation, euphoria, dizziness, stupefaction, or dulling of the senses or for the purpose of changing, distorting, or disturbing the audio, visual, or mental processes is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Authorizes the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to make grants to small businesses for eligible security improvements that assist the small business in preventing, preparing for, or responding to threats, attacks, or acts of terrorism. Provides that a small business eligible for a grant under the program must meet certain requirements. Creates the IEMA At-Risk Small Business Security Grant Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security is authorized to use moneys appropriated from the Fund to make grants to small businesses for target hardening activities, security personnel, and physical security enhancements and for the payment of administrative expenses associated with the Illinois At-Risk Small Business Security Grant Program, except that, beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall not award grants under these provisions to those entities whose primary purpose is to provide medical or mental health services. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active or a retired law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. In a provision concerning school resource officers, provides that a school or school district that hires an active or a retired law enforcement officer as a school resource officer shall be reimbursed for salary and additional costs through the School Resource Officer Grant Program.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes the deputy chief of police of a non-home rule municipality with a population of 130,000 or fewer inhabitants or a deputy or assistant deputy chief of police of a non-home rule municipality with a population of more than 130,000 inhabitants to be appointed not only from among the rank of sworn, full-time officers of the municipality's police department but also from among the rank of sworn officers of any other municipality if the officer has at least 5 years of full-time service as a police officer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code. Provides that, as soon as practical after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall study the current practices of funeral directing and embalming, including how other states regulate those practices and industries and the potential costs and benefits to licensing those professions separately, and shall determine what legislative and administrative changes would be necessary to establish separate funeral director licenses and embalmers licenses. Provides that the study and recommended legislative changes shall be presented to the General Assembly by no later than January 1, 2027. Sets forth findings. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits a low-speed electric bicycle from being used on a public roadway by a person without a valid driver's license. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall conduct a Grooming Awareness Public Educational and Outreach Program, which is a public education and outreach program concerning the grooming of children, including, but not limited to, grooming behaviors and how to recognize, prevent, and report grooming behaviors. Provides that the Department of Public Health may work with other organizations to help conduct the Program which may include, but is not limited to, the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) or the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). Provides that the Department of Public Health may adopt rules that are necessary to conduct the Program. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of failure to report grooming of a child. Provides that a person 18 years of age or older commits the offense when he or she personally observes the grooming between a person whom he or she knows is 18 years of age or older and a person he or she knows is a child under 17 years of age, and knowingly fails to report the grooming to law enforcement. Provides that the offense does not apply to a person who makes timely and reasonable efforts to stop the sex offense or unlawful sexual conduct by reporting the grooming or sexual conduct in conformance with the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or by reporting the sex offense or causing a report to be made, to medical or law enforcement authorities or anyone who is a mandated reporter under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that a person who commits failure to report grooming of a child is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first violation and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent violation. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to allow prosecution of a person who personally observes the act of grooming and assists with an investigation and any subsequent prosecution of the offender.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a public high school from having a start time earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management service provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management service provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that no person under the age of 18 (rather than 21) shall be eligible for employment as a firefighter.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, no later than December 31, 2025, the State Board of Elections shall implement an application programming interface to allow third-party organizations approved by the State Board of Elections to submit complete voter registration applications in a standardized data format. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that notwithstanding any prior exclusion, any person incarcerated under an indeterminate sentence on the effective date of the amendatory Act whose minimum term was 20 years or more as of February 1, 1978, may elect to be resentenced under the 1978 determinate sentencing law. Provides that the election must be made in writing to the Department of Corrections, which shall inform all eligible persons within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide all necessary forms and assistance to eligible persons. Provides that upon election, the person's indeterminate sentence shall be converted to a determinate sentence consistent with the 1978 sentencing structure and the offense for which the person was convicted. Provides that time served shall be applied retroactively, and the person shall be credited with all sentence credits and earned time applicable under the law in effect since the date of original commitment. Provides that any person whose recalculated determinate sentence has been fully served shall be immediately released to a mandatory supervised release term under the terms applicable to the offense class and sentence length at the time of original sentencing. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall schedule hearings for eligible persons who elect the option within 180 days after receiving their request. Provides that thereafter, continued review shall occur no less frequently than every 12 months, unless earlier action is deemed by the Board to be appropriate. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to require parole or mandatory supervised release for any person who does not elect the option, or who is otherwise ineligible. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the vendor portal for the Department of Transportation must include any locally-applicable project labor agreement requirements.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. In provisions requiring governmental entities to adopt ordinances or resolutions regulating specified ethical concerns, provides that a governmental entity may create an ethics commission to satisfy the requirements.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person who is otherwise qualified to vote may preregister to vote on or after that person's 15th birthday (rather than 16th birthday). Provides that a person who is 15 years of age or older (rather than 16 years of age or older) shall be deemed competent to execute and attest to any voter registration forms. Provides that a person may use an instruction permit issued by the Secretary of State as a valid form of identification under the provision.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that election authorities may authorize service of objections to candidate nominations through electronic mail in lieu of personal service under specified circumstances. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "electric personal assistive mobility device" to mean a self-balancing 2 non-tandem wheeled device lacking pedals designed to transport only one person that is battery-powered or has an electric propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to 15 miles per hour or less. Includes in the definition of "electric personal assistive mobility device" a device that is currently out-of-class. Excludes from the definition of "electric personal assistive mobility device" a low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed scooter, motorcycle, or motor vehicle.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that, to facilitate timely applications for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, facilities shall assess residents using the Social Security Administration screener to check eligibility for Social Security benefits within 30 days after admission to a facility. If the resident is likely eligible, requires the facility to assist the resident with completing an application within 60 days after admission to a facility. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, facilities shall conduct a one-time assessment of all current residents and complete a Social Security Administration screener for all residents without income and without a pending Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance application. Twice per year, requires each facility to publicly post on the facility's website the number of residents screened and the number of applications initiated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to provide higher education student loan repayment assistance in the form of an annual after-tax bonus in an amount to be determined by the Department, for not more than 5 years, to any engineer employed by the Department if (i) the engineer is a graduate of a community college, college, or university located in the State, (ii) the engineer provides documentation to the Department of the repayment of higher education student loans taken to attend a community college, college, or university located in the State, and (iii) the engineer remains in the employ of the Department for at least 5 years. Provides that if the engineer leaves the employ of the Department prior to serving 5 years, the engineer must return all bonuses made to the engineer by the Department pursuant to these provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for tax sales occurring on or after January 1, 2027, a certificate of purchase shall not be issued sooner than 90 days after the conclusion of the tax sale.