Illinois

Amends the Open Meetings Act. In provisions concerning public notice of any special meeting except a meeting held in the event of a bona fide emergency, provides that "bona fide emergency" includes the appointment of a temporary deputy township supervisor under the Township Code. Amends the Township Code. In provisions concerning a township or multi-township board temporarily appointing a deputy to perform the ministerial functions of a vacant office, provides that "ministerial functions" includes, but is not limited to, serving as the ex officio supervisor of general assistance in the township and administering the general assistance program under specified provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Inserts gender neutral descriptions in provisions concerning boards of commissioners of forest preserve districts. Amends the Child Labor Law of 2024. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an employer from employing, allowing, or permitting a minor 12 or 13 years of age to work as an officiant or an assistant instructor of youth sports activities for a township parks and recreation department if the employer obtains certification and satisfies specified requirements. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that penalty fees collected for violating the Act and application fees for permits shall be deposited into the Water Resources Fund (rather than the State Boating Act Fund).

Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. In provisions regarding a maximum fee, provides that no fee shall be charged for any notarial act related to the execution of an Illinois Secretary of State Department of Driver Services Homeless Status Certification form. In provisions regarding prohibited acts, provides that a notary public shall not charge a fee for any notarial act related to the execution of an Illinois Secretary of State Department of Driver Services Homeless Status Certification form.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act. Replaces references to the Emergency Medical Disaster Plan with references to the Public Health and Emergency Medical Plan.

Amends the Caregiver Advise, Record, and Enable Act. Changes the short title to the Emergency Contact and Caregiver Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Provides that, following the patient's admission into the hospital as an inpatient, a hospital shall provide each patient or, if applicable, the patient's legal representative with an opportunity to designate an emergency contact and the opportunity to authorize the hospital to share the patient's protected health information with the emergency contact. Requires a hospital, if authorized by the patient when the emergency contact was designated, to provide notice to the patient's designated emergency contact of the patient's death or if the patient's condition has become life threatening. Limits the liability of hospitals who attempt to contact an emergency contact. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Act. Defines "water treatment residuals". Deletes provisions regarding generator and broker registration. Adds new provisions regarding generator and broker registration requiring registration with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security within 60 days after the commencement of generating or taking possession of low-level radioactive waste. Provides an exemption for a generator that stores waste containing or composed of radioactive material with a physical half-life of less than 120 days. Provides an exemption for a generator of water treatment residuals. Makes technical changes.

Creates the Farmland Transition Commission Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall establish a Farmland Transition Commission to examine current barriers individuals ages 21 through 40 face when trying to purchase or access farmland, review current incentives and policies to encourage the transfer of farmland to current or prospective farmers between the ages of 21 through 40, and to make recommendations on possible incentives or policies to assist these individuals in purchasing or accessing farmland. Specifies membership of the Commission. Provides that Commission members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least on a quarterly basis. Provides that the Commission shall file a report annually with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1 of each year on its recommendations for possible incentives to assist young farmers between the ages of 21 and 40 in acquiring access to farmland in the State. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission as needed. Provides that the Commission is dissolved and this provision is repealed on December 31, 2031.

Amends the Family Military Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the "Military Leave Act". Provides that an employee may use up to 8 hours per calendar month to participate in a funeral honors detail, up to a total of 40 hours per calendar year, or more if authorized by the employer or if provided for in a collective bargaining agreement. Provides for requirements to take leave for funeral honors details. Provides that an employee that takes leave may do so in lieu of, and without having exhausted, his or her vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave, or any other leave that may be granted to the employee, including sick leave and disability leave. Defines terms. Provides that the employer of an employee that takes leave must pay the employee his or her regular rate of pay for the leave taken to participate in a funeral honors detail. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Reimagine Public Safety Act. Provides that the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall issue a report to the General Assembly annually (rather than no later than January 1 of each year) that identifies communities within Illinois municipalities of 1,000,000 or more residents and municipalities with less than 1,000,000 residents and more than 35,000 residents that are experiencing concentrated firearm violence, explaining the investments that are being made to reduce concentrated firearm violence, and making further recommendations on how to end Illinois' firearm violence epidemic. Provides that the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention shall compile recommendations from all Lead Violence Prevention Conveners and report to the General Assembly annually (rather than bi-annually) on these funding recommendations.

