Illinois

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 a person shall not be convicted of gambling if the person participates 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, except where conducted through the use of a gambling device or by means of the Internet. 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 Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality adopts zoning regulations, then the zoning regulations adopted by the municipality must include a minimum of 5 of 14 specified housing strategies, applicable to the majority of the area where residential development is permitted in the municipality. Provides that, if a municipality has adopted one of the specified housing strategies before the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the housing strategy is considered adopted. Provides that, if a municipality adopts a housing strategy that satisfies 2 or more of the specified housing strategies, then only one strategy may be considered to have been adopted for purposes of compliance with the requirements added by the Amendatory Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in counties with a population of 200,000 or more that classify property, any residential property used in whole or in part as a short-term rental accommodation for 30 or more days in any year shall be assessed on the same basis of assessment as commercial property

Amends the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Safe Voting Act. Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person who, in good faith, attends a polling place, ballot drop box, or election authority for the purpose of casting a vote, including early voting, or submitting a vote by mail ballot, and is legally qualified under the laws of this State to cast the vote or submit the ballot, is privileged from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, and returning from the polling place, ballot drop box, or election authority. Sets forth provisions concerning civil damages and limitation of the provision.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, with regard to all applicants who meet the household income and other qualifications set forth for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, and notwithstanding any other law, for property tax bills prepared for tax year 2026 and thereafter, the county collector shall bill the eligible household an amount that shall not exceed the property tax bill for the same household for the prior tax year. Provides an exception to the level tax billing privilege when an assessed improvement is made by the owner or occupant of the real property. Provides that eligibility for level property tax billing is contingent upon the household's continuing eligibility for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.

Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Specifies that, for purposes of the Act, the term "sports event" includes any awards show. Provides that "awards show" means the Emmy Awards Show, the Grammy Awards Show, the Academy Awards Show, the Tony Awards Show, or any other live competition or talent contest. Grants rulemaking and emergency rulemaking powers to the Illinois Gaming Board to authorize wagering on awards shows. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the rate of tax on individuals, trusts, and estates shall be (i) 4.5667% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending before January 1, 2027, (ii) 4.1833% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027 and ending before January 1, 2028, and (iii) 3.8% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2028 (currently, 4.95%). Provides that the rate of tax for corporations is (i) 6.3% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending before January 1, 2027, (ii) 5.6% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027 and ending before January 1, 2028, and (iii) 4.9% of the taxpayer's net income for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person committed to the Department of Corrections who is paid wages performing a work assignment must receive a rate of compensation that is not less than the minimum wage required under the Minimum Wage Law.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all subcontractors and subrecipients who receive State grants, whether directly or indirectly, are subject to the provisions of the Act, including auditing by the Auditor General and the transparency provisions of the Act.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if the court enters an order for the detention of the defendant pursuant to the denial of pretrial release provisions of the Code, the defendant shall be brought to trial on the offense in accordance with the speedy trial provisions of the Code (rather than brought to trial for the offense for which he is detained within 90 days after the date on which the order for detention was entered). Deletes the provision that if the defendant is not brought to trial within the 90-day period, he or she shall not be denied pretrial release.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In the provisions concerning disability history and awareness, requires a school district to also provide instruction on disability awareness and inclusion education. Provides that the instruction on disability history and awareness shall include: (1) grade-appropriate content on understanding different disabilities and accessible practices; (2) peer inclusion training and collaborative classroom projects promoting interaction between students with and without disabilities; (3) hands-on workshops; (4) school-wide programming during March; and (5) recognition systems for students, classes, and schools demonstrating exemplary inclusion practices.

Amends the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. Provides that it shall be deemed a violation for a manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or other specified entity to distribute new motor vehicles directly to consumers or to circumvent franchise distribution obligations under the Act. Provides that a manufacturer, common entity, or distributor, other than a manufacturer or distributor that was lawfully licensed to sell new motor vehicles directly to customers in the State before January 1, 2022, shall not own or operate a dealership or directly sell new vehicles in the State. Provides that it shall be deemed a violation for any manufacturer with an established franchise dealer network in the State to engage in the sale, lease, or servicing of new motor vehicles in a manner that bypasses or competes with the manufacturer's existing franchisee network. Makes conforming and other changes. Defines terms.

