Illinois

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Provides that, at a minimum, the rules of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation regarding continuing education shall permit continuing education credits to be earned for: (1) verified attendance at lectures and scheduled courses or workshops at local, regional, national, or international conferences concerning speech-language pathology, audiology, or related disciplines if the lectures, scheduled courses, or workshops meet the criteria set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code; (2) verified attendance at lectures, workshops, or in-service programs concerning speech-language pathology, audiology, or related disciplines if the lectures, workshops, or in-service programs meet the criteria set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code; and (3) presentation before an audience of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, or related professionals at lectures, workshops, or in-service programs concerning speech-language pathology, audiology, or related disciplines if the lectures, workshops, or in-service programs meet the criteria set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning the counting of vote by mail ballots and ballots cast by absent electors in military or naval service, provides that the counting of those ballots shall begin 7 calendar days before election day (rather than on election day after the closing of the polls). Provides that an election authority shall not release the results of any counting done under the provisions until after the closing of the polls on election day.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a contributing employee may establish additional service credit for periods of full-time employment with the federal government or a unit of state or local government located outside Illinois for which he or she does not qualify for credit under any other provision of the State Employee Article of the Code, provided that (i) the amount of service credit established by a person under the provision shall not exceed 9 years, (ii) the amount of service credit established by a person under the provision for federal employment, when added to the amount of all military service credit granted to the person under the State Employee Article, shall not exceed 14 years, and (iii) any credit received for the federal or out-of-state employment in any federal or other public employee pension fund or retirement system has been terminated or relinquished. Prohibits credit from being established under the provision for any period of military service or for any period for which credit has been or may be established under the alternative formula provisions of the State Employee Article of the Code. Requires the applicant for the additional service credit to submit a written application to the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including documentation of the federal or out-of-state employment satisfactory to the System's Board, and pay to the System (1) employee contributions at the rates provided in the Article based upon the person's salary on the last day as a participating employee prior to the federal or out-of-state employment, or on the first day as a participating employee after that employment, whichever is greater, plus (2) an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefits accrued for that employment, plus (3) regular interest on items (1) and (2) from the date of conclusion of the employment to the date of payment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends the period of eligibility within which a hospital, that would have qualified for the rate year beginning October 1, 2011 or October 1, 2012, shall be a Safety-Net Hospital. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that, if a person is determined to pose a clear and present danger to himself, herself, or to others by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner, whether employed by the State, by any public or private mental health facility or part thereof, or by a law enforcement official or a school administrator, then the physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner shall notify the Department of Human Services and a law enforcement official or school administrator shall notify the Illinois State Police and the appropriate local law enforcement agency (rather than shall notify the Illinois State Police), within 24 hours of making the determination that the person poses a clear and present danger.

Amends the Educational Service Regions Article of the School Code. Provides that when a vacancy occurs in the office of regional superintendent of schools and more than 28 months remain in that term and the vacancy occurs at least 130 days before the next general election, appointment to fill the vacancy shall be until the next general election (rather than if more than 28 months remain in that term, the appointment shall be until the next general election). Provides that if the vacancy occurs during the time provided for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs, the time for filing nomination papers for the primary shall not be more than 120 (rather than 91) days nor less than 113 (rather than 85) days prior to the date of the primary.

Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that each consumer shall be offered at least 15 hours of treatment programming per week and encouraged to attend the treatment domains that meet the consumer's needs, as reflected in the consumer's treatment plans. Provides that each consumer's program engagement and attendance shall be documented in the consumer's clinical record, and each consumer shall be prompted to attend programming regularly as documented in the consumer's clinical record at least quarterly. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if a municipality (rather than any municipality located within DuPage County) belongs to a not-for-profit organization headquartered in the county in which the municipality is located and if that not-for-profit organization is recognized by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as a certified local tourism and convention bureau entitled to receive State tourism grant funds, then not less than 50% (rather than 75%) of the amounts collected pursuant to the municipal hotel operators' occupation tax and municipal hotel use tax shall be expended by the municipality to promote tourism and conventions within that municipality or otherwise to attract nonresident overnight visitors to the municipality, and the remainder of the amounts collected by the municipality pursuant to the municipal hotel operators' occupation tax and municipal hotel use tax may be expended by the municipality for economic development or capital infrastructure. Removes provisions repealing the municipal hotel operators' occupation tax and the municipal hotel use tax on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Creates the Chatbot Provider Liability Act. Provides that for purposes of the Act, chatbots are deemed products for the purpose of strict liability as other product liability actions. Provides that a chatbot provider has a duty to ensure that the use of its chatbot does not cause injury to a user and is liable for any injury it caused a user through the use of its chatbot regardless of whether the chatbot provider exercised all reasonable care in the design and distribution of the chatbot; or did not directly distribute the chatbot to the user or otherwise enter into a contractual relationship with the user. Provides that a user who is harmed by the actions of a chatbot provider under this Act may file a civil action in State or federal court seeking actual damages as allowed under Illinois law, injunctive relief, and reimbursement of reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that school districts shall (rather than may) provide instruction in parenting education for grades 6 through 12 and include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. Provides that school districts shall (rather than may) give regular school credit for satisfactory completion by the student of parenting education courses. Makes related changes.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, if a fireman receiving an occupational disease disability benefit dies on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the fireman's surviving spouse may elect, in a manner prescribed by the Board of the Fund, to receive the deceased fireman's occupational disease disability benefit in lieu of the widow's annuity or Tier 2 surviving spouse annuity, whichever is applicable. Provides that the surviving spouse's eligibility for the deceased fireman's occupational disease disability benefit shall be the same as the eligibility for the widow's annuity or Tier 2 surviving spouse annuity, whichever is applicable. Provides that the changes apply without regard to whether the deceased fireman was in service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Requires each school district to ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 times each academic year, approximately once per academic quarter. Requires social and emotional learning instruction to be delivered by a trained professional, provided during a class period, and address age-appropriate competencies as outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning. Requires classroom teachers to reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Requires each school district to provide professional development to assist educators in aligning instructional practices with social and emotional learning principles. Effective January 1, 2028.