Amends the Auction License Act. Adds definitions for "estate sale", "estate sale service", and "online auction". Provides that "Internet auction listing service" does not include an online auction. Adds an online auction, an estate sale, and providing an estate service to events that are unlawful for any person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity to conduct in the State of Illinois without a licensed issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Adds online auctions and estate sales with certain conditions to exemptions to the license requirement. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to apply to a sale conducted by an individual of his or her own property if such an individual is not engaged in the business of selling such property or if the individual did not acquire such goods for resale. Provides that nothing in provisions regarding the license requirement shall be construed to apply to any person as a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, guardian, administrator, or executor or any such person acting under order of any court, nor shall the provisions regarding the license requirement apply to a trustee acting under a trust agreement, deed of trust, or will, or sales at auction conducted by or under the direction of any public authority or pursuant to any judicial order or decree. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop a course and certification program for certified therapy dog teams consisting of officers employing the use of therapy dogs in relation to crisis and emergency response.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a resident of the State who served in the United Nations Protection Force in Somalia, Panama, or Grenada to apply for a United Nations Protection Force license plate.

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to limit the ability of a licensed physician to practice medicine in all of its branches. Provides that beautifying, massaging, cleansing, exfoliating, or stimulating the stratum corneum of the epidermis by the use of cosmetic preparations, including superficial exfoliants, body treatments, body wraps, the use of hydrotherapy, or any device, electrical, mechanical, or otherwise, including microdermabrasion, hydrodermabrasion, and dermaplaning, when done for cosmetic or beautifying purposes and not for the treatment of disease or of a muscular or nervous disorder, constitutes the practice of cosmetology and the practice of esthetics. Provides that the use of any technique, product, or practice intended to affect the living layers of the skin constitutes an action for which the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may refuse to issue or renew, and may suspend, revoke, place on probation, reprimand or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper. Provides that the use of any technique, product, or practice intended to affect the living layers of the skin in the practice of cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics, hair braiding, or barbering is a Class B misdemeanor if the action is a person's first offense, a Class B misdemeanor if the action is a person's second offense, and a Class 4 felony if the action is any subsequent offense.

Amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act. Provides that an employer shall compensate an employee during the break time provided under the Act at the employee's regular rate of compensation. Provides that an employer shall not require an employee to use paid leave during the break time or reduce an employee's compensation during the break time in any other manner.

Amends the Essential Support Person Act. Changes the definition of "Department" to mean the Department of Public Health or, with respect to community-integrated living arrangements, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, the Department of Human Services. Provides that "facility" does not include any facility that the Department of Public Health or the Department of Veterans' Affairs does not regulate, except that "facility" includes a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act.