Amends the Public Building Commission Act. Makes a technical change to a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when determining which conditions reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required or the safety of any other person or persons of the community, the court shall consider the ability of the court or pretrial services to effectively monitor the defendant's compliance with the conditions of pretrial release that are imposed. Provides that upon verified application by the defendant, the court before which the proceeding is pending may reconsider the current pretrial conditions imposed and determine whether the current conditions imposed are necessary to reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant as required, the safety of any other person, and the compliance of the defendant with all the conditions of pretrial release. Provides that the defendant shall be required to present a verified application setting forth in detail any new facts not known or obtainable at the time of the previous hearing determining conditions of pre-trial release. Provides that if the court removes a pretrial release condition, the court shall state on the record of the proceedings the findings of facts and conclusions of law upon which such order is based.

Creates the District Energy and Thermal Storage Parity Act. Contains only a short title provision.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires each employee or applicant of the Department of Children and Family Services to self-report to the Department within 30 days of incurring any subsequent criminal history record information while employed or in anticipation of being employed at the Department, along with completing a self-certification form each year that there have been no updates to the employee's or applicant's criminal history record, on a form to be prescribed by the Department. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires each employee and volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider under the authority of the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood to self-report to the appropriate Department within 30 days of incurring any subsequent criminal history record information while employed or in anticipation of being employed at the child care facility or non-licensed service provider, along with completing a self-certification form each year that there have been no updates to the employee's or volunteer's criminal history record, on a form to be prescribed by the appropriate Department. Defines "employee" to mean any staff person employed at a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, including any unlicensed contractual employee, substitute, or assistant and other support staff who have access to children.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the penalty for fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony, and, for a third or subsequent violation, from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony. Provides that any person who participates in street racing or a street sideshow, including as a spectator, where 10 or more people are present shall be guilty of a petty offense. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that every person convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof shall be guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof if the person has been previously convicted of operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or combination thereof. Provides that a person convicted of aggravated boating under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Restores the general recidivism provisions of the Code before the effective date of Public Act 101-652. Provides that the third-time offender provisions resulting in a sentence of natural life imprisonment apply when the defendant has attained the age of 18 at the time of the third offense (rather than 21 years of age or older when the first offense was committed). In the provision that when a defendant, over the age of 21 years, is convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 forcible felony after having twice been convicted in any state or federal court of an offense that contains the same elements as an offense now (the date the Class 1 or Class 2 forcible felony was committed) classified in Illinois as a Class 2 or greater Class forcible felony and those charges are separately brought and tried and arise out of different series of acts, that defendant shall be sentenced as a Class X offender, provides that the 3 offenses may be felonies rather than forcible felonies. Provides that the Class X sentencing provision does not apply to Class 1 or Class 2 felony convictions for theft.

Proposes to amend the Legislature and Executive Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that a person may not be elected to the office of State Senator for more than three terms or the office of State Representative for more than five terms, and that service in the General Assembly before the second Wednesday in January of 2027 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service. Provides that a person may not be elected to any Executive Branch office, or any combination of Executive Branch offices, for more than 2 terms, and that service in an Executive Branch office before the second Monday in January of 2027 shall not be considered in the calculation of a person's service.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the offense of endangering the life or health of a child, includes leaving a child under 12 years of age unattended. Provides that, for the offense of endangering the life or health of a child, defines "unattended" as either: (1) not accompanied by a person 12 (rather than 14) years of age or older; or (2) if accompanied by a person 12 (rather than 14) years of age or older, out of sight of that person.

Creates the Litigation Financing Transparency Act. Provides that a person shall not engage in litigation financing in the State unless the person is registered as a litigation financier under the Act. Provides that, to register as a litigation financier, a person shall file a registration statement with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Sets forth requirements for registration. Prohibits litigation financier from engaging in specified conduct. Sets forth required disclosures in litigation financing agreements. Provides that a violation of the Act constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a party may obtain discovery of the existence and terms and conditions of a litigation financing agreement if it is the subject of or is involved in a pending action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change.