Illinois

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit in an amount equal to 20% of the qualified conversion expenditures incurred by a taxpayer for a qualified converted building. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Government Retirement Plan Responsibility Act. Provides that any retirement plan offered by a unit of local government or school district must comply with the applicable provisions of the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code, including, but not limited to, fiduciary duties, funding, investments, and the rights of participants, regardless of whether the retirement plan is established under the Illinois Pension Code. Defines "retirement plan".

Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision in the Medical Assistance Article concerning safety-net hospitals, provides that, subject to federal approval, reimbursement rates for inpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2025 under the All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Groups system shall be increased by 10% for safety-net hospitals; and reimbursement rates for outpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2025 under the Enhanced Ambulatory Procedure Grouping system shall be increased by 10% for safety-net hospitals. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take all actions necessary to ensure the rate increases for safety-net hospitals are in effect for dates of service on and after January 1, 2026, including publishing all appropriate public notices, applying for federal approval of amendments to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan, and adopting administrative rules if necessary. In the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article, provides that, subject to federal approval, reimbursement rates for inpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2025 under the All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Groups system shall be increased by 10%; and reimbursement rates for outpatient hospital services in effect January 1, 2025 under the Enhanced Ambulatory Procedure Grouping system shall be increased by 10%. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take all actions necessary to ensure the rate increases are in effect for dates of service on and after January 1, 2026, including publishing all appropriate public notices, applying for federal approval of amendments to the Illinois Title XIX State Plan, and adopting administrative rules if necessary. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires the Department of Transportation, in each road district, to erect signage stating that there is loose gravel ahead at any entrance to a road consisting mainly of loose gravel.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that an eligible local government unit with a population that is greater than or equal to 150,000 is not eligible for the forgiveness of principal through the Water Pollution Control Loan Program, the Public Water Supply Loan Program, or the Loan Support Program.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for contributions to an ABLE account. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 25% of that matching contribution, but not to exceed $500 per contributing employee per taxable year. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the bill, as amended by House Amendment No. 1, with the following changes. Prohibits a person from charging a consumer an additional fee or surcharge to mail a monthly invoice or statement to the consumer's address. Provides that nothing shall prohibit a business from offering a discount to a consumer for enrolling in an automatic payment program.

Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Removes a provision providing that the aggregate amount of credits awarded under a provision granting a credit to volunteer emergency workers may not exceed $5,000,000 in any calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, when the county, as trustee, files one petition for more than one delinquent tax lien or certificate, the county may request that the court issue a tax deed to the county, as trustee, without holding a judicial tax deed auction. Provides that the county shall offer the parcel for sale at a public auction within 120 days of recording the tax deed. Sets forth requirements for the county auction. Provides that any owner of property sold under any provision of the Code who sustains loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a tax deed shall have the right to recover surplus equity that was lost in the property through an award of indemnity. Amends the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act. Provides that a distressed property conveyance contract must contain a statement that the property owner may have the right to obtain money for any equity lost if a tax deed is issued. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the rates paid for children's dental comprehensive oral exams, periodic oral exams, problem focused exams, behavior management codes, sealants, resin-based composites-posterior teeth, and extraction and surgical extraction codes shall be increased by 33% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program through which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for projects that facilitate travel by public transportation to public outdoor recreation sites for outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, picnicking, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, or other nature-based activities. Provides that the Secretary shall offer grants through the Transit-to-Trails program on an annual basis. Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the program. Provides that, in considering grant applications, the Department shall prioritize projects with demonstrated intent to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities for populations in greatest need of improved access to outdoor nature-based recreation. Requires the Department to provide technical assistance in preparing grant applications to applicants upon request. Provides that implementation of the grant program is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

