Illinois

Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a county, township, or municipality does not approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove a development document within 90 days after receiving the development document, any required review of the document may be performed by a person who is not the applicant or the person whose work is the subject of the application if that person is (A) employed by the county, township, or municipality to review development documents; (B) employed by another unit of local government to review development documents if the county, township, or municipality has approved the person to review development documents; or (C) a licensed professional engineer, structural engineer, or architect. Provides that, if a county, township, or municipality does not conduct a required development inspection within 90 days after receiving a development document for a development permit that would require an inspection, then the inspection may be conducted by a person who is not the owner of the land or improvement to the land that is the subject of the inspection or a person whose work is the subject of the inspection if that person is (A) certified to inspect buildings by the International Code Council; (B) employed by the county, township, or municipality as a building inspector; (C) employed by another unit of local government as a building inspector if the county, township, or municipality has approved the person to perform inspections; or (D) a licensed professional engineer, structural engineer, or architect. Provides that a county, township, or municipality may not impose a fee related to the review of a development document or a development inspection conducted under the provisions. Provides that a person may appeal to the county board, the township board, or the corporate authorities of the municipality (1) a decision to conditionally approve or disapprove a development document made by the county, township, or municipality or a person authorized perform the review of the document under the provisions or (2) a decision regarding a development inspection conducted by the county, township, or municipality or a person authorized to perform the development inspection under the provisions. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois State Police Act. Provides that all persons appointed as Illinois State Police officers shall, at the time of their appointment, be citizens of the United States or persons with proof of a permanent resident card (rather than only citizens of the United States). Amends Counties Code. Provides that, if a person is a person with proof of a permanent resident card, then the sheriff of any county or the corporate authorities of any municipality may not deny employment to that person on the basis that the person is not a citizen of the United States. Provides that, if a person with a proof of a permanent resident card is an Illinois State Police officer or Department of Corrections officer and the person's permanent resident card becomes invalid, then the Director of State Police and the Board or the sheriff of any county or the corporate authorities of any municipality shall provide the person with 6 months from the date that the person's permanent resident card became invalid to receive a new permanent resident card or to have the person's invalid permanent resident card to be reissued. Defines "person with proof of a permanent resident card". Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Rights Against Forced Arbitration Act. Provides that a seller may not require an Illinois consumer to agree to a provision that would do either of the following: (1) require the Illinois consumer to arbitrate outside of Illinois for a claim arising in Illinois for the purchase of consumer goods or services; or (2) require the Illinois consumer to arbitrate a controversy arising in Illinois under the substantive law of a state other than Illinois. Provides that any provision of a contract that violates the Act is voidable by the Illinois consumer, and if a provision is rendered void at the request of that consumer, the matter shall be adjudicated in Illinois and Illinois law governs the dispute. Provides that in addition to injunctive relief and any other remedies available, a court may award a consumer who is enforcing rights under this Act reasonable attorney's fees incurred in enforcing those rights.

Creates the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall, no later than January 1, 2027, publish proposed rules to implement the Act, and shall make a good faith effort to consult with affected provider groups, advocate organizations, and other individuals and groups identified by the Department to be critical to the development of applicable rules. Provides that a community-based palliative care provider shall make available the specified services to adult patients pursuant to rules adopted by the Department. Establishes compliance requirements following the adoption of rules implementing the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning provider entity standards, penalties for violations of the Act, the palliative care work group, and the Palliative Care Public Awareness and Education Program.

Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law. In provisions concerning plumbing contractors, provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide notices to each licensee regarding application for registration on or before July 1 of each year. Requires the Department to accept application materials on and after July 1 of each year.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that as part of the required minimum 4-hour professional development leadership training, each voting member of a board of trustees shall complete a minimum of one hour of training covering the topic of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Amends the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definitions of "public body" in the Acts to include a nongovernmental organization that receives the lesser of $10,000 or 20% of its funding from the State.

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Fair Online Pricing Act. Provides that a price offered to a consumer through the consumer's online device shall not be generated in whole, or in part, based on the following input data: (1) the hardware or hardware state of the online device; (2) the presence or absence of any software on the online device; and (3) geolocation data of the online device. Sets forth exemptions. Provides that a violation of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes.

Creates the 340B Integrity Act. Defines terms. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, 340B covered entities shall not bill any medical assistance fee-for-service or medical assistance managed care programs under the Illinois Public Aid Code for 340B drugs. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 a 340B covered entity shall use 80% of 340B profits from the prior year to decrease at the point of sale, including at the 340B contract pharmacy, the out-of-pocket costs paid for 340B drugs that are dispensed or administered to low-income patients of the 340B covered entity. Provides that, on or before September 1, 2026, and on or before September 1 of each year thereafter, each 340B covered entity shall annually report to the Department of Insurance, with respect to the 340B covered entity and separately for each offsite outpatient facility associated with the 340B covered entity, the specified information about the prior year. Provides that, on or before December 31, 2026, the Department of Central Management Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly on any impact to the State employee health plan arising from 340B covered entity purchases, 340B contract pharmacy arrangements, and general practices related to 340B drugs, regardless of whether the 340B drugs were self-administered or provider-administered. Provides that the report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of foregone rebates, the impact on premiums, and the impact to State employee out-of-pocket costs. Provides that, on or before December 31, 2026, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall report to the General Assembly on certain items for total aggregated covered outpatient drug units dispensed or administered in the State for the prior calendar year in connection with the medical assistance program under the Illinois Public Aid Code, broken out by fee-for-service and by each managed care plan. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Includes animal control officers and animal wardens within the scope of the Act. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more to use an automated traffic law enforcement system to record and enforce violations related to traffic obstruction. Provides that for each violation recorded by an automated traffic law enforcement system, the municipality having jurisdiction shall issue a written notice of violation to the registered owner by mail within 30 days after the Secretary of State identifies the owner, but no later than 90 days after the violation. Sets forth defenses for a violation. Provides that unless the driver received a Uniform Traffic Citation from a police officer at the time of the violation, the motor vehicle owner is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $100, or the completion of a traffic education program, or both, plus an additional penalty of not more than $100 for failure to pay the original penalty or complete a required program in a timely manner. Requires each intersection monitored by an automated traffic law enforcement system to have a posted sign visible to approaching traffic indicating that automated enforcement is in use. Provides that compensation paid for an automated traffic law enforcement system must be based on the value of the equipment or services provided and may not be based on the number of citations issued or the revenue generated. Prohibits a member of the General Assembly and officer or employee of a municipality or county from knowingly accepting employment or receiving compensation or fees for services from a vendor that provides automated traffic law enforcement system equipment or services to municipalities or counties. Allows the Secretary to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Makes other changes.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the application for a vote by mail ballot for a single election shall include an option to apply for permanent vote by mail status in a form consistent with an application for permanent vote by mail status.

