Illinois

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides that the Radiation Protection Act of 1990 shall be repealed on January 1, 2037 (rather than January 1, 2027). Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force, provides that the Task Force shall complete its study no later than July 1, 2027 (rather than June 30, 2024). Specifies that the provisions shall be repealed on July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). In provisions concerning the Ranked Choice and Voting Systems Task Force, provides that, on or before January 1, 2027 (rather than June 30, 2025), the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings. Specifies that the provisions shall be repealed on January 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Specifies that provisions concerning a home visiting program shall be repealed on July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Specifies that provisions concerning a safe gun storage awareness campaign shall be repealed on July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that home rule provisions shall be repealed on January 1, 2031 (rather than January 1, 2028). Amends the Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force Act. Changes the final report date of the Task Force to July 1, 2027 (rather than January 1, 2026). Specifies that the Act shall be repealed on July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Design-Building Procurement Act. Specifies that the Act shall be repealed on January 1, 2030 (rather than January 1, 2027). Amends the Progressive Design-Build Pilot Program Act. Specifies that the Act shall be repealed on January 1, 2028 (rather than January 1, 2027). Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes changes to dates in provisions concerning employment as a teacher for an annuitant receiving a retirement annuity other than a disability retirement annuity. Amends the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program Act. Specifies that the Act shall be repealed on January 1, 2028 (rather than January 1, 2027). Amends the Early Intervention Services Systems Act. Specifies that the Act shall be repealed on July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Specifies that the Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program Article is repealed January 1, 2031 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. Provides that the Act is effective July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2026). Amends Public Act 103-594. Extends the effective date of a repealer in the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Provides that every applicant for appointment and commission as a notary shall complete an application in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State stating, among other things, that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of application (now, the applicant must state that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony).

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. In provisions concerning High Impact Businesses, provides that projects involving wind power facilities, solar facilities, or battery energy storage solution facilities must be constructed under a project labor agreement. Provides that the project labor agreements must include specified terms. Amends the Energy Transition Act. In provisions concerning the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Corrections to jointly conduct activities to support recruitment of eligible candidates to the Program. Provides that the activities shall include providing information on the community-based program provider serving the area in which the individual preparing for release is expected to reside and making available a process through which an individual may choose to consent to be contacted by that provider. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the Illinois Solar for All Program and the Planning and Procurement Bureau. Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning energy efficiency and demand-response measures, changes certain references from "annual savings" to "annual energy savings" or "annual energy or coincident peak demand savings". In provisions concerning distributed generation rebates, provides that "distributed storage" does not include vehicle storage systems. Defines "stand-alone energy storage system". Changes certain references from "distributed generation" to "distributed generation and distributed storage". Provides that the tariff filed by an electric utility that serves more than 200,000 customers in the State to provide a rebate to the owner or operator of distributed generation or distributed storage shall meet, among other requirements, a nameplate generating capacity or nameplate power capacity no greater than 5,000 kilowatts alternating current and be primarily used to offset a customer's electricity load. Provides that, except for distributed storage projects that have obtained a signed interconnection agreement on or before June 1, 2026, the compensation for distributed storage under the provisions shall be limited to payment for no more than 30,000 kilowatt-hours and no more than 6 kilowatt-hours of nameplate energy capacity for every one kilowatt of participating power capacity, or an alternative nameplate energy capacity to participating power capacity ratio determined by the Commission to enable participation in an approved scheduled dispatch program or any additive services or other programs as determined by the Commission. Provides that, for stand-alone storage that is not paired with distributed generation or any electric load beyond the electric load that is used by the energy storage system itself (rather than for stand-alone storage), commitments to dispatch by a participating system under the scheduled dispatch virtual power plant program shall be voluntary. In provisions concerning the virtual power plant program, provides that, to facilitate the adoption of and participation in the virtual power plant program, a utility shall allow and enable participating customers to expeditiously share their customer information with aggregators in order to serve any contracted customers and comply with any reporting requirements. In provisions concerning the resolution of disputes between facility owners and units of local government related to the siting of qualified energy facilities, provides that, in resolving disputes, the Commission shall have authority to issue a siting certificate for a qualified energy facility if the Commission determines that the qualified energy facility is in compliance with the applicable State siting law for a qualified energy facility and that the respondent (i) has denied the qualified energy facility a siting certificate, or (ii) has failed or declined to issue the qualified energy facility a siting certificate in accordance with the specified timeline (rather than the Commission determines that the qualified energy facility is in compliance with the applicable State siting laws for a qualified energy facility). Amends the Utility Data Access Act. Provides that anonymized, aggregated usage data from multiple customer accounts shall not be deemed customer utility usage information, personally identifiable information, or confidential information. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the plan to reduce or delay carbon dioxide equivalent emissions developed jointly with the Illinois Power Agency and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2026.

