Illinois

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that either the court or the State's Attorney, or both, (rather than the State's Attorney) or an entity designated by the State's Attorney, may establish community mediation programs designed to provide citizen participation in addressing juvenile delinquency. Provides that prior to entering a sentence, the court may, where such services or processes are available, require the parties involved to consider participation in a restorative practice, such as a conference or circle as defined in the Code of Civil Procedure, to identify and repair harm to the extent possible, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of further harm, and strengthen community ties by focusing on the needs and obligations of all parties involved through a participatory process. Provides that participation in the process shall be voluntary by all parties, and any resulting agreement shall contain only reasonable and proportionate obligations. Provides that the agreement shall be recommended to the court as an alternative to sentencing.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a caregiver also commits criminal abuse or neglect of an elderly person or person with a disability when he or she knowingly: (1) performs acts that create the substantial likelihood that the person's life will be endangered, health will be injured, or pre-existing physical or mental condition will deteriorate; or (2) fails to perform acts that he or she knows or reasonably should know are necessary to maintain or preserve the life or health of the person and that failure creates a substantial likelihood that the person's life will be endangered, health will be injured, or pre-existing physical or mental condition will deteriorate. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Defines "voluntarily assumed the responsibilities for care". Changes the definition of "caregiver". In the statute concerning financial exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a disability, defines "undue influence".

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions requiring secondary schools to include training on how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation in their curriculum, provides that, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, cardiopulmonary resuscitation training shall include the use of both breasted and non-breasted manikins, which may be provided through the use of chest covers on existing manikins. Requires schools to provide reasonable opportunities for students to practice on both breasted and non-breasted manikins.

Repeals Public Act 103-653, which authorized the Adjutant General to convey certain real property in Franklin County, Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Repeals the definition of "food scrap"; adds definitions for "anaerobic digestion", "biogas", "digestate", "food waste", "organic material", and "organic waste"; and updates the definitions of "compost" and "composting". In provisions regarding pollution control facilities, includes a new exemption for portions of sites or facilities used for composting or anaerobic digestion of organic waste that meet specified siting, setback, floodplain, and operational requirements. In provisions regarding prohibited acts, establishes permitting requirements for organic waste composting operations and organic waste anaerobic digesters, and creates exemptions for small-scale and certain farm-based composting operations that meet volume limits, setback distances, and other environmental safeguards. Provides that anaerobic digesters using only non-waste feedstock are exempt from solid waste permitting and clarifies that digested material returned to the economic mainstream is not regulated as waste. Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to recommend, and the Pollution Control Board to adopt, performance standards for organic waste compost facilities and testing procedures for end-product compost, and requires a Technical Advisory Committee with balanced stakeholder representation. Specifies that standards apply to compost offered for sale or use and exempts on-site residential composting. Makes conforming changes throughout to integrate new definitions and regulatory requirements.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a road safety assessment for the 10 most hazardous intersections under State jurisdiction in Will County south of Interstate 80. Provides that the Department shall submit the road safety assessment to the General Assembly by January 1, 2028. Repeals the provision on July 1, 2028.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that employment protections for volunteer emergency workers apply to volunteer emergency workers participating in required training, including a prohibition on termination and penalizing (rather than only termination). Provides that the employer may not require the employee to take vacation time or other compensatory time in order to respond to an emergency or participate in training. Provides that the Act does not apply to any employer that is a municipality with a population of 15,000 or more (currently 7,500 or more). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district's budget and appropriation ordinance and estimate of revenues may be filed electronically with the county clerk. Provides that, if a taxing district's budget and appropriation ordinance and estimate of revenues are filed electronically with the county clerk, the county clerk shall accept and acknowledge that electronic filing by providing a receipt to the taxing district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning the contribution required to establish service credit for certain service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, changes the amount of the interest payment required to establish that service credit from interest at the actuarially assumed rate to regular interest.

