Illinois

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Executive Ethics Commission, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall approve a chief procurement officer for procurements for farm and agricultural land made by the Department of Natural Resources after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Creates the Extremely High Wealth Mark-to-Market Tax Act. Provides that a resident taxpayer with net assets worth $1,000,000,000 or more shall recognize gains or losses as if each asset owned by that taxpayer had been sold for its fair market value on December 31 of the taxable year. Contains provisions concerning the calculation of the amount of tax due from those gains or losses. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall develop a child care assistance program that includes child care subsidies and has benchmarks for limiting co-payments, by the year 2030, to no more than 7% of a family's income. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the corporate income tax rate shall be 9% (currently, 7%). Effective immediately

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to maintain a public, searchable online portal that lists every individual employed by the Department or a purchase of service agency (POS) who holds a Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) and performs investigations, casework, or supervisory functions. Requires the portal to contain certain employee information, including, but not limited to, each child welfare employee's full name, official job title, CWEL license number and date of issuance, employment and child welfare employee license status, an indication of whether the individual is authorized to conduct child welfare investigations, and any disciplinary actions taken under the Child and Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987. Prohibits the Department and POS agencies from assigning investigative or casework duties to any child welfare employee who is not listed on the portal, has a suspended or expired CWEL, or has been disciplined or disqualified. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to alter, expand, or limit existing licensure, certification, training, experience, or assignment requirements under State law. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership may be represented by an attorney or by a non-attorney representative, including, but not limited to, an accountant or other tax representative.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that each petition or certificate of nomination may include a voluntarily waiver of personal service of process and consent to notice of any objection by registered or certified mail and posting on the website of the unit of local government associated with the proper local election official or, if the unit of local government does not maintain a website, by posting at the principal office of the unit of local government. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue an annual Freestanding Emergency Center license to a facility if the facility complies with specified requirements, except that: (i) the Freestanding Emergency Center may be located in a municipality with a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants and (ii) the Freestanding Emergency Center may, if operated as provider-based under specified federal regulations, describe itself or hold itself out to the general public as a hospital emergency department in its advertising and marketing activities.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Removes provisions concerning the duties of the Director of Insurance to promulgate reasonable rules requiring insurers doing business in the State of Illinois to report factual information in their possession that is pertinent to suspected fraudulent insurance claims, fraudulent insurance applications, or premium fraud after the Director has made a determination that the information is necessary to detect fraud or arson. Requires insurers to report fraudulent activity to the Attorney General, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Removes provisions concerning the Director's designation of data processing organizations or governmental agencies to assist in gathering and compiling fraud information. Sets forth provisions allowing any person who has a reasonable belief that an act of insurance fraud that is or may be a crime under Illinois law has been, is being, or is about to be committed or any person who collects, reviews, or analyzes information concerning insurance fraud that is or may be a crime under Illinois law to report suspected insurance fraud activity to the Attorney General or an authorized representative of an insurer that requests the information for the purpose of directing, prosecuting, or preventing insurance fraud. Effective immediately.

Creates the Student-Athlete Fairness and Education (SAFE) Act. Requires each public high school to ensure student-athletes receive substance education annually for at least 30 minutes per school year. Sets forth how substance education sessions may be given and what substance education sessions may cover. Provides protection for students with regard to questions or disclosures during substance education sessions and any request for assistance. Requires schools to inform parents of substance education sessions. Allows parents to opt their student-athletes out of substance education sessions for religious or philosophical reasons. Provides that no State reimbursement is required for the implementation of the Act. Sets forth certification requirements in offering substance education. Establishes optional best practices for offering substance education. Includes provisions regarding review of substance education by the State Board of Education and review of the Act by the General Assembly. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may not allow a person to construct a commercial solar energy facility within the county unless the person has purchased a surety bond from the Environmental Protection Agency or the county that is sufficient to pay for the deconstruction of the commercial solar energy facility and any environmental damage caused by the construction and operation of the commercial solar energy facility.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning a Large Electing Provider's transition to IP-based networks and service, provides that a Large Electing Provider shall provide telecommunications service, including telecommunications service over traditional circuit switched networks, to existing business and residential end-use customers until at least December 31, 2031. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2032, a Large Electing Provider shall start the process of returning the salvage value of traditional circuit switched networks to the people of the State. Requires a Large Electing Provider to complete the salvage of the Large Electing Provider's traditional circuit switched networks by January 1, 2038. Provides that the Large Electing Provider shall document and report to the Department of Public Health and the Illinois Commerce Commission, on a quarterly basis, all activities related to the salvage of the Large Electing Provider's traditional circuit switch networks, including, but not limited to, the total realized salvage value, a per-mile salvage value, the geographic location of all salvages, and the value of such salvages. Provides that, if a Large Electing Provider retires a traditional circuit switch network, the Large Electing Provider shall, beginning on December 1, 2032 and annually thereafter, transfer the salvage value of the retired networks to the Lead Service Line Replacement Fund for the sole purpose of providing grants to municipal and private water utilities to replace lead service lines. Effective immediately.