Amends the Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act. Includes residents of assisted living establishments under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act to the provisions of the Act. Replaces references to "facility" throughout the Act with "facility or establishment". Provides that an assisted living establishment shall not be required to post the specified electronic monitoring notice at building entrances.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the exclusion amount is $8,000,000. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2028, the exclusion amount shall be adjusted according to the inflation adjustment described in the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that the exclusion amount includes any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount available after a valid election is made under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, upon discovery of a fire-related death at the scene of the incident (rather than just upon discovery of a fire-related death), the chief of the fire department or the chief's designee shall notify the Office to initiate its investigation (rather than shall notify the Office for an investigation of the cause, origin, and circumstances). Allows the Office to request the fire chief or the chief's designee to take reasonable steps to maintain control of the scene and, if making such request, directs the office to provide an estimated time of arrival to the fire chief or the chief's designee (rather than directs the chief of the fire department or designee to maintain control of the scene until a representative of the Office arrives on the scene and initiates the investigation). Provides that, if the fire chief or the chief's designee has agreed to maintain control of the scene, the fire chief or the chief's designee may turn over control of a scene to a law enforcement officer. Provides that the fire chief, designee, or law enforcement officer is not required to maintain a scene (i) after the arrival of a representative of the Office or (ii) upon advisement from the Office that it is no longer necessary to maintain control of the scene, whichever is first.

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.

Mourns the passing of Roberta Wilson.

Amends the State Parks Designation Act. Provides that the railroad trestle bridge that is part of the Kickapoo Rail Trail and that is located at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County shall be known as the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge. Further provides that, subject to appropriation, appropriate plaques may be erected by the Department of Natural Resources in recognition of the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that interest shall be paid upon any refund resulting from the overpayment of tax under the Act at the rate set forth under the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act if the overpayment is not refunded within the later of 30 days after the last date prescribed for the filing of a return under the Act or 30 days after the date of the overpayment.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a building inspector who performs inspections or examinations under the provisions may be credentialed through a nationally or state-recognized inspection certification or apprenticeship program approved by the United States Department of Labor in the discipline the inspector is inspecting or examining (rather than through an nationally or state-recognized building certification or apprenticeship program that is equivalent to the International Code Council approved by the United States Department of Labor in the area the building inspector is inspecting or examining). In the Counties Code, provides that a "building inspector" does not include an employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal acting in the employee's capacity as an employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Provides that building inspectors may have a grace period of 2 years (rather than 18 months) from the date of hire or January 1, 2027, whichever is later, to acquire the required certification or credentials. Provides that building inspectors employed by a municipality or county on or before January 1, 2026 who have 5 years or more experience working as a building inspector are not subject to the provisions.

Amends the School Code. Provides that certain provisions concerning the recomputation and adjustment of a school district claim for general State aid or evidence-based funding shall end with Fiscal Year 2026. Provides that when a child from an orphanage, foster family home, other State agency, children's home, or State residential unit eligible for special education services is placed in a separate public day school, that school shall meet the programmatic requirements and regulations for separate public day schools. Provides that any funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used, among other purposes, for indirect costs necessary for Program operation. Provides that an annual retention bonus of up to $4,000 (rather than $4,000) per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools and such funds must be disbursed equally on an annual basis among all qualified educators (rather than on a first-come, first-served basis). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that every pharmacy licensed in this State shall post in a conspicuous place near the pharmacy counter and drive-up window, a sign that includes a QR code informing patients of the ability to sign up for medication recalls via the United States Food and Drug Administration website. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois to make changes concerning in-state tuition to remove a condition concerning attending high school or a community college while residing in this State and not having established residency outside of this State before enrolling in the public university. Amends the Public Community College Act to change specified conditions under which the board of trustees of a community college district is required to deem an individual an Illinois resident. Effective immediately.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Excludes from the definition of "employee" an individual permitted to work as a baseball player at the minor league level who is (i) under contract and (ii) compensated pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that expressly provides for wages and working conditions.

Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with these changes. Requires that a person or persons seeking to commence an action under the Act each have a household income of under 80% of area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the county where the lands or tenements are located; and that the person or persons bringing the action have conducted a search, with due diligence, for anyone who may have an ownership interest in the property.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits an insurer, dental service plan corporation, professional service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any other company or its contracted vendor that amends, delivers, issues, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act from requiring a dental care provider to only accept payment from a credit card or electronic funds transfer, in addition to the existing prohibition on incurred fees to access and obtain payment or reimbursement for services provided. Provides that any insurer, dental service plan corporation, professional service corporation, insurance network leasing company, or any other company or its contracted vendor that amends, delivers, issues, or renews an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance may initiate or change payment methodology to a dental care provider using electronic funds transfer payments, including virtual credit card payments, if the specified conditions are met. Sets forth provisions concerning claim payment methodologies and fees for transmitting payments. Provides that the specified dental coverage reimbursement provisions shall not be waived by contract. Effective January 1, 2027.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes to defined terms. Removes provisions concerning workplace safety, violent incident investigations, and penalties. Provides that, on or before November 30, 2027, the Department of Public Health shall, by rule, develop and publish in a publicly accessible format a template or form for health care providers to use to log type 2 violent incidents occurring in the emergency department (rather than just type 2 violence). Makes changes to information that the form shall include. Requires health care providers to begin logging type 2 violent incidents using the template or form no later than 3 months after the Department publishes the template or form. Provides that, on or before May 31, 2028, and on or before May 31 of each year thereafter, each health care provider shall prepare and annually submit to the Department an aggregate deidentified summary of the type 2 violent incidents logged as specified for the preceding calendar year. Makes changes to reporting requirements for health care providers and for the Department. Effective January 1, 2027.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that all fees received pursuant to contracts or agreements (rather than contracts only) entered into by IEMA-OHS shall be set apart in a special fund to be known as the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Facility Operation Fund (rather than the Radioactive Waste Site Perpetual Care Fund). Provides that all payments received by IEMA-OHS (formerly the Department of Nuclear Safety) pursuant to the settlement agreement entered May 25, 1988, in the matter of the People of the Illinois, et al. v. Teledyne, Inc., et al. (No. 78 MR 25, Circuit Court, Bureau County, Illinois) shall be held in the Sheffield February 1982 Agreed Order Fund by the State Treasurer separate and apart from all public moneys or funds of the State, and shall only be used as provided in such settlement agreement. Provides that interest earned by investment of moneys accumulated in the Sheffield February 1982 Agreed Order Fund shall be deposited into the Sheffield February 1982 Agreed Order Fund (rather than the Radioactive Waste Site Perpetual Care Fund) for the continued maintenance of the Sheffield Low-Level Radioactive Waste Site and surrounding buffer zone to protect the public health and safety on a continuing and perpetual basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act. Provides that licensees may offer every customer who transmits money internationally the option to make a voluntary donation to the Illinois DREAM Fund, as specified. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to provide to licensees under the Act electronic copies of all marketing materials created by the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission for licensees.

Amends the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Provides that the annual report to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Student Loan Ombudsman shall include the total number and dollar amount (instead of the volume) of private education loans made annually by a private educational lender, the total number and dollar amount (instead of the volume) of private education loans made annually at institutions of higher education, the total number and dollar amount of private education loans made annually with a cosigner, and the default rate for the private education loans reported by the private educational lender pursuant to specified provisions for the previous reporting period. Effective immediately.

Deletes changes to the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the North Shore Water Reclamation District Act, the Sanitary District of 1917, and the Metro-East Sanitary District Act of 1974. In provisions concerning the dissolution of sanitary and drainage districts, provides that the dissolution procedures described in the amendatory Act apply to drainage and sanitary districts operated under the Illinois Drainage Code or the Sanitary District Act of 1936 in a county that has more than 650,000 but fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants (rather than to sanitary districts operated under the Illinois Drainage Code or the Sanitary District Act of 1936 in a county with fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants). Makes changes concerning information that must be supplied to the Department of Revenue following the dissolution of such a district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the purpose of the amendatory Act is to authorize the Department of Human Services to identify, develop, and manage the administrative infrastructure needed to support existing and future short-term universal newborn home visiting services. Provides that in carrying out this work, the Department may consider the recommendations contained in the Early Childhood Comprehensive Services grant report when adopting rules to support implementation. Provides that by January 1, 2028, the Department of Human Services may do the following: (1) create and maintain a list of the voluntary universal newborn home visiting models that align with the State's priorities for approach and outcomes and that may inform future local implementation or support existing State grants; (2) coordinate with relevant State agencies to support implementation of State-administered funding for local programs; request, collect, and report available data from universal newborn home visiting implementers and develop recommendations for future data collection and data infrastructure; and develop criteria for prioritizing future State funding, including the identification of communities for potential universal newborn home visiting implementation; and (3) consult, coordinate, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders when designing the infrastructure to support universal newborn home visiting services. Provides that funds received for the purposes of the amendatory Act shall supplement, and not supplant, existing or new federal, State, or local funding for these universal newborn home visiting services. Permits the Department to adopt rules. Effective July 1, 2027.