Creates the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act. Defines terms. Provides that an individual, corporation, or entity may not provide, advertise, or otherwise offer therapy or psychotherapy services to the public in the State unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are conducted by an individual who is a licensed professional. Provides that a licensed professional may use an artificial intelligence system only to the extent the use of the artificial intelligence system meets the definition of permitted use of artificial intelligence systems. Provides that a licensed professional may not use an artificial intelligence system in therapy or psychotherapy services to make independent therapeutic decisions, directly interact with clients in any form of therapeutic communication, or generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without the review and approval by a licensed professional. Provides that any individual, corporation, or entity found in violation of the Act shall pay a civil penalty to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation, as determined by the Department, with penalties assessed based on the degree of harm and the circumstances of the violation. Provides that the civil penalty shall be assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in accordance with the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Requires that an individual, corporation, or entity found in violation of the Act shall pay the civil penalty within 60 days after the date of an order by the Department imposing the civil penalty. Provides that the Department shall have authority to investigate any actual, alleged, or suspected violations of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes technical changes in a provision that states if the minor is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to an order entered under the Delinquent Minors Article of the Act, the court shall conduct permanency hearings as set out in the court review provisions of the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources (rather than the Department of Commercial and Economic Opportunity) shall provide administrative and other support to the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission. Sets forth provisions concerning the election of a chairperson and the conduct of meetings. Provides that, after consultation with and written approval by the Department, the Commission may adopt administrative rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2037. Amends the Historic Preservation Act to repeal provisions concerning the Amistad Commission. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Open Space Article of the Township Code. Reduces the acreage that constitutes open land or open space under the Article to 25 acres (currently, 50 acres). Provides, in the definition of "open space purposes", that development includes development for agricultural purposes. Provides that, after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a township board may lease open space that is a part of the township's open space program for a period not longer than 25 years from the date of the lease to an individual, a nonprofit organization, the federal government, a state government, or a local government for specified purposes consistent with open space purposes. Provides that, upon expiration of a lease of land that was leased after the effective date of the amendatory Act, title to all structures on the leased land shall be vested in the township. Provides that leased open space may be used for agricultural purposes. Provides that a township board may lease open space for open space purposes and buildings and facilities on the open space to an individual, a nonprofit organization, the federal government, a state government, or a local government. Provides that the township board may not sell, convey, donate, or otherwise dispose of open space without referendum approval by the majority of the voters of the township at a regular election, and provides that the board may certify the question of disposition of property to the appropriate election authority only if the board approves the question by at least a two-thirds majority of the board members. Provides that, if a township dissolves or is consolidated or merged or the boundaries of the township are altered, any affected open space shall continue to be used for open space purposes unless the open space is disposed of is approved by a two-thirds vote of the board of the unit of local government in control of that open space and after referendum of the voters of the unit of local government.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Changes the repeal date of the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985 from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Defines "email address of record", "licensed continuing education sponsor", "licensed school", and "public member". Makes changes in provisions concerning the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act; an applicant's address of record; licensure requirements for each profession; unlicensed practice; abnormal skin growth education; display of a license; teacher education; examination of applicants for each profession; the practices that constitute cosmetology; inactive status of a license; the practices that constitute esthetics; investigations by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; requisites for ownership or operation of a school under the Act; the periodic review of schools for each profession; enrollment agreements; school rules and refunds; grounds for disciplinary action; exceptions for public schools; licensure renewal; requisites for ownership or operation of cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding, and nail technology salons and barber shops; powers and duties of the Department; the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Board; applications; the issuance of a license; fees; refusal, suspension, and revocation of licenses; practice without a license or after suspension or revocation thereof; hearings; record of proceedings; citations; and certifications of record. Makes conforming and other changes. Provides that the provisions concerning the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.

Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take proceedings may be used for a period of one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act by the Kane County Division of Transportation for the purpose of intersection realignment and separation improvement.. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that "expanded-use antique vehicle" does not include a commercial vehicle or a farm truck. Provides that any entity or vendor providing services to or on behalf of the Secretary of State may also prescribe or provide suitable forms for applications, certificates of title, registration cards, driver's licenses, and such other forms requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the Act to the extent authorized by the Secretary and upon approval of the Secretary. Provides that, except for specified persons, an individual's photograph or image, signature, social security number, personal email address, and medical or disability information as may be submitted to the Secretary for purposes of a vehicle title and registration application shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed. Provides that the printed proof of registration is valid for 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker's or digital registration sticker's date or 30 days from the purchase date of the new registration sticker or digital registration sticker, whichever occurs later. Provides that the owner of an antique vehicle may register such vehicle for a fee not to exceed $6 per registration year (rather than $13 for a 2-year antique plate). Provides that if the Secretary determines that an owner has registered or maintained the registration of a motor vehicle without a liability insurance policy, the Secretary shall notify the owner that such owner's vehicle registration shall be suspended 30 (rather than 45) days after the date of the mailing of the notice unless the owner within 30 days furnishes proof of insurance in effect on the verification date or provides an exemption from the mandatory insurance requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Government Advertising Spending Transparency Act. Provides that, no later than October 1, 2026 (rather than no later than June 30, 2026), and October 1 of each year thereafter, each State agency or department shall report the amount and distribution of its advertising spending to the General Assembly and post the report on its website. Provides that, if a contracted vendor places advertisements on behalf of a State agency or department, the State agency or department shall make a good faith effort to collect from the vendor sufficient information to comply with the provisions of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no person shall affix tape to any registration plate, temporary registration plate, digital registration plate, registration sticker, or other evidence of registration issued by the Secretary of State. Makes a conforming change. Provides that it is unlawful to operate any vehicle that is equipped with a manual, electronic, or mechanical device that hides or obscures a registration plate.