Illinois

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a certificate of error may be issued at any time if the error relates to the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each applicant for issuance or renewal of a driver's license or identification card who is 16 years of age or older shall have his or her name included in the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry. Requires the Secretary of State to offer, to each applicant for issuance or renewal of a driver's license or identification card who is 16 years of age or older, the opportunity to have his or her name removed from (rather than included in) the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cigarette Tax Act. Provides that 2% of the moneys received under that Act, the Cigarette Use Tax Act, and the tax imposed on little cigars under the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995 shall be deposited into the University of Illinois Cancer Center Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the University of Illinois Cancer Center Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the University of Illinois Cancer Center for purposes of cancer research, patient care, and operating expenses of the Cancer Center. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that, in addition to the appropriation for payment into the thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing purse accounts at Illinois pari-mutuel tracks, a one-time appropriation shall be made for the 3-year period before the effective date of the amendatory Act for which appropriations were not made. Makes conforming changes. Makes changes to provisions concerning the calculation of organization licensees' annual contributions to non-profit organizations that provide medical and family, counseling, and similar services to persons who reside or work on the backstretch of Illinois racetracks. Provides that for the 10-year (rather than 5-year) period beginning on the January 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year during which an organization licensee begins conducting gaming operations, the organization licensee shall make capital expenditures to the improvement and maintenance of the backstretch. Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Requires a person or entity having operating control of a racetrack to pay an initial fee of $17,500 (rather than $30,000) per gaming position from organization gaming licensees where gaming is conducted in Cook County. Provides that a person or entity having operating control of a racetrack located in Cook County shall only pay the initial fees for 720 of the gaming positions authorized under the license. Provides that the required reconciliation payments for an organization gaming licensee who operates gaming positions may be made in installments over a period of no more than 12 (rather than 6) years.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In the procedures for executive clemency, provides that a victim who has supplied a statement to the Prisoner Review Board may waive notice of petitions for clemency and the waiver must be in writing. Provides that the statement supplied by the victim shall be part of all petitions for clemency filed by the petitioner. Provides that if the victim is not registered with the Board, the Board shall contact the sentencing county's State's Attorney's Office for the victim's last known address. Provides that the Board shall send notice to the last known address of the victim. Provides that at the request of the victim, the Board shall allow the victim to provide oral testimony via electronic means and not require the victim to appear in person at the executive clemency hearing. Provides that a victim who waives notice shall receive notice if the Prisoner Review Board makes a recommendation of clemency to the Governor. Provides that the notice to the victim of a recommendation of clemency shall be in writing and given not less than 30 days prior to the Board's recommendation of clemency being sent to the Governor.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that, in relation to the prescriber and dispenser inquiry system, "one-to-one secure link" includes any communications exchange platform that aligns with widely adopted standards, including, but not limited to, the Prescription Monitoring Information Exchange standard, which facilitates the secure transfer of prescription monitoring program data across state lines.

Amends the School Code. For websites that are blocked from being accessed by a student on a school-issued electronic device, requires each school board to develop an appeal process by which a student, at the request of the student's parent or guardian, may access a blocked website if the website is reasonably related to the student's education or pursuit of work opportunities during or after high school.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. In provisions concerning registered professional nurses, adds provisions concerning: the use of artificial intelligence in recorded or transcribed encounters; prohibition on substituting artificial intelligence for nursing services; use of artificial intelligence as clinical decision support under the control of a registered professional nurse; patient notice and transparency; confidentiality protections; exceptions for nonclinical activity; and defined terms. Amends the grounds for discipline to add violations of the artificial intelligence provisions by a registered professional nurse. Requires a health care entity that employs registered professional nurses and deploys artificial intelligence in direct patient care to maintain validation and bias monitoring records for each system and make such records available to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation upon request; provide registered professional nurses with training on intended use, data limits, and known failure modes; ensure registered professional nurses have access to data inputs and key factors that produced any recommendation used in direct patient care; and prohibit staffing, triage, admission, discharge, or transfer decisions that rely solely on artificial intelligence. Allows the Department to investigate any health care entity that employs registered professional nurses for a violation of the artificial intelligence provisions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Naturopathic Medical Practice Act. Provides for the licensure of naturopathic doctors. Sets forth the qualifications for licensure. Provides the scope of practice of naturopathic doctors. Requires a person licensed under the Act to use specified titles and prohibits a person not licensed under the Act from using specified titles. Creates the Naturopathic Medical Board to oversee the licensure of naturopathic doctors and matters relating to training and licensure of naturopathic doctors. Sets forth the membership and duties of the Board. Contains provisions concerning approved naturopathic medical educational programs; displaying licenses; written collaboration agreements; prohibited actions by a licensee; exemptions; license expiration, renewal, denial, revocation, and continuing education; grounds for disciplinary action; investigations, notice, and hearings; records of proceedings at formal hearings; and confidentiality. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Authorizes physicians to collaborate with a naturopathic doctor in accordance with the requirements of the Naturopathic Medical Practice Act. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Adds naturopathic doctors to meaning of "prescriber" and "prescription". Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Public, Educational, and Governmental Programming Fund. Provides that moneys in the Public, Educational, and Governmental Programming Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for operational and administrative expenditures related to, as well as the award of grants to, public, educational, and governmental programmers and public, educational, and governmental studio operators with the purpose of subsidizing operational, capital, and equipment costs related to producing and procuring that programming. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that expenditures by a political committee for expenses related to personal security services are only exempt from provisions prohibiting certain expenditures by a political committee if the personal security services are provided by a private security contractor agency licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, a taxpayer who is an eligible member of the judiciary is allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to the qualified security expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Specifies that the credit may not be carried back and may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. Provides that, if the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability for the taxable year, then the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. Requires the tax credit to be applied to the earliest year for which there is a tax liability. Provides that, if there are credits for more than one year that are available to offset a liability, the earlier credit shall be applied first. Defines the terms "eligible member of the judiciary", "federal judge", and "qualified security expense". Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that instruction in safety education shall include the risks of firearm ownership and usage for students enrolled in grades 6 through 12. Sets forth what information this instruction must include, provides that the instruction may be taught by a licensed educator, school nurse, or school counselor, provides for student evaluation, and requires the State Board of Education to develop an age-appropriate, trauma-informed curriculum. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires schools to provide, after a lockdown drill has been completed, a forum for trauma-informed discussion with students, parents, and staff regarding any mental health concerns that the impact of the lockdown drill has had on students. Amends the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act. Makes changes to require a certified firearm dealer to provide, at the time of application for a firearm purchase, specified information to increase awareness about the risks posed by firearms in the home and State laws regarding firearm ownership.