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. In provisions concerning the Children's Mental Health Partnership, makes changes to the Partnership's list of duties to include (i) reviewing or facilitating needs assessments (rather than conducting research assessments) to better understand the challenges and gaps of programs, services, and policies related to children's mental health; (ii) monitoring policy development related to children's mental health in Illinois at the local, State, and federal level; and (iii) regularly reviewing aggregate and de-identified data on the need for children's behavioral health services in Illinois that is collected by the Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation (BEACON) portal to ensure that system transformation can continue to be driven by data. Provides that the Partnership's membership shall include public members who reflect a diversity of sexual orientation; and that all Partnership members shall serve without compensation and with no entitlement to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Removes a provision permitting the Partnership to convene study groups. Expands the membership of the adjunct council to include up to 10 youth aged 16 to 25 (rather than up to 6 youth aged 14 to 25) and up to 4 (rather than a minimum of 4) representatives of 4 different community-based organizations that focus on youth mental health. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of green oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights on motor vehicles or equipment used by contractors, engineering or survey crews, or union representatives engaged in work on a highway. Provides that such lights shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a highway.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Replaces references to leghold traps with references to foothold traps. Increases the maximum size of a foothold trap that can be used in water for beaver and otter from 7.5 inches to 8.5 inches. Provides that the diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap perpendicular to the hinges or frame at the widest point.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides for a child support calculation for shared physical care in which each parent exercises 110 or more overnights per year with the child or 110 or more overnight equivalents as determined by a court as a deviation from guidelines or upon agreement by the parties. Provides that overnight equivalents are calculated by using a method other than overnights if the parent has significant parenting time periods on separate days in which the child is in the parent's physical care and under the direct care of that parent but does not stay overnight. Provides that if parents have shared physical care of a child, the basic child support obligation is multiplied by 1.5 to calculate the combined shared care child support obligation; the court shall determine each parent's portion of the shared care child support obligation based on the parent's percentage share of combined adjusted net income; the shared care child support obligation is then computed for each parent by multiplying that parent's portion of the shared care support obligation by the percentage of time the child spends with the other parent and determining any adjustment for shared physical custody that is less than 146 overnights or overnight equivalents. Provides that the respective shared care child support obligations are then offset with the parent owing more paying the difference in child support. Creates a statutory table to calculate the child support if a parent has physical shared custody for less than 146 overnights or overnight equivalents per year. Provides that the shared care child support obligation after adjustment may not be greater than the amount that would have been ordered under the basic support guidelines in any event. Provides that a parent incarcerated for more than 180 days is presumed to be unable to pay any amount of child support, and this presumption may be rebutted by evidence establishing the ability to pay child support during incarceration. Provides a rebuttable presumption that a minimum child support obligation of $40 per month, per child, will be entered for an obligor who has actual or imputed gross income at or less than 100% of the most recent United States Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of one person.

Deletes changes to the Probate Act of 1975. Reinserts provisions amending the Supported Decision-Making Act with these changes. Deletes provisions that provide that the capacity of an adult should be assessed with any supports, including supported decision-making, that the person is using or could use. Provides that a diagnosis of mental illness, intellectual disability, or developmental disability, of itself, does not void the presumption of capacity. Provides that the execution of a supported decision-making agreement may not be used as evidence of capacity or incapacity in any civil or criminal proceeding, but the existence of such an agreement may be entered into evidence. Deletes provisions that a court order terminates a supported decision-making agreement.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that no person may be retained in service as an investigator to investigate and enforce provisions of the Act administered by the Secretary of State after he or she has reached 65 (instead of 60) years of age. Removes the exemption for persons employed in the title of Capitol Police Investigator.

Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the authority and responsibility to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history check on providers of day care at day care centers, part day child care facilities, day care homes, and group day care homes shall transfer to the Department of Early Childhood from the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services, through June 30, 2027 (rather than June 30, 2026), or the Department of Early Childhood, on and after July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026), shall allow day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes to hire, on a probationary basis, any employee or volunteer authorizing a criminal background investigation. Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that information reported to the Illinois State Police under the Act is confidential and shall not be released unless expressly permitted by State or federal law. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall conduct a criminal history background check on an applicant if a qualified entity submits: (1) a request to the Illinois State Police to perform a State and national background check on the applicant in a form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police that includes a statement containing the name, address, and date of birth appearing on a valid identification card or document issued by the State to the applicant; (2) a waiver on a form approved by the Illinois State Police that is signed by the applicant allowing the release of the State and national criminal history record information to the qualified entity; (3) the applicant's fingerprints in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information prescribed by the Illinois State Police; and (4) any fee prescribed by the Illinois State Police. Provides that, upon positive identification, the Illinois State Police shall provide the qualified entity with records of the applicant's conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of judgment or sentencing, including, but not limited to, convictions, preceding sentences of supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender probation, under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States that is a felony or any crime directly related to providing care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. Provides that any information received by a qualified entity under the provisions shall be used solely for internal purposes in determining the suitability of an applicant. Provides that a background check conducted under the provisions does not constitute compliance with any background check required by law. Provides that, if the Illinois State Police determines that the Illinois records provided to a qualified entity were inaccurate, then the Illinois State Police shall provide updated records to the qualified entity and the applicant. Defines terms. Makes other changes. Makes the bill effective immediately, except that the amendatory changes made to the Child Care Act of 1969 take effect July 1, 2026 and the amendatory changes made to the Department of Early Childhood Act take effect July 1, 2027.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Prohibits the total amount of a security deposit from exceeding the amount of the first full month's rent for the tenant's dwelling that is the primary residence of the tenant. Allows a landlord to only charge a tenant a security deposit upon the signing of an initial lease agreement. Prohibits a landlord from charging a tenant an additional security deposit or increase the total amount of a security deposit upon the renewal of a lease or upon an increase in rent. Prohibits a landlord from increasing rent by more than 3.5% in a 12-month period for a dwelling that is the primary residence of the tenant. Requires that a landlord provide a tenant with a minimum of 30 days' written notice before increasing rent. Provides that if written notice is not provided, the tenant is not liable for the difference between the initial rent and the increased rent. Provides that any person alleging a violation of these new provisions may bring a civil action, in accordance with applicable law, in any court of competent jurisdiction and the court may order injunctive relief, monetary relief, attorney's fees, and costs.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Changes the term "undesignated ready-to-use glucagon" to "undesignated glucagon". Makes changes to allow a school nurse or trained personnel to provide undesignated glucagon to any personnel authorized under a student's Individual Health Care Action Plan, in accordance with the student's prescriber's order or federal Section 504 plan, individualized education program, or other written accommodations plan, to administer glucagon to the student and to administer undesignated glucagon to a student in accordance with the student's prescriber's order, Individual Health Care Action Plan, or Section 504 plan, individualized education program, or other written accommodations plan that authorizes the use of glucagon. Removes language that allows a school nurse or trained personnel to administer undesignated ready-to-use glucagon to any person whom the school nurse or trained personnel in good faith believes to be experiencing a severe hypoglycemia emergency while in school, while at a school-sponsored activity, while under the supervision of school personnel, or before or after normal school activities. Provides for the reporting of the age of the student receiving the undesignated glucagon (rather than the age and type of person receiving the undesignated ready-to-use glucagon). Makes related changes.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. In provisions concerning the qualifications of applicants for dental licenses and dental hygienist licenses, provides that each applicant shall present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and has successfully completed an examination conducted by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS) or the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX). Provides that an applicant who has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination or the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, respectively, and who has, prior to January 1, 2026, successfully completed an examination conducted by the States Resources for Testing and Assessments, Inc. (SRTA) (formerly, Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), or the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB) shall be eligible to apply for licensure. In provisions concerning examinations for dental licensure, provides that both theoretical and psychomotor (rather than practical) examinations shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice dentistry. In provisions concerning expanded function dental assistants, provides that a dental assistant may perform certain services if the dental assistant has completed the training requirements for the service or services. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning referral of licensed home services providers, changes the definition of "referral". Requires the Department of Public Health to distribute to each facility or establishment and publish on its website a one-page flyer that shall, at a minimum, contain the specified information. Requires establishments under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, Community Living Facilities under the Community Living Facilities Licensing Act, and facilities under the Life Care Facilities Act to provide the flyer to any resident who is referred to home care services or who requests a referral for home care services. Removes penalty provisions. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that the board of trustees of a fire protection district may, by majority vote of the board of trustees, adopt a resolution to transfer moneys from the fire protection district's ambulance service fund to another fund controlled by the fire protection district if (1) the fire protection district has not approved another transfer from the fire protection district's ambulance service fund under the provisions in the same year; (2) the moneys remaining in the fire protection district's ambulance service fund after the transfer are sufficient to pay for the remaining obligations and costs payable from the district's ambulance service fund in the current and subsequent fiscal years; and (3) the transfer does not impair the fire protection district's finances or public safety mission, including, but not limited to, emergency medical services, ambulance services, rescue services, fire suppression services, or any other public safety endeavor established by the fire protection district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sanitary Food Preparation Act. Provides that if a meal kit or ready-to-eat meal distribution facility is engaged in the collection, storage, packaging, or distribution of meal kits direct to consumers, then the local health department where a food distribution facility is located shall have the power to enforce and observe specified rules, orders, and laws. Provides that a local health department may establish and assess a fee for any inspection it conducts at meal kit and ready-to-eat meal distribution facilities if the fee for the inspection is not included in the fee for the operating license or permit. Requires meal kit and ready-to-eat meal distribution facilities to pay inspection fees within 30 days from the date of the inspection to the local health department that conducted the inspection, with non-compliance consequences and late fees. Lists requirements for temperature control, food safety inspections, food labeling requirements, delivery, and transparency. Allows the Department of Public Health to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In the definition of "material obstruction of an investigation", defines the term to mean the intentional failure to timely report an allegation to the hotline or the interference (rather than purposeful interference) with an investigation of physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation for the purpose of obstructing an Office of the Inspector General investigation. Provides that such material obstruction may include, but is not limited to, delaying or withholding reports of allegations to the hotline for the purpose of obstructing an Office of the Inspector General investigation; the withholding or altering of documentation or recorded evidence when reporting an allegation to the hotline or during an investigation; influencing, threatening, or impeding a victim's, complainant's, or required reporter's report of an allegation to the hotline or witness testimony during an investigation; or presenting untruthful information to the hotline or during an investigatory interview. Provides that any employee who fails to cooperate with an Office of the Inspector General investigation may also result in a finding of material obstruction of an investigation. Expands the list of employee conduct during an investigation that is in violation of the Act, including the failure to timely report an incident of abuse or material obstruction of an investigation committed by another employee. Makes changes to the definition of "presenting untruthful information".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a motor vehicle dealer in the State shall not sell a motor vehicle that requires a front registration plate without installing a mounted plate holder on the front of the motor vehicle. Defines "motor vehicle dealer".

