Illinois

Congratulates Whiteside Middle School, the Warriors, on winning the 2025 Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association Class L Baseball State Championship.

Congratulates Brian Keith Leonard Sr. on his retirement from Ameren Illinois. Wishes him continued success in his future endeavors.

Congratulates Dr. Christopher "Chris" Stohr on being named the 2025-2026 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer by the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG).

Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Requires each county waste management plan to include a recycling program to designed to recycle or compost (rather than just recycle) municipal waste at a specified recycling rate by a certain timeline. Defines the recycling rate as 25% until January 1, 2032, and 50% beginning January 1, 2032 (rather than 15% by the end of the third year of the program and 25% by the end of the fifth year of the program). Requires the waste management plan to provide for the reduction of the total release of dioxin and mercury to the environment with the goal of their continued minimization and, if feasible, ultimate elimination from the county's municipal waste stream.

Mourns the death of Juju Lien.

Mourns the passing of former Village President Ronald "Ron" Bean of Park Forest.

Mourns the death of Eldon Wayne Entwhistle of Princeton.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a licensed attorney-at-law of the State or a law student authorized to provide services under Supreme Court Rule 711 as a special advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court and on a pro bono basis, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or safety of the cat or dog. Provides that the advocate may: (1) monitor the case; (2) consult any person with information that could aid the court and review records relating to the condition of the cat or dog and the defendant's actions, including, but not limited to, records from animal control officers, veterinarians, and police officers; (3) attend hearings; and (4) present information or recommendations to the court pertinent to determinations that relate to the interests of justice, provided that information shall be based solely on the duties undertaken under this provision. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed to alter the legal status of animals as a unique class of personal property.

Commends the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Alvesta Wright Jr. on the occasion of his 65th year of membership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Commends his extraordinary contributions to ministry, education, and the spiritual life of Illinois and the nation. Thanks him for his lifetime of service, scholarship, and unwavering faith.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Employment Security shall make payments to beneficiaries under the Act based on the State's average unemployment rate. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning construction of the Code.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Clean Slate Act. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Authorizes the Illinois State Police to provide reports of cases with missing disposition information to the clerk of the circuit court. Requires any entity required to report information concerning criminal arrests, charges, and dispositions under specified provisions of the Act to respond to any notice advising the entity of missing or incomplete information or an error in the reporting of the information. Modifies the definition of "seal". Makes changes to the categories of records eligible for sealing. Replaces references to "offender" with "petitioner". Modifies provisions relating to when records are eligible to be sealed. Removes provisions preventing subsequent felony conviction records from being sealed under specified circumstances. Removes provisions requiring a petitioner to attach a negative drug test to a petition for sealing and concerning the denial of a petition to expunge or seal because the petitioner has submitted a drug test taken within 30 days before filing of the petition to expunge or seal that indicates a positive test for the presence of cannabis. Establishes procedures for automatic sealing of records and sealing of municipal ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanors. Makes other changes. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Requires, upon request, the circuit court clerk to provide the disposition information for any case or record required to be reported to the Illinois State Police. Allows the Illinois State Police to provide reports of cases with missing disposition information to the clerk of the circuit court. Makes other changes.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Recognizes Adwa Day on the 130th anniversary of the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 2026, as it serves as a source of inspiration for all freedom-loving people in the State of Illinois and for generations to come. Recognizes Ethiopian women for their instrumental involvement in the Battle of Adwa, whose actions secured their country's freedom and independence.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the suspension or expulsion of a student, requires all evidence, including, but not limited to, video evidence and written materials, held by a school district that has led to the decision to suspend or expel the student to be given to the student's parents or guardians before a suspension or expulsion hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes that a municipality that operates an automated speed enforcement system shall set aside 10% of the net proceeds from each system that generates more than $500,000 in revenue for the respective school district or park district in the safety zone in which the automated speed enforcement system is located. Provides that the set aside proceeds may be allocated for any purpose designated by the school district or park district. Set forth home rule provisions.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that, in the case of an employee who is deployed to a disaster area as a volunteer emergency worker, the employer shall, upon the return of the employee, restore the employee to a position of similar seniority, status, and pay in which the employee would have been employed if the continuous employment of the employee had not been interrupted.

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Makes application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.

Amends the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a remote retail seller without first having obtained a license to do so from the Department of Revenue. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, any person engaged in business as a remote retail seller of tobacco products shall be taxed at the rate of 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in the State. Defines "remote retail seller" as a person located inside or outside of the State who makes remote retail sales. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that upon verified petition by the State, the court shall hold a hearing and may deny a defendant pretrial release if: (1) the defendant is charged with a felony offense (rather than specified felonies) and it is alleged that the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case; (2) the defendant is charged with a felony offense (rather than specific felonies) and has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution; or (3) the defendant has been convicted of 2 or more of the same felonies or misdemeanors and either: (i) it is alleged that the defendant's pretrial release poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case; or (ii) the defendant has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution. Changes the State's burden of proof in a pretrial detention hearing seeking the defendant's detention from clear and convincing evidence to a preponderance of the evidence.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle without obtaining a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit if the commercial motor vehicle weighs less than 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating and is equipped with hydraulic brakes, air brakes, or any other system that complies with the federal motor carrier vehicle safety standards.

Mourns the passing of Karen "Kay" Walton of Chatham.

Creates the School Spending Efficiency and Relief Act. Requires each school district to undertake budgetary and expenditure control actions to ensure that administrative expenditures do not exceed 15% of the school district's total operating expenditures. Requires any school district with administrative expenditures exceeding 15% of its total operating expenditures to implement a mandatory annual reduction plan that reduces administrative expenditures by 1% for such time as is required to bring the school district into compliance. Prohibits any school district that is out of compliance from hiring additional administrative personnel. Requires each school district to post an annual budget report online. Allows a school district to increase its tax levy only if the average student enrollment increases by an amount proportional to the tax levy. Requires a school district to decrease its tax levy by a proportional amount whenever the school district's average student enrollment declines. Requires any new contract for a superintendent or assistant superintendent position to be made publicly available at least 30 days prior to approval. Requires any proposal by a school district to increase expenditures on outside consultants and any consultant contract in excess of $25,000 to be made publicly available at least 30 days prior to approval. Requires each school district to enact a budget that either maintains or increases instructional spending as a percentage of total school district expenditures. Provides for a State mandate relief block grant program and a voluntary statewide purchasing consortium. Makes other changes. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.