Illinois

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning acts by a company constituting improper claims practice, includes: (i) knowingly taking advantage of the insured's physical infirmity, ignorance, illiteracy, or inability to understand the language of the policy or any associated agreements in order to obtain a favorable settlement of a claim and (ii) willfully misrepresenting the status or outcome of an investigation or failing to take any meaningful investigatory acts before issuing a denial or offer of a compromise settlement. Provides that committing any of the improper claims practice acts is a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to provide that a person who commits an improper claims practice under the Illinois Insurance Code commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Creates the Protection of Neural Data Act. Requires any nonmedical person or organization using or facilitating neural devices to access individuals' neural data to publicly post all user agreements and privacy terms on their website and clearly disclose to individuals the health and safety risks associated with the device. Prohibits a covered entity from storing, retaining, or transferring an individual's neural data unless the individual consents. Requires that covered entities must delete all neural data in their possession and instruct all third party recipients to do the same within 30 days of an individual's retracting of consent. Authorizes the Attorney General and State's Attorneys to enforce the Act. Makes violation of this Act a Class 1 misdemeanor Creates a civil cause of action for violation and a presumption of at least $10,000 in damages for unauthorized transfer of neural data.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, "production agriculture" also includes scouting crops, inspecting or repairing fences used to raise livestock, tile mapping, and herding or inspecting livestock.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a grant made by the Department of Transportation to municipalities and airport authorities for the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities must include a condition that the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities is covered by a project labor agreement entered into with the local building and construction trades council having geographic jurisdiction over the airport facilities. Amends the Airport Authorities Act. Provides that any contract entered into by an airport authority to construct, develop, expand, extend, or improve any airport or airport facility must include a project labor agreement entered into with the local building and construction trades council having geographic jurisdiction over the airport or airport facility. Defines "project labor agreement". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor made without the presence of counsel throughout a custodial interrogation is inadmissible as evidence against the minor in any proceeding under the Act if imposition of an adult criminal sentence is a possibility, including a sentence under an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution and proceeding, or in any proceeding under the Criminal Code of 2012.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Creates the Deforestation-Free Illinois Law within the Code. Provides that neither the State nor any State agency shall allow any person having a contract with the State or with a State agency to purchase, at wholesale or retail, or obtain any tropical hardwood or tropical hardwood product for use in completing a contract with the State or with any State agency, subject to certain exceptions. Requires contractors who enter into contracts with the State to certify that the commodity furnished to the State was not extracted from, grown, derived, harvested, reared, or produced on land where deforestation or primary forest and old-growth forest degradation occurred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning energy storage systems, provides that the farmland drainage plan that a facility owner must file with a county shall include, among other things, plans to repair any subsurface drainage affected during construction or deconstruction using procedures outlined in the agricultural impact mitigation agreement (rather than outlined in the decommissioning plan) and procedures for the repair and restoration of surface drainage affected during construction or deconstruction. Provides that a county shall (rather than may) require a facility owner to provide a decommissioning plan to the county. Makes changes to the requirements of a decommissioning plan. Provides that a county shall (rather than may) require the facility owner to submit to the county (i) a commercial operation a commissioning report meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; (ii) a hazard mitigation analysis meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; (iii) an emergency operations plan meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; and (iv) a warning that complies with specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association. Provides that the energy storage system owner shall enter into one agricultural impact mitigation agreement for each energy storage system. Requires the agricultural impact mitigation agreement for an energy storage system to include specified plans. Requires a commercial renewable energy facility owner to make available a copy of the signed agricultural impact mitigation agreement at the site of the commercial renewable energy facility during any construction or deconstruction activities. Makes other changes.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Department of Professional Regulation to disclose to the Office of the Executive Inspector General confidential information collected during investigations. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Specifies that "prescription and nonprescription medicines and drugs" includes, in the specified circumstances, cannabis. Redefines "adult use cannabis" for purposes of these tax Acts. Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Limits the authority to tax cannabis. Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Changes the name of the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program to the Opioid Alternative Patient Program. Deletes a provision that provided for the repeal of that program and a provision that granted emergency rulemaking powers for purposes of the program. Makes changes to various definitions and causes some definitions to become inoperative. Authorizes the Department of Public Health to enter into intergovernmental agreements. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Makes changes to various definitions. Removes certain references and repeals certain provisions related to the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides for mergers of certain licenses and medical patient prioritization. Provides for Adult Use Dispensing Organization licensee relocation. Provides for rescission of a conditional license. Makes changes to provisions regarding Adult Use Dispensing Organization Licenses. Adds to requirements for Responsible Vendor Program Training modules. Adds new prohibitions and exceptions to provisions regarding changes to a dispensing organization. Requires prioritizing qualifying patients, provisional patients, and dedicated caregivers. Adds certain State agencies and local health officials to provisions regarding investigations. Makes changes to provisions regarding Cultivation Center Licenses. Authorizes the Department and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop and implement an integrated system to issue an agent identification card. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Senior Home Preservation Program Act. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department of Human Services shall establish a 3-year pilot program known as the Senior Home Preservation Program (Program) to provide grants to delegate agencies to provide rehabilitation services to legacy resident low-income senior homeowners to preserve the habitability and safety of their homes. Provides that grants under the Program may be used for housing owned by a legacy resident senior to remove or correct health or safety hazards, to comply with applicable housing standards or codes, or to make needed repairs to improve the general living conditions of the legacy resident senior, including improved accessibility for seniors with disabilities. Provides that the Program shall initially be implemented in predetermined geographies with the expectation that the Program may grow to encompass all eligible populations in the State. Contains provisions concerning home repair project types and application process and operational requirements. Creates a Workforce Development Home Repair Program (Workforce Development Program) to promote the State's interest in enabling low-income senior households to age in place safely and securely. Provides that, through grants to delegate agencies, the Workforce Development Program shall aim to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in census tracts with high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty and to ensure that residents of those communities are able to access the work as a local employment engine. Provides that delegate agencies implementing Workforce Development Program sites shall connect trainees to jobs through committed employer partnerships related to improving the habitability and performance of homes; and shall use grant funding to cover cash stipends for trainees and costs related to the design and implementation of pre-apprenticeship and other job training programs. Requires the Department to submit annual reports. Creates the Senior Home Preservation Program Fund to cover the operational and administrative costs and program grants under the Senior Home Preservation Program. Amends the State Finance Act by adding the Senior Home Preservation Program Fund to the list of special funds.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an issuer of a Medicare supplement policy shall not deny coverage to an applicant who voluntarily switches from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medicare plan under Parts A, B, or D, or any combination of those plans, so long as the application for a Medicare supplement policy is submitted within 30 calendar days after the first effective day of the new plan. Provides that when such an application for a Medicare supplement policy is submitted, the issuer of the Medicare supplement policy may not charge a higher cost than what is normally offered to applicants who have become newly eligible for Medicare, nor raise costs or deny coverage for a preexisting condition.