Amends the Mercury-Free Vaccine Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Article to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Article. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Act of 2006 to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Act of 2006. Changes the name of the Office of Retail Market Development to the Office of Retail and Renewable Market Development and the title of the head of the Office from Director to Bureau Chief. Provides that the Bureau Chief shall have the authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects in the State to benefit all State consumers. Provides that the Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote development and remove barriers to development of distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects. Provides that the Office shall take steps for interconnections involving distributed renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, utility-scale wind projects, and utility-scale solar projects, including interconnections to a distribution system or a transmission system. Provides that the Interconnection Working Group shall determine a single standardized cost for Level 1 interconnections, which shall not exceed $200. Provides that, in collaboration with the General Counsel of the Commission, the Office shall develop policies and procedures to facilitate employees of the Office in leading the Interconnection Working Group without interference with docketed proceedings. Provides that the Office may employ, designate, or otherwise retain the services of an Ombudsperson who is responsible for oversight of a utility's compliance with the certain rules and any other utility interconnection policies or procedures. Sets forth provisions concerning the authority of the Ombudsperson and interconnection monitoring by the Office. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that "motor fuel" means all volatile and inflammable substances, whether in liquid or gaseous form (currently, volatile and inflammable liquids). Provides that incidental use of motor fuel on private roads or private highways in the operation of a motor vehicle does not constitute a "purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways" and does not form a basis for a claim for refund. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions take effect January 1, 2026.

Amends the Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the monetary award program. Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year through the 2030-2031 academic year, provides that an applicant who is otherwise eligible for grant assistance under the program may receive grant assistance for an additional academic year after receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours if he or she (i) enrolls in a State-approved educator preparation program and (ii) within 5 years after receiving a Professional Educator License, teaches in this State for a minimum of 3 years. Requires repayment if at any time a person fails to meet the requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that "sex offense" includes a violation or attempted violation of: (1) involuntary servitude, provided the offense was for commercial sexual activity, a sexually explicit performance, or other sexual services; (2) involuntary sexual servitude of a minor; or (3) trafficking in persons, provided the offense was for commercial sexual activity, a sexually explicit performance, or other sexual services.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for certain small businesses in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 10% of the property taxes paid by the qualified small business during the taxable year for eligible real property or (ii) $1,500. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the lease of real estate is permitted when a property, structure, or facility owned by Kane County can be used for athletic purposes in the interest of the public or for the benefit and enjoyment of residents of the county if the property, structure, or facility acquired by Kane County was being used for athletic purposes prior to the county acquiring the property, structure, or facility. For leases entered into under this provision after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the lease must require (i) the lessee to allow any organization that used the land at the time the lease is executed to continue to use the land for the leased purposes during the term of the lease and (ii) the lessor to continue, during the term of the lease, to employ, in the same capacity, any persons who provided services on the land at the time the lease is executed.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that subject to federal approval, within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, rates for adult day services shall be increased to $17.84 per hour and rates for each way transportation services for adult day services shall be increased to $13.44 per unit transportation.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that if a household's monthly benefit amount under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is determined to be less than $75, the State shall pay an additional amount to increase the household's total monthly benefit to $75. Effective October 1, 2025.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Act. Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program is inoperative after June 30, 2026 and is replaced by the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) program. Contains provisions concerning persons eligible for CASH assistance, including pregnant persons without dependent children and assistance units headed by a caretaker relative, as defined; income thresholds; immigration status; the amount of aid paid to eligible assistance units; application requirements; income verification requirements; eligibility redeterminations; substitute payees; transitioning assistance units from TANF to CASH; and Department rules to implement the CASH program. Makes conforming changes in other Articles of the Code. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Artificial Intelligence Systems Use in Health Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance's regulatory oversight of insurers includes oversight of an insurer's use of AI systems to make or support adverse determinations that affect consumers. Provides that any insurer authorized to operate in the State is subject to review by the Department in an investigation or market conduct action regarding the development, implementation, and use of AI systems or predictive models and the outcomes from the use of those AI systems or predictive models. Provides that an insurer authorized to do business in Illinois shall not issue an adverse consumer outcome with regard to the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that result solely from the use or application of any AI system or predictive model. Provides that any decision-making process for the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that results from the use of AI systems or predictive models shall be meaningfully reviewed, in accordance with review procedures determined by Department rules, by an individual with authority to override the AI systems and determinations. Authorizes the Department to adopt emergency rules to implement the Act and to adopt rules concerning standards for full and fair disclosure of an insurer's use of AI systems. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.