Illinois

Appropriates $1,760,144 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Office of Firearm Violence Prevention for a grant to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for a violence interrupter program, including administrative and operating costs. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Beardstown Regional Flood Prevention District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow assisted living establishments and supportive living establishments to provide an approved course of training for certified nursing assistants at the establishment, so long as the training meets the requirements of the Nursing Home Care Act and rules adopted by the Department. Sets forth provisions concerning the supervised clinical training portion of the training program. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules requiring that the Health Care Worker Registry include information identifying where an individual received clinical training and may amend specified rules as necessary to implement the certified nursing assistant training program.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits harassment through electronic communications when he or she uses electronic communication to transmit to any person a deepfake with intent to harass. Defines "deepfake".

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Creates the State-Authorized Charter School Fund. Provides that funds appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, the Education Assistance Fund, or the Common School Fund and all moneys received by the State Board of Education from a private source for the purposes of the State-Authorized Charter School Fund shall be deposited into the State-Authorized Charter School Fund and the moneys in the State-Authorized Charter School Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board for equal distribution among State Board-authorized charter schools for school expenses. Provides that a school district with a State-authorized charter school may not use any funds from its evidence-based funding for that charter school's expenses and a school district with a State Board-authorized charter school must use funds from the State-Authorized Charter School Fund for that charter school's expenses instead. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that any public liability claim filed against the State of Illinois or any public liability claim filed against a State employee on the basis of an occurrence in the course of the employee's State employment must be approved by the Governor, in cases of settlements exceeding $250,000 (rather than $100,000).

Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for grants and administrative and operational expenses associated with GRO Community. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that no stipulation of fact entered into by a parent shall be accepted by the court unless all of the following occur: (1) each factual statement appears as a separate, numbered line item; (2) the parent initials each numbered factual statement individually; (3) the stipulation includes a plainly written section, initialed by the parent, describing the legal effect of the stipulation, including reliance on stipulated facts to satisfy the constitutional standard for removal or continued custody, and the requirement of probable cause or exigent circumstances; and (4) the parent signs and initials a written attestation stating the parent: (i) has reviewed and understands each factual statement; (ii) agrees each initialed statement is true; (iii) enters the stipulation knowingly and voluntarily; and (iv) does so without coercion or improper pressure. Provides that no waiver of temporary custody or shelter care hearing shall be accepted unless: (1) the waiver appears in separate, numbered line items describing the right waived and its legal effect; (2) the parent initials each line item; (3) the parent signs a written attestation meeting; and (4) the court obtains verbal, on-the-record confirmation of the waiver. Provides that nothing in the provision creates a private cause of action or alters substantive evidentiary standards. Defines "probable cause" and "stipulation of fact".

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for any offense, that pretrial release shall be revoked if the defendant is charged with an offense that is alleged to have occurred within or outside this State during the defendant's pretrial release, regardless of the classification of the offense (rather than when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for a felony or Class A misdemeanor, that pretrial release may be revoked only if the defendant is charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release), after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who has had the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card revoked or denied under certain provisions because the person was a patient in a mental health facility shall not be permitted to obtain a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, after the 5-year period has lapsed, unless the person has received a mental health evaluation by a licensed clinical mental health professional (rather than a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner as those terms are defined in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code). Provides that the person receiving a mental health evaluation shall share all collateral records with the licensed clinical mental health professional making the certification and shall attest that all collateral records have been provided before the evaluation. Provides that the licensed clinical mental health professional shall attest that the licensed clinical mental health professional has requested, received, reviewed, and considered all of the person's collateral records in making the licensed clinical mental health professional's determination that the person is not a clear and present danger to self or others. Provides that the licensed clinical mental health professional shall identify the types of collateral records received. Requires the licensed clinical mental health professional to make all reasonable attempts to obtain collateral records, and, if no collateral records are obtained, requires the licensed clinical mental health professional to document the efforts used to obtain such collateral records. Provides that the results of the mental health evaluations that are performed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be transmitted to the Illinois State Police. Defines terms.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II, provides that, if the veteran has a service-connected disability of 50% or more, then the first $250,000 in equalized assessed value of the property is exempt from taxation under the Code (currently, if the veteran has a service-connected disability of 50% or more but less than 70%, the annual exemption is $5,000, and, if the veteran has a service-connected disability of 70% or more, then the first $250,000 in equalized assessed value of the property is exempt). Effective immediately.