Reinserts provisions of the bill with these changes. Restores definition of "alternative container" to current law. Provides the Comptroller may inspect crematory records and premises at the crematory authority's place of business to review a licensee's compliance with the Crematory Regulation Act. Provides that each crematory authority shall implement (1) a standard operating procedure that is appropriate for the crematory authority and not made uniform through rules and provide a copy to all employees; and (2) a medical waste management plan that is appropriate for the crematory authority and not made uniform through rules. Deletes as a ground for denial or discipline for an applicant or licensee who has failed to pay delinquent taxes and child support. Provides that if human remains have not been cremated within 30 days after the date of delivery to the crematory, and absent direction from a law enforcement agency to hold the remains, the crematory authority shall provide notice to the Comptroller's office and the coroner or medical examiner in the county in which the death occurred as to why the cremation cannot be performed and that this 30-day notice requirement may not be construed as a legal standard of reasonableness for the timeliness of a cremation. Provides that any person who intentionally violates a provision of the Act or a final order of the Comptroller is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 rather than $25,000. Provides that pacemakers do not need to be removed in alkaline hydrolysis if: (1) the involved funeral director has received advance written notice from the crematory authority that its alkaline hydrolysis vessel has been certified by the manufacturer to work safely on human remains that contain pacemakers; and (2) the involved funeral director has received advance written confirmation that the aqueous solution that results from the alkaline hydrolysis of a pacemaker satisfies all federal and State hazardous waste rules and meets all publicly owned treatment works pretreatment standards upon being discharged into the sanitary sewer system. Deletes changes to the Cemetery Care Act.

Reinserts the provisions of the bill with these changes. Provides that a "beneficiary designation" means a provision in an instrument designating a beneficiary, other than in a will or an instrument creating a trust, and may also mean the instrument itself, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (1) a demand deposit, savings deposit, time deposit or other account or instrument on which the holder is directly liable with a designation for payment upon death or other nonprobate designation making it transferable on death; (2) a security registered in beneficiary form; or (3) a pension, profit-sharing plan, retirement account such as an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other employment-related benefit plan. Excludes from this definition a beneficiary made as part of an annuity or an insurance policy. Amends the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act. Requires an insurer within 120 days after being contacted by the charitable beneficiary to: (1) determine whether the charitable organization has a right to the proceeds of the policy, annuity contract, or a retained asset account; (2) provide a general description of the policy, annuity contract, or a retained asset account that may be held for the benefit of the charitable organization and the exact language of the beneficiary designation; and (3) include information that verifies whether the insurer has already obtained the official death certificate or documentation needed to verify the death of the insured, annuitant, or retained asset account holder. Provides that if the holder of property maintains it is prohibited from paying, delivering, or transferring the property listed under a beneficiary designation to a charitable organization due to requirements under federal law, the holder of the property shall (1) explain in writing the reason why the property cannot be paid, delivered, or transferred to the charitable organization; and (2) take all actions necessary in order to facilitate payment, delivery, or transfer of the property in compliance with this Act. Provides that if a holder of property fails or refuses to comply with the Act, the court may award a charitable organization, among other relief, a penalty in an amount determined by the court up to $10,000 only if the court finds that the holder of the property engaged in bad faith or willful misconduct. Excludes not-for-profit organizations that are the irrevocable sole beneficiary of a life insurance policy covered by the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires an insurer to provide within 120 days the appropriate claims forms or instructions to a holder of property under the Charitable Organization Beneficiary Act. Makes structural changes. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that if due proof of death requires a certified copy of the death certificate, then no more than one beneficiary is required to submit a certified copy of the death certificate.