Illinois

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall reimburse any county probation department for the costs of placement of any youth in care, whether the youth in care is in the custody of a county juvenile detention center or appropriate placement that meets the needs of the youth in care. Provides that the costs shall include expenditures for transportation and medical or mental health services. Provides that placement costs shall be at the detention center's usual and customary rate. Contains findings.

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

Amends the Illinois Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 2026, the tax under the Act is also imposed on short-term rentals. Provides that the tax shall be paid by the short-term rental unit provider, unless the short-term rental is secured through a short-term rental marketplace that meets certain thresholds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Charter Schools Article of the School Code. Requires a charter school authorized by the State Board of Education to provide a copy of its charter renewal proposal to the local school board or boards of the resident district or districts at the same time that it submits its proposal to the State Board. Allows the local school board of each resident district to have an opportunity to negotiate with the charter school for a transfer of authorization prior to the State Board voting on the renewal proposal. Provides that authorization shall be transferred from the State Board to a local school board at the end of the charter term with the agreement of both the charter school and the local school board. Allows the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to implement the changes made by the amendatory Act.

Amends the Agency Energy Efficiency Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II, provides that, if the taxpayer is the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected or (currently, and) the taxpayer is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a recipient of dependency and indemnity compensation, then the first $250,000 in equalized assessed value of the property is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Corporate Fiduciary Act. Makes a technical change in the Section concerning the short title of the Act.

Authorizes the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice to convey to the City of Lincoln the described parcel of land in Logan County upon payment of $1, subject to specified conditions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision prohibiting prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for FDA-approved prescription drugs that treat mental illness, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and managed care organizations to report quarterly on compliance with the specified prohibitions beginning with dates of service on and after July 1, 2025. Requires the Department to post on its website a report on fee-for-service prescriptions and the reports from each managed care organization. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the quarterly reports, including, but not limited to: (i) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those covered prescriptions summarized by each of the allowed categories specified in the Code; (ii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by each of the non-allowed categories specified in the Code; and (iii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated gross cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by any other reason not specified in the Code. Requires the Department to sanction those managed care organizations that do not file the required reports. Effective immediately.

Creates the Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Station Act. Requires the Department of Transportation to ensure that charging stations in the State are sufficiently accessible to allow independent use by drivers with disabilities. Requires chargers designed to serve people who use mobility devices to be located on an accessible route. Provides that the Department shall adopt the technical requirements for accessible routes established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the federal Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA). Establishes that a charging space with mobility features must provide a vehicle space with a minimum width of at least 11 feet and a minimum length of at least 20 feet. Requires chargers to provide a clear floor or ground space. Requires clear floor or ground spaces to meet ADA requirements for ground and floor surfaces. Provides that a reasonable number of chargers, as determined by the Department, shall comply with ADA operable parts requirements. Provides that a connector must allow operation with one hand and no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, and with no more than 5 pounds of force. Provides that all chargers operated or maintained by any entity within the State must comply with the technical requirements for hardware under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Authorizes the Attorney General to enforce the Act. Grants rulemaking authority. Defines terms.

Amends the Election Code. For specified applications, change of address forms, or recertifications of a driver's license or State identification card, provides that the application, form, or recertification shall serve as a dual-purpose application when the applicant presents specified identification (rather than meets the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005). Modifies requirements of the dual-purpose application. Modifies the content of the written notice required to be given by the Office of the Secretary of State to each applicant and requires the Office of the Secretary of State to determine whether each applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois and the applicant's registration address. Provides that, if an applicant provides the Secretary of State with an identification document which demonstrates that the applicant is not a United States citizen, the application shall not serve as a dual-purpose application. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to make conforming changes. Provides that changes made by the amendatory Act that require implementation shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, of the proceeds that are deposited into the Road Fund, $27,000,000 shall be transferred each month to the Department of Transportation to be distributed to municipalities of the State, counties of the State, and road districts of the State according to a specified formula.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that if an open meeting of a public body that is a licensing board authorized by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is held simultaneously at one of its offices and one or more other locations in a public building, which may include other of its offices, through an interactive video conference and the public body provides public notice and public access as required under the Act for all locations, then members physically present in those locations all count towards determining a quorum.