Amends the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. Adds an occupational therapist to the individuals that the Act does not prohibit from performing or advertising activities that are considered to be the practice of applied behavior analysis under the Act. Provides that any member, partner, shareholder, director, officer, holder of any other ownership interest, or agent of a business organization that provides behavior analysis services who makes clinical decisions regarding patient care without being licensed or exempt under the Act shall be deemed to have violated the provisions concerning unlicensed practice, violation, and civil penalty. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Act and any rules adopted under the Act, a public school, school district, charter school, or nonprofit organization that is exempt or qualified for exemption from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may employ or contract with a licensed behavioral analyst regardless of whether each individual who owns, operates, or manages the public school, school district, charter school, or nonprofit organization holds a currently valid license issued under the Act. Provides that a public school, school district, charter school, or nonprofit organization that is exempt or qualified for exemption from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may employ, contract with, or otherwise engage a licensed behavioral analyst to perform services within his or her scope of practice if the licensed behavioral analyst holds a currently valid license under the Act. Amends the Professional Service Corporation Act. Adds the practice of applied behavior analysis by persons licensed under the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act to the list of personal services that, when combined, constitute "related professions" and "related professional services". Amends the Professional Limited Liability Company Act. Adds the practice of applied behavior analysis by persons licensed under the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act to the list of professional services that may be combined under a single professional limited liability company. Effective immediately.