Amends the Environmental Barriers Act. Requires the Attorney General to provide, by January 31, 2026 and every January 31 thereafter (rather than by July 31, 2020 and every July 31 thereafter), data on the Attorney General's website about annual enforcement efforts performed under the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Health Care Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall identify reproductive health care services, LGBTQ health care services, and end-of-life health care services that are or may be subject to denial of care for nonmedical reasons in the State and develop a clear and simple disclosure form for the purpose of conveying to patients and to the public which of the identified health care services are and are not generally available, are subject to restriction for nonmedical reasons, and are subject to restrictions on referral by each covered entity. Requires the Department to publish and maintain on its public-facing website a current list of covered entities and provide for public access to the disclosure form submitted by each covered entity; adopt rules implementing the Department's duties; and develop and administer to the public an education and awareness program regarding how denial of care may negatively impact health care access and quality, may be avoided, and affects vulnerable people and communities. Establishes disclosure requirements for covered entities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning public university voting, provides that each appropriate election authority must conduct voting, grace period registration, and grace period voting from the 6th day before a general primary or general election through the day before (currently the 4th day before) a general primary or general election from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Provides that the voting required by the provision must be conducted on the day of a general primary or general election from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Appropriates $100,000,000 to the State Board of Education for equal distribution among charter schools authorized by the State Board of Education for school expenses. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act. Prohibits an owner or operator of a family amusement establishment from facilitating wagering on amusement devices. Prohibits a family amusement establishment from engaging in advertising that promotes wagering on amusement devices. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a family amusement establishment from offering certain types of games. Defines terms. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes changes in provisions concerning gaming and syndicated gaming. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. In the Pretrial Release Article of the Code, changes the definition of "willful flight" to include intentional conduct to elude arrest. In the definition, changes "thwart the judicial process to avoid prosecution" to "thwart the judicial process or avoid prosecution". Deletes from the definition that isolated instances of nonappearance in court alone are not evidence of the risk of willful flight. In the pretrial detention provisions, deletes a provision that one of the grounds for pretrial detention is the high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution when the defendant is charged with certain specified offenses. Replaces that provision with just the high likelihood of willful flight and the person is charged with certain specified offenses.

Amends the Fair and Exposition Authority Reconstruction Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon failure to comply with any condition of pretrial release or upon the filing of a verified petition (rather than upon failure to comply with any condition of pretrial release), the court having jurisdiction at the time of such failure may, on its own motion or upon motion from the State, issue a summons or a warrant for the arrest of the person at liberty on pretrial release.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Solar Energy Reliability and Affordability Checkoff Program Act. Sets forth findings. Defines terms. Creates the Solar Energy Reliability and Affordability Fund. Provides that the Fund may receive deposits of moneys collected by the Department of Agriculture under provisions of the Act concerning the collection of solar energy fees. Creates the Solar Energy Reliability and Affordability Board appointed by the Governor to administer and manage the Fund. Sets forth membership requirements of the Board. Provides that the Board shall ensure that assessments collected under the Act are used for the creation and publication of research, communication, marketing, and education programs that promote accurate information related to, emphasize the clean energy benefits and affordability of, and promote the adoption of solar energy systems and energy storage systems, which may include the funding of third-party organizations for these purposes and any related activities to carry out the programs as proposed by the Board. Requires each owner, operator, or developer of a solar energy system to pay a 2 cents per watt assessment on all solar energy systems sold for installation within the State to the Department of Agriculture. Provides that assessments are payable directly to the Board and shall be paid when a commercial renewable energy facility owner enters into an agricultural impact mitigation agreement as required under the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Requires the Board to publish an annual financial and activities report. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Solar Energy Reliability and Affordability Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that any corporation, limited liability company, or partnership in the business of selling or transporting goods, or in facilitating or brokering transportation services that contracts with a person or entity engaged in any business or enterprise related to the provision of transportation services, is liable to pay compensation to its own immediate employees in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 and the Judicial Vacancies Act. Provides that if a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court, an appointment must be made as provided in the Act to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that justice's term of office. Creates a judicial nomination commission to be comprised of the following members: (1) one nonlawyer appointed by the Governor who will serve as chair of the commission; (2) one nonlawyer appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (4) one nonlawyer appointed by the Speaker of the House; (5) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; (6) one nonlawyer appointed by the Attorney General; and (7) 5 lawyers to elected by secret ballot by the members of the Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, and Will County Bar Association. Provides that the judicial nomination commission is to review, investigate, and nominate to the Governor a list of 3 applicants to fill each vacancy, and the Governor will then appoint one of the 3 applicants to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the vacating justice's term. Requires that any vacancy must be filled by a member of the same political party as the vacating justice's political party.