Amends the Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Includes in the definition of "Organizational Unit" a State-approved charter school that has greater than or equal to 15% fewer low-income students than the school district in which the charter school is located. Requires the State Board of Education to determine how each funding variable within the evidence-based funding formula needs to be adjusted to accommodate the changes made by the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for dates of service on and after January 1, 2027, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services must increase the base per diem rate for inpatient general acute services for children's specialty hospitals that are not eligible for payments under the hospital assessment programs under the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Code. Provides that the increase must consider the difference between children's specialty hospitals receiving hospital assessment payments and how to make rates more comparable. Permits the Department to consider spreading the increase over 3 calendar years. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include: (1) an employee engaged in the transportation of goods through this State; (2) an employee who is free to decide what time the employee performs duties for an employer; or (3) an employee who is employed by an employer with fewer than 15 employees. Makes changes to provisions concerning the provision of paid leave; the responsibilities of the Department of Labor; and enforcement and penalties.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits endangering the life or health of a child when he or she knowingly leaves an immature child under 18 years unattended. Establishes factors the trier of fact may infer relating to the maturity level of the child. Deletes that the child is unattended if not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older or out of sight of that person. Replaces with the accompanying of the child by a mature person.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Flood Prevention District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that for sentences imposed under the law in effect on or after February 1, 1978, exempts the offenses of possession of child sexual abuse material and the former offenses of possession of child pornography and possession of aggravated child pornography from the provision that offenses that were committed as part of a single course of conduct during which there was no substantial change in the nature of the criminal objective that the aggregate of consecutive sentences shall not exceed the sum of the maximum terms authorized under the Code for the 2 most serious felonies involved.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a person accused of an offense does not have the right to a trial by jury if the offense is a petty offense with no penalty of imprisonment or mandatory driver's license suspension under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a local traffic ordinance if a court appearance is not required and the defendant waives his or her right to a jury trial by mail or electronic submission of a waiver request through an online system approved by either the Illinois Supreme Court or the local circuit court clerk. Provides that every person accused of an offense pursuant to the provision and entering a plea of not guilty may waive the right to a trial by jury and request a bench trial by submitting a jury waiver request in writing or such other form prescribed by the Illinois Supreme Court or a local circuit court by mail to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the charge is pending or by electronic submission, through an online system approved by the Illinois Supreme Court or the local circuit court clerk. Provides that the jury trial waiver request under the provision shall include the name, mailing address, driver's license number, citation or complaint number, date of birth, and signature of the defendant. Provides that upon the receipt of a valid waiver request, the clerk of the court before which such request was made shall schedule the matter for a bench trial, enter the waiver into the court record, and the court may proceed with a bench trial without requiring the defendant to personally appear to execute the waiver. Provides that the waiver shall be deemed sufficient to satisfy the waiver requirements of the Code. Provides that the trial court may require the defendant to appear in court if necessary to confirm the validity of the waiver or for a show of good cause. Provides that nothing in the provision shall preclude the Illinois Supreme Court from adopting rules forms and procedures for the implementation of the provision. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In provisions concerning the transition program grants to assist eligible community agencies with active or pending Section 14(c) certificates to transition away from subminimum wages for workers with disabilities, requires the Department of Human Services to ensure equitable access to transition grants for all eligible holders of Section 14(c) certificates by (i) avoiding the concentration of funding among a limited number of grant recipients and (ii) promoting equity in the distribution of funds by being inclusive of all geographic regions of the State, provider sizes, and transition needs. Provides that every applicant that applies for grant funds and meets the grant criteria established by the Department shall be awarded a grant in an amount based upon the Department's funding criteria. Requires grant recipients to submit progress reports to the Department twice annually on a form developed by the Department in consultation with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. Sets forth the information required in the reports. Requires the Department to aggregate data collected from the reports and make it publicly available on an annual basis. Amends the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force Act. Requires the Department to ensure that there is project management for statewide implementation of the multi-year plan under the Dignity in Pay Act, Public Act 103-1060, through December 31, 2029. Sets forth a list of project management responsibilities. Requires the Department to ensure the availability of ongoing technical assistance to eligible Section 14(c) certificate holders throughout the transition period ending on December 31, 2029. Sets forth the type of technical assistance to be provided. Provides that funds appropriated for Section 14(c) transition purposes may be used for (i) transition program grants to eligible providers, (ii) statewide project management and coordination, and (iii) technical assistance and capacity-building supports. Effective immediately.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.