Amends the Energy Efficient Building Act. Provides that municipalities and counties (instead of municipalities only) may adopt the Illinois Stretch Energy Code.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Pension Equity Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, for all purposes under the Code (including, without limitation, the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings of a Tier 2 sheriff's law enforcement employee shall not include overtime and shall not exceed $145,649.97 (instead of $108,600, as adjusted annually beginning in 2011) plus the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount or (ii) the annual unadjusted percentage increase (instead of one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with September 2026. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2028, that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount, including all previous adjustments, or (ii) the annual unadjusted percentage increase (instead of one-half the annual percentage increase) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Changes the name of the "College Savings Pool" to the "College, Secondary, and Elementary Education Savings Pool". In provisions relating to the College, Secondary, and Elementary Education Savings Pool established by the State Treasurer pursuant to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, provides that an "eligible educational institution" includes elementary or secondary public, private, or religious schools and "qualified expenses" include expenses, up to $10,000 per taxable year, for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act, Illinois Income Tax Act, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide coverage under the medical assistance program for intensive outpatient services delivered via telehealth when the services: (1) are otherwise covered when provided in person; (2) are medically necessary; (3) are delivered by a provider enrolled in the medical assistance program and acting within the scope of the provider's license, certification, or authorization under State law; and (4) comply with all applicable federal and State telehealth requirements. Provides that intensive outpatient services provided via telehealth shall be subject to the same coverage requirements, utilization management, and reimbursement methodologies as intensive outpatient services provided in person. Sets forth standards for telehealth delivery of intensive outpatient services. Provides that implementation of the provisions is subject to any required federal approval. Effective immediately.

Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that "acupuncture" also includes ordering laboratory tests in accordance with State law to check, track, evaluate, and monitor the status and effectiveness of pain management, herbal medicinal plans, dietary and exercise plans, and orders as may be provided to the patient from a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act. Removes the provision that states that an acupuncturist licensed under the Act who is not also licensed as a physical therapist under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act shall not hold himself or herself out as being qualified to provide physical therapy or physiotherapy services.

Amends the Trustees Article of the Illinois Local Library Act. Provides that a candidate for the position of library trustee must have a valid library card for the library.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district, other than the Chicago school district, shall employ a sufficient number of school counselors to maintain a student-counselor ratio of 150 to 1 (rather than allowing the school district to employ a sufficient number of school counselors to maintain the national and State recommended student-counselor ratio of 250 to 1). Requires the Chicago Board of Education to employ a sufficient number of licensed school counselors to maintain a student-counselor ratio of 100 to 1 (rather than encouraging the board to employ a sufficient number of licensed school counselors to maintain a student/counselor ratio of 250 to 1).

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for the full cost of an annual PET scan for insureds age 35 or older who elect to get a PET scan, regardless of whether the PET scan was ordered by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches and regardless of whether the insured displays symptoms. Sets forth findings and definitions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall be exempt from (i) net metering program and interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and (ii) any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall include a device or feature that prevents the portable solar generation device from energizing a building's electrical system during a power outage. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a portable solar generation device to do any of the following: (1) obtain the electricity provider's approval before installing or using the portable solar generation device; (2) pay a fee or charge related to the installation or use of the portable solar generation device; or (3) install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the portable solar generation device. Provides that an electricity provider shall not be liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's portable solar generation device.

Amends the Time Standardization Act. Exempts the State, after Iowa and Missouri are exempt, from daylight saving time under the exemption provisions of the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 and declares the standard time in the State year-round to be United States standard central time. Makes findings.