Illinois

Creates the Prohibition of Nicotine Sales Near Schools Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2027 every municipality shall regulate, within its territorial limits, the retail sale of nicotine-containing products near schools and day care centers. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, every county shall regulate, within its territorial limits but outside of the territorial limits of any municipality, the retail sale of nicotine-containing products near schools and day care centers. Provides that, if a county or municipality does not comply with the Act by January 1, 2027, then the retail sale of nicotine-containing products near schools and day care centers within the county or municipality shall be governed by the Department of Revenue. Provides that, if a municipality or county fails to comply with the Act, then the Department of Revenue may not grant licenses for retailers that would permit the retail sale of nicotine-containing products near a school or day care center in the municipality or county. Provides that any establishment in existence before January 1, 2027 shall be able to keep or renew its retailer license that permits the establishment to sell nicotine containing products if the principal of the school or owner of the day care center located near the establishment has not indicated opposition to the issuance or renewal of the license in writing to the Department of Revenue. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 12 (rather than grade 2), other than for diagnostic purposes. Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 12 (rather than grade 2). Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Urges the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to consult with nonprofit safety net hospitals, including those in Chicago Community Area No. 33 (Near South Side), and craft a report for the General Assembly in which the Director recommends policies and legislation to establish one or more programs to curb the price that manufacturers charge certain hospitals for certain medical devices.

Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercity passenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequencies into the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or other cooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to provide for shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performance measures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include a recurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the State to: (1) recognize the target intercity and long-distance passenger rail frequencies; (2) identify relevant rail corridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regional transportation investments can support achievement of those frequency targets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider progress toward the target passenger rail frequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodal investments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, any line-of-duty disability pension shall be at least $40,000 per year (instead of $400 per month), without regard to whether the disability or death of the police officer occurred before July 1, 2026. In provisions concerning an annual increase in the line-of-duty disability pension, removes requirements that an applicant must file an affidavit stating that the applicant has not earned any income from gainful employment during the most recently concluded tax year; have service credit in the Fund for at least 7 years of active duty; and have been receiving a line-of-duty disability pension for a period which, when added to the officer's total service credit in the Fund, equals at least 20 years. Provides that, if a disabled police officer is receiving a line-of-duty disability pension and is an annuitant of a municipality that sponsors a group hospital and medical plan that includes police officers or is participating in certain group insurance coverage, then the pension fund shall pay the total monthly premium on behalf of that police officer for such group insurance coverage. Amends the Property Tax Code. Sets forth a homestead exemption for property owned by a person receiving a line-of-duty disability pension in an amount equal to 50% of the equalized or assessed value of the property if the person is age 25 or over and under the age of 36, 75% of the equalized or assessed value of the property if the person is age 36 or over and under the age of 50, and 100% of the equalized or assessed value of the property if the person is age 50 or over. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that a veteran is qualified for a preference of 5 points if the veteran served in active service for a total consecutive or non-consecutive period of at least 3 years, including as a member of the Illinois National Guard in service to the State of Illinois and including for training or other purposes. Adds definitions. Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the scope of the Act to provide necessary assistance and services to military veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and active or former members of the Illinois National Guard or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States (rather than military veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States). Adds a definition.

Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Coroner Division of the Counties Code. In provisions regarding preliminary investigations where a drug overdose is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in a death, modifies the definition of "overdose" to exclude death caused by fentanyl, which shall be considered poisoning. Provides that, in every case in which fentanyl is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in the death, the coroner or medical examiner shall report the death to the Department of Public Health as "fentanyl poisoning". Provides that, in the monthly report of overdose deaths, the Department shall also report on fentanyl poisoning deaths.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits criminal damage to property when he or she intentionally damages, destroys, or tampers with equipment in a critical infrastructure facility without authorization from the critical infrastructure facility. Provides that a violation is: (1) a Class 4 felony when the damage to property does not exceed $500; (2) a Class 3 felony when the damage to property exceeds $500 but does not exceed $10,000; and (3) a Class 2 felony when the damage to property exceeds $10,000. Provides that a person may be liable in any civil action for money damages to the owner of the critical infrastructure facility for any damage resulting from a violation. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to a violation that the owner of the property or land damaged consented to the damage. Provides that a person may also be liable to the owner for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees resulting from a violation. Changes the name of the offense of criminal trespass to a nuclear facility to criminal trespass to a critical infrastructure facility. Includes as an element of the offense that the person must have the intent to damage, destroy, or tamper with equipment of the facility. Provides that a person may also be liable in a civil action for money damages to the owner of the critical infrastructure facility for any damage to personal or real property of the facility resulting from the trespass. Provides that a person may also be liable to the owner for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Defines "critical infrastructure facility" and "with the intent to damage, destroy, or tamper with equipment of the facility".