Creates the Digital Age Assurance Act. Provides that specified manufacturers shall take commercially reasonable and technically feasible steps to, upon activation of a device, determine or estimate the age of the device's primary user and provide websites, applications, application stores, and online services with a digital signal regarding the user's age. Sets forth requirements for any website, application, or online service that makes available mature content. Provides that a website, application, or online service with actual knowledge that a user is under 18 years of age shall, to the extent commercially reasonable and technically feasible, provide readily available features for parents or guardians to support a minor with respect to the minor's use of the website, application, or online service. Provides that specified manufacturers shall comply with the Act in a nondiscriminatory manner. Provides that the Attorney General may commence a civil action to enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning civil actions. Limits home rule. Effective January 1, 2026.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Provides that, if the State data was stored within the State of Illinois but outside of any qualified area, then the amount of the earned credit shall be 2% of the contract's value for storage of the State data. Provides that, if the State data was stored within the State of Illinois and all or part of the State data was stored within a qualified area, then the amount of the earned credit shall be 4% of the contract's value for storage of the State data. Provides that the provisions of the introduced bill do not apply to contracts that are primarily for the provision of telecommunications services.

Creates the Transparent, Inclusive, and Competitively Neutral Energy Policy Act. Sets forth findings. Provides that the energy procurement process shall be transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral and shall provide due consideration to the unique advantages of each developer from all segments of the energy sector and recognize that more inclusive procurements result in greater competition among developers and lower costs for consumers.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. In a provision setting forth the specified household income eligibility limits used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees and free transit services, provides that the Department on Aging shall (rather than may) adopt rules such that on January 1, 2026, and thereafter, the specified household income eligibility limits shall be changed to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that, for dates of service beginning July 1, 2025, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased to $5.75. Effective immediately.

Amends the Renewable Energy Production District Act. Changes the definition of "renewable energy facility" to include, among other things, small modular reactors. Defines "small modular reactor". Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a wastewater treatment facility located in the Village of Lisbon in Kendall County is allowed to apply for the Water Pollution Control Loan Program for the purposes of refinancing existing debt. Effective immediately.

Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act.

Creates the Illinois Curriculum Overview and Alignment Act. Requires, beginning January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of all mandated units of study every 5 years. Sets forth what the review shall include. Provides that the review process shall incorporate feedback from educators and administrators, parents and guardians, students, via surveys or focus groups, and subject matter experts and community organizations. Requires the State Board of Education to publish a public report summarizing findings and recommendations from the curriculum overview. Provides that following each curriculum overview, the State Board of Education shall: (1) develop an action plan to address identified gaps or areas for improvement; (2) provide professional development for educators on updates or changes; and (3) monitor the implementation of curriculum updates and assess their impact on student outcomes. Requires the General Assembly to appropriate funds necessary for the State Board of Education to carry out the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Changes, adds, and repeals definitions. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 (rather than 2022), and continuing as long as funds are available, each income-eligible person (rather than each person) shall be eligible to apply for a rebate following the purchase of an eligible electric vehicle (rather than an electric vehicle). Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish one rebate application cycle for each State fiscal year, shall cause each rebate application cycle to have a duration of one State fiscal year, and shall cause the Agency to accept rebate applications and issue rebates under the Act throughout each rebate application cycle. Repeals provisions regarding certain rebates. Provides for, beginning July 1, 2026, a $2,000 rebate for eligible applicants toward the purchase of a new or used electric vehicle that is not an electric motorcycle and a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is an electric motorcycle, with low-income applicants eligible for an additional $2,000 rebate for new vehicles or $1,500 rebate for used vehicles that not electric motorcycles. Provides for, beginning July 1, 2028, a $2,000 rebate for eligible applicants toward the purchase of a new or used electric vehicle that is not an electric motorcycle and a $750 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle that is an electric motorcycle, with low-income applicants eligible for an additional $1,000 for new or used vehicles that are not electric motorcycles. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Agency or its contracted administrator must make available vouchers for applicants to receive rebates at the point-of-sale from a dealer located in Illinois and licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State, which shall deduct the applicable rebate amount from the final negotiated and agreed upon sale price of the eligible vehicle, in which case the full amount of the incentive shall be passed through to the purchaser in full with payment and shall be effective immediately at the time of the final sale and transfer of the eligible vehicle to the purchaser, with certain requirements. Provides that the Agency shall make available a public dashboard with resources on electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, applicant and vehicle eligibility, participating dealers, State incentives, and as up-to-date as is feasible remaining funding availability for the fiscal year. Provides that the changes by this amendatory Act are not intended to affect any rebates issued before the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that, subject to State procurement requirements, the Agency may retain a contractor or contractors to assist with marketing, program development, and administration of certain programs related to electric vehicle rebates. Makes technical and other changes.