Creates the Long-Term Care Trust Act. Establishes the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (Trust Program) within the Department on Aging to provide long-term services and supports funding benefits to eligible employees through payroll deductions to be deposited into the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund created under the Act. Requires the Department on Aging, an actuary contracted with the Department on Aging, and the Department of Revenue to have the responsibilities of implementing and administering the Trust Program. Sets forth the Department on Aging's responsibilities, including, but not limited to: (i) making determinations regarding an individual's status as an eligible beneficiary; (ii) approving long-term services and supports eligible for payment; (iii) registering long-term services and supports providers that meet minimum qualifications; and (iv) disbursing payments of benefits to registered long-term services and supports providers. Requires the Department of Revenue to collect and assess employee premiums under the program, make eligibility determinations, and other responsibilities. Contains provisions on the responsibilities of the contracted actuary; the establishment of a Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission and a Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Council; qualifying beneficiary requirements; payroll premiums and the disbursement of benefits; coverage for self-employed individuals; the management of the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund; appeals of benefit determinations; federal waiver requirements; reporting requirements; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the District Energy and Thermal Energy Storage Parity Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish an optional certification process for Qualified District Energy Infrastructure. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to support certain projects. Provides that, within 180 days after the effective date of the Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed proceeding to develop standardized thermal service agreement templates, suitable for developer financing and underwriting, and minimum requirements for customer rate stabilization options. Provides that a developer shall obtain a District Energy Feasibility Assessment from a qualified preparer for certain projects. Sets forth requirements for the content of the District Energy Feasibility Assessment. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and make available to units of local government a municipal alignment toolkit to facilitate the development and expansion of district energy systems. Requires the Department to establish and administer a district energy expansion program to support the development expansion, modernization, and decarbonization of district energy systems in the State. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Authority may provide loans, credit enhancements, interest rate buydowns, loan loss reserves, or other financial assistance for the development, construction, expansion, or operation of the Qualified Energy Infrastructure and Dispatchable Thermal Energy Storage. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Creates the Thermal Energy Storage Credit procurement program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy evaluation in State procurements. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions. Amends the Property Tax Code. Defines "commercial energy storage system". Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy enabling measures and heat recovery incentives. Makes other changes.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a grocery store that offers a digital coupon to consumers for the purchase of goods must make available a corresponding physical or paper copy of the coupon of equal value to consumers upon request. Provides that the paper coupons shall be easily accessible at the service desk and may also be placed in other locations around the store. Provides that a person may not use surveillance-based price setting or use surveillance data as part of an automated decision system to inform the individualized price assessed to a consumer for goods or services. Sets forth limitations to the provision. Provides that a violation of either provision is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the estimated date of completion of a redevelopment project and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs for an ordinance adopted on June 23, 2003 by the City of Centralia. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning outstanding hospital assessments that are paid under a repayment plan or after the end of a tax deferral plan, provides that the period of repayment shall not exceed 72 (rather than 36) months.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Act may administer radiation to a human being and may supervise the administration of radiation by a person accredited to administer radiation to a human being by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Amends the Radiation Protection Act of 1990. In provisions concerning the limitations on the application of radiation to human beings, adds advanced practice registered nurses licensed under the Nurse Practice Act to the professionals who may intentionally administer radiation to a human being and to the professionals who may supervise a physician assistant, a technologist, a nurse, or other assistant administering radiation. Makes conforming changes in provisions concerning the accreditation of administrators of radiation.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a political committee may opt to receive notification of the filing dates for each quarterly report electronically by email by indicating its preference to receive notification electronically on its statement of organization or by filing a quarterly report of campaign contributions electronically. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2028, the State Board of Elections shall develop or cause to be developed an additional option within the online voter registration system that permits a person who is eligible to register to vote and has a social security number but does not have an Illinois driver's license or State identification card to apply to register to vote or to update an existing voter registration by uploading a completed voter registration form. Sets forth procedures for the processing of online registration forms by a county clerk or board of election commissioners.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that repeated requests for commercial purposes shall be deemed unduly burdensome if the requests are from the same person and seek similar or updated records.

Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2028 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that health care facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, as determined by the federal government, shall be exempt as provided but shall have a hiring preference for surgical technologists who graduated from nationally accredited surgical technology programs and are certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a person licensed in the State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed, including, but not limited to, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse performing surgery-related tasks within the scope of the nurse's license or registration; or a student or intern from performing surgical technology services under direct supervision, as defined in the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act.

Creates the Oversight and Regulation of Activity for Contracts Linked to Events (ORACLE) Act. Prohibits a prediction market platform provider from permitting any consumer under the age of 21 to register or to open any speculative position on a prediction market. Requires a prediction market platform provider to exclude certain individuals from participation in a prediction market platform. Prohibits certain types of prediction markets. Requires providers to implement and adhere to responsible gaming measures. Sets forth advertising restrictions, restrictions on credit-based products and gift certificates, and restrictions on market making. Requires prediction market platform providers to implement commercially reasonable and technically feasible measures to detect and prevent any fraud or manipulative conduct. Establishes penalties for violation of the Act. Provides that the Attorney General may adopt rules to implement and administer the Act. Contains a severability clause.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, within 30 days after recording of a tax deed with respect to residential property, the tax deed grantee shall pay the surplus to the previous owner of the property described in the deed. Sets forth the procedures to calculate the surplus.

Amends the School Finance Authority Act of the School Code. Reinstates the School Finance Authority and reverts any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Chicago Board of Education upon the abolition of the original Authority established by the Article back to the Authority. Provides that any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Board before the abolition of the original Authority and after the reinstatement of the Authority under the amendatory Act shall remain vested in the Board. Updates the expiration dates of terms of the Chairman, the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Governor, and the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Mayor. Requires the Board to adopt and submit for approval a financial plan on or before March 1, 2027 and adopt and submit for approval a budget on or before February 1, 2027 with respect to the remaining portion of the fiscal year ending in 2027. Requires the Board, beginning in fiscal year 2029 and every second year thereafter, to adopt a financial plan covering a period of 2 fiscal years. Requires the Board to submit a staffing plan for the fiscal year ending in 2027 to the Authority within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any policy of insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 that provides coverage for emergency services for medical or surgical conditions shall also provide coverage for behavioral health emergency services on coverage terms no more restrictive than those applied to emergency services for medical or surgical conditions. Requires coverage for post-stabilization services. Sets forth provisions concerning behavioral health emergency services parity; coverage of services provided by nonlicensed staff performing under direct supervision; restrictions on prior authorization, utilization review, and cost sharing; reimbursement rates; and rulemaking. Amends the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act. Includes behavioral health emergency services providers in network adequacy determinations under the Act. Establishes provisions concerning rulemaking for the Department of Insurance; behavioral health emergency services requirements for health insurance issuers; and enforcement coordination with specified federal law. Effective January 1, 2027.