Creates the DNA Match Notification, Tracking, and Accountability Act. Provides that, no later than one year after the effective date of the Act, the Illinois State Police shall establish and maintain a statewide automated DNA match tracking system to solve cases. Provides that the Illinois State Police may (1) purchase a commercial off-the-shelf software system for tracking if the system meets all of the requirements and (2) apply for federal funding to establish and maintain the automated DNA match tracking system. Provides that the automated DNA match tracking system shall (1) be electronic and cloud-based; (2) receive DNA match notifications from all accredited crime laboratories; (3) automatically route notifications and reminders to designated receiving agencies; (4) record and time-stamp subsequent actions taken by receiving agencies and flag notifications for supervisory review upon missed deadlines or inactivity; (5) produce audit logs, compliance reports, and performance metrics; and (6) ensure data security consistent with applicable privacy and information security laws.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a business that ships or delivers goods that the business knows or should know are addressed to or intended for receipt by a minor shall, upon request, disclose to the minor's parent or guardian: (1) the name of the person who placed the order for the shipment or delivery; and (2) a general description of the contents of the shipment or delivery. Provides that the disclosure shall be made within a reasonable time after the request is received by the business. Provides that nothing requires a business to disclose information prohibited from disclosure under State or federal law. Provides that a violation of the provision constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall not deny the distribution of original physical mail to committed persons after such incoming mail has undergone inspection and it has been determined that the mail does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Defines "threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility".

Amends the School Code. Provides that the General Assembly voluntarily elects the State to: (1) participate in the federal tax credit established under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act for individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations; and (2) identify scholarship granting organizations located in this State. Authorizes and empowers the State Board of Education to certify and submit a list of qualifying scholarship granting organizations to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in accordance with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its associated regulations. Provides that by January 1, 2027 and by every January 1 thereafter, the State Board shall submit to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and publish on the State Board's Internet website a list of scholarship granting organizations that meet the requirements of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and are located in this State. Allows the State Board to establish rules governing the process and documentation necessary for an entity to qualify to be included as a scholarship granting organization on the list.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor or trafficking in persons if the victim is under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that no person charged with grooming shall be permitted to plead down to lesser offenses. Provides that prosecutors are prohibited from offering plea bargains to lesser offenses to those individuals charged with grooming. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly operate, manage, be employed by, volunteer at, be associated with, or knowingly be present at any facility providing entertainment exclusively directed toward persons under the age of 18.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Makes changes to the definition of "limiting rate". Provides for alternative referendum procedures for a taxing district to increase its aggregate extension. Effective immediately.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Removes a provision that allows the State Treasurer to invest or reinvest any State money in bonds, notes, debentures, or other similar obligations of a foreign government that satisfies specified requirements.

Creates the Local Advisory Committees on Special Education Act. Allows each school district or regional cooperative program providing special education services to establish and appoint a local advisory committee on special education if a local advisory committee is requested by more than 3 parents or guardians of the students receiving the services. Establishes the membership and responsibilities of a local advisory committee and the duties of the school district or regional cooperative program. Provides that members of a local advisory committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. In provisions concerning taxes collected in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties and paid directly to the counties, provides that the county board of each county shall use those amounts to fund operating and capital costs of, among other things, facilities of county law enforcement. Provides that the funds shall be divided equally among all entities. Deletes provisions requiring that the funding the counties receive under the provisions shall not be used as the basis for reducing any funds that the counties would otherwise have received from the State, the Regional Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division, the Suburban Bus Division, or the Chicago Transit Authority. Makes other changes.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, if wild deer cause more than $500 in property damage on land in the State that is owned or leased by an Illinois resident, then the Department of Natural Resources shall compensate the Illinois resident for the actual property damages caused by the deer and incurred by the Illinois resident upon submittal by the Illinois resident of a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department by rule. Provides that a claim must be submitted within one year after the date that a claimant suffers damages and knows or has reason to know of the damages. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Provides for a private cause of action in the Court of Claims if the Illinois resident has not been compensated within 180 days after submitting a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.

Creates the Tariff Transparency Act. Provides that a retail establishment shall disclose the percentage or dollar amount of the retail price of a retail product that is attributable to tariffs. Sets forth requirements for the disclosure. Requires retail establishments and wholesale trade firms to maintain specified records. Provides that all retail establishments subject to the Act shall be subject to periodic audits. Provides that a violation of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Sets forth provisions concerning exemptions; rulemaking; public notice; and a compliance schedule. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective 90 days after becoming law.

Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that, if the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer shall continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for the surviving spouse (rather than the surviving spouse until remarried) and for the dependent children under specified conditions.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that an oral, written, or sign language statement of a minor made without the presence of counsel throughout a custodial interrogation is inadmissible as evidence against the minor in any proceeding under the Act if imposition of an adult criminal sentence is a possibility, including a sentence under an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution and proceeding, or in any proceeding under the Criminal Code of 2012.

Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Designates the part of U.S. Route 14 that is within the State of Illinois and is known as the Northwest Highway as the Ronald Reagan Highway, with the exception of the portion of U.S. Route 14 that lies between Broadway and Ridge Avenue (also known as Ridge Boulevard).

Amends the Wildlife Code. Allows nonresidents who are immediate family members of landowners and who qualify for special deer, turkey, and combination hunting licenses under the Act to obtain deer, turkey, and combination permits for the regular resident permit fee for hunting on that property after providing acceptable verification to the Department of Natural Resources. Defines "immediate family member".