Creates the Professional Apprenticeship Recognition Act. Defines terms. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who applies to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for licensure in a profession or occupation and who submits proof of the person's completion of an apprenticeship program in the profession or occupation shall be exempt from any training or education requirements for initial licensure in the profession or occupation. Provides that the license exemption shall not apply to any continued training or continuing education requirements that are necessary for the maintenance or renewal of a license. Provides that an applicant who qualifies for the license exemption shall be subject to any other requirements established by the Department as long as those requirements are not more onerous than the requirements for applicants for the same profession or occupation who have not completed an apprenticeship.

Amends the Streets and Public Ways Article of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of each municipality may remove from streets, ditches, and other municipal property containers placed by motorists on streets, ditches, or other municipal property for the purpose of containing human waste.

Creates the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act. Provides that the State of Illinois ratifies and approves the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. Provides that the purpose of the Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of Occupational Therapy with the goal of improving public access to Occupational Therapy services, and states that the Compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. The Compact contains provisions concerning definitions; state participation in the Compact; Compact privilege; obtaining a new home state license by virtue of Compact privileges; active duty military personnel and their spouses; adverse actions; establishment of the Occupational Therapy Compact Commission; a data system; rulemaking; oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; date of implementation of the Interstate Commission for Occupational Therapy Practice and associated rules, withdrawal, and amendment; construction and severability; and the binding effect of the Compact and other laws.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school personnel and the parents of students enrolled in a school district may file a complaint with the school board of the school district for any administrative or school board member malpractice. Requires a school board to create a process for filing complaints with the school board. Provides that if a school board receives more than one filed complaint about any one school board member or administrator of the school district, the school board shall report the complaints to the regional office of education with jurisdiction over and the State Board of Education. Provides that a school employee is immune from professional disciplinary action for submitting a complaint that is not made with willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that a student of a parent who submits a complaint may not have any disciplinary action or mistreatment made upon the student by school personnel or a school board member because the parent submitted a complaint. Provides that if school personnel have a good faith belief that a violation of the Criminal Code of 2012, the Illinois Vehicle Code, or a local ordinance has occurred on or off school grounds that is based on evidence received by school personnel on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event, the school personnel shall report the violation to the appropriate law enforcement authority. Provides that school personnel making a good faith report of a violation to the appropriate law enforcement agency are immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action for making a good faith report that is not made with willful or wanton misconduct. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Ammunition Vending Machine Prohibition Act. Provides that no person shall install, maintain, place, or operate, or cause to be installed, maintained, placed or operated, any mechanical or electronic device that, upon insertion of money, tokens, or any other form of payment, automatically dispenses ammunition without the contemporaneous oversight of a licensed dealer or his or her authorized employee. Provides for penalties. Effective January 1, 2027.