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Changes the definition of "petitioner" to include any medical personnel, social services and mental health personnel, crisis intervention personnel, or education personnel as described in a provision of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that qualifies for the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Adds provisions allowing a member of a Moorish Science Temple to change or correct the person's name by amending the Tribal Suffix of El or Bey to the person's family name by filing a notarized form with the Secretary of State to do so. Creates a form to use in the process. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall be the authority for setting conditions for mandatory supervised release under specified provisions and determining whether a violation of those conditions warrant revocation of mandatory supervised release or the imposition of other sanctions. Provides that the Board shall hear by at least one member and through a panel of at least 3 members determine the conditions of mandatory supervised release, determine the time of discharge from mandatory supervised release, impose sanctions for violations of mandatory supervised release, and revoke mandatory supervised release for those sentenced under specified provisions. Provides that if a person was originally prosecuted under the provisions of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, sentenced under the provisions of the Act pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, and convicted as an adult and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall, no less than 120 days prior to the date that the person reaches the age of 21, send written notification to the Prisoner Review Board indicating the day upon which the committed person will achieve the age of 21. Requires the Prisoner Review Board to conduct a hearing with no less than 3 members to determine whether or not the minor shall be assigned mandatory supervised release or be transferred to the Department of Corrections prior to the minor's 21st birthday.

Amends the Township Code. In provisions concerning caucuses held by the voters of each established political party in a township to nominate its candidates for various offices, requires notice of the caucus to be given at least 20 days (rather than 10 days) before the caucus is held. Provides that, not less than 45 days (rather than 30 days) before the caucus, the township clerk shall notify the chairman or membership of each township central committee by first-class mail of the chairman's or membership's obligation to report the time and location of the political party's caucus. Provides that, not less than 30 days (rather than 20 days) before the caucus, each chairman of the township central committee shall notify the township clerk by first-class mail of the time and location of the political party's caucus.

Creates the Social Gaming Act. Provides that no person may operate a social gaming board game or manufacture and distribute social gaming boards without a license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board. Provides that the Board shall license social gaming board manufacturers, social gaming board distributors, and social gaming locations and specifies license fees. Provides that the Board shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly, no later than December 31, 2025 and each year thereafter through 2029, on the implementation and administration of the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning license fees, maximum payouts, and relief from disciplinary actions. Provides that the Board shall adopt rules and emergency rules to implement and administer the Act. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. In provisions concerning goals of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative related to the percentage of labor hours performed by apprentices, provides that, for contracts and grant agreements executed after January 1, 2029 and before January 1, 2031, at least 25% (instead of 50%) of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Provides that, on and after January 2031, at least 50% of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Removes provisions setting goals for those apprentices before January 1, 2029. Makes changes concerning circumstances under which the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may grant a reduction or a waiver of those goals. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall maintain a list of graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program for a period of not less than 3 years (instead of one year) after the participant graduates from the Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, "public body" includes the judicial branch and components of the judicial branch of the State. Exempts records that pertain to the preparation of judicial opinions and orders. Excludes denials of requests of records from the judicial branch or components of the judicial branch from the jurisdiction of the Public Access Counselor.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Daniel Capuano Memorial Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of first responder endangerment. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly creates a dangerous condition and intentionally conceals the dangerous condition in a commercial property under his or her management or operational control and the dangerous condition is found to be the primary cause of the death or serious bodily injury of a first responder in the course of his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Defines various terms.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, if a laborer, mechanic, or other worker, to whom the prevailing rate of wages is required to be paid, is classified in 2 or more trade titles for any amount of time during a day on which the individual is employed on a public works project, the individual shall receive the prevailing rate of wages that is the highest among those trade titles for all hours worked that day. Provides that a laborer, mechanic, or other worker, to whom the prevailing wage is required to be paid, may be paid at an apprentice rate of pay if the laborer is enrolled in an apprenticeship and training program. Provides for the withholding of payments for violations of the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Requires that if there is negligence on the part of the board resulting in the loss of use of a unit by the unit owner, a portion of the reserves must be designated for use to assist the unit owner in covering expenses incurred as a result of the loss of use if the unit owner does not carry Category D loss-of-use insurance.

Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Includes emergency medical services personnel within the scope of the Act. Defines terms. Effective immediately.