Creates the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Act. Provides that an individual: (i) who is domiciled in this State; (ii) who is eligible for and receives either the general homestead exemption or the general alternative homestead exemption; (iii) who has experienced property tax bill spikes; and (iv) who has an income that meets a specified income eligibility limitation is eligible for a grant of a portion of the person's property tax bill spike. Provides that the maximum amount of grant to which a claimant is entitled is 50% of the claimant's tax bill spike. Creates the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Fund for the purpose of making grants to claimants. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Permits any federally-chartered or state-chartered veterans service organization to apply for designation of an honorary road sign for any member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in action, if no eligible family member is available to apply for designation of an honorary road sign.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, as soon as practical after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer $370,000,000 from the Fund for Illinois' Future to the General Revenue Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district shall reduce its aggregate extension base for the purpose of lowering its limiting rate for future years upon referendum approval initiated by the submission of a petition by the voters of the district. Provides that the extension limitation shall be: (a) the lesser of 5% or the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the 10 years immediately preceding the levy year for which the extension limitation is being calculated; or (b) the rate of increase approved by the voters. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1917. Provides that the board of trustees of a sanitary district organized under the Act (rather than only the board of trustees of the Sanitary District of Decatur or the board of trustees of the Bloomington and Normal Water Reclamation District) may enter into an agreement to sell, convey, or disburse treated wastewater to a private entity located within 50 miles of the District's boundaries. Provides that the board of trustees of a sanitary district organized under the Act (rather than only the board of trustees of the Sanitary District of Decatur) may accept wastewater for treatment from a private entity located within 50 miles of the district's boundaries. Provides that the board of trustees of a sanitary district organized under the Act (rather than only the board of trustees of the Sanitary District of Decatur) may acquire and accept, by gift, grant, purchase, or otherwise, a fee simple interest or any lesser interest as may be desired in real property necessary to carry out its powers under the provisions. Amends the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District Act of 1936, the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974, and the Eastern Will Sanitary District Act providing similar powers to districts organized under those Acts. Amends the North Shore Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that an agreement entered into by the board of trustees of any sanitary district formed under the Act to sell, convey, or disburse treated wastewater to any public or private entity located within 50 miles of the district's boundaries (rather than within or outside of the boundaries of the sanitary district) may not exceed 30 years (rather than 20 years). Removes language providing that any use of treated wastewater by any public or private entity shall be subject to the orders of the Pollution Control Board. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a process for sanitary districts to obtain a permit to sell treated wastewater. Effective immediately.

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. In provisions concerning the acceptance of stray dogs and cats, provides that an animal shelter shall allow access to the public to view the animals housed there, and access to in-person viewing of the animals at the animal shelter shall not be restricted, except during emergency circumstances. Provides that "access to the public" means in-person access for any member of the public to view any impounded animal that is housed at an animal shelter during the animal shelter's regular hours of operation.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Includes, in the minimum curriculum for police training schools, training in investigating domestic minor sex trafficking. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that a child shall be considered abused regardless of the perpetrator of the abuse if the child is a human trafficking victim. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides for immediate expungement of juvenile court and law enforcement records of minors who are human trafficking victims involved in prostitution. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes a provision that provides that commercial sexual activity and sexually-explicit performances are forms of activities that are "services" under the human trafficking statute. Provides that involuntary sexual servitude of a minor includes purchasing sexual services of the minor whether from the trafficker or the minor. Provides that it is not a defense to involuntary sexual servitude of a minor that the accused reasonably believed the trafficking victim to be 18 years of age or over. Eliminates other mistake of age defenses concerning grooming and patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution. Provides that a person who is a victim of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor is deemed a crime victim and is eligible for protections afforded to crime victims. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to permit a motion to vacate an adjudication of delinquency of a human trafficking victim who engaged in prostitution. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Makes violations concerning trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and related offenses registrable offenses under the Act. Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act to provide that a trafficking victim who is under 18 years of age is not subject to the filing requirements of the Act and is not subject to the eligibility requirements of the Act.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended for contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative committees, or any committee or organization working to influence referendum petitions or elections or contributions to a trade association, chamber of commerce, or public charity, including, but not limited to, a charity managed by the public utility or an affiliated interest. Makes changes in provisions definitions; donations made by a public utility for energy assistance; consideration of attorney and expert compensation as an expense; and the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund.

Amends the School Code. Sets forth measures to be taken when an offense of bullying occurs and is reported to a public school, including a charter school, depending on the severity of the bullying offense, including hearing requirements, compulsory, school-based, restorative-justice requirements, community service requirements, and counseling requirements for minor offenders; hearing requirements, administrative fee requirements, and education session requirements for parents or guardians of minor offenders; and victim support. Requires the State Board of Education to annually report to the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics any incidents of bullying, the number of hearings relating to incidents of bullying, restorative-justice program outcomes, disciplinary actions, and follow-up metrics by demographics. Requires the State Board to conduct an annual audit of schools that participate in the restorative measures to determine anti-bullying metrics for the report. Makes other changes.

Amends the Local Government Electronic Notification Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.