Illinois

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that "separate public special education day school" does not mean any school in a school district that exceeds its Adequacy Target under the evidence-based funding formula. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that any person who is harmed by the unlawful sale, distribution, promotion, or exhibition of obscene material may bring a civil action against the individual or entity responsible for the violation. Provides that the prevailing plaintiff in a civil action under this provision may be entitled to compensatory damages for actual damages suffered as a result of the obscenity violation. Provides that, in addition to compensatory damages, the plaintiff may recover punitive damages as determined by the court. Provides that damages shall not exceed $10,000,000 for each count in the civil action, with each separate instance of unlawful sale, distribution, promotion, or exhibition of obscene material constituting a separate count. Provides that a civil action for obscenity violations under this provision must be brought within 5 years of the discovery of the violation or the harm caused by the violation. Provides that, in any successful civil action, the plaintiff may be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees in addition to the damages awarded. Provides that a court may grant injunctive relief to prevent further violations of this provision, including the cessation of the sale, distribution, or exhibition of obscene material by the defendant. Provides that the civil action may be brought in the county where the defendant resides, where the unlawful sale, distribution, promotion, or exhibition occurred, or where the plaintiff resides, if applicable.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the provisions of the Act shall apply automatically and without election to all employers and all their employees, including, but not limited to, sole proprietors and general contractors and their subcontractors (currently, all employers and all their employees), engaged in any department enterprises or businesses which are declared to be extra hazardous. Removes a provision that the Act shall not be construed to apply to any sole proprietor or partner or member of a limited liability company who elects not to provide and pay compensation for accidental injuries sustained by himself, arising out of and in the course of the employment according to the provisions of the Act. Provides that the definition of "corporate officer" does not include a sole proprietor.

Amends the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act of 2008. Provides that the credit under the Act shall include an additional amount equal to 30% of the Illinois labor expenditures generated as a result of work performed in Illinois by an actor who portrays, in the production, a woman working in a STEM-related field.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption, subject to certain limitations, for property that is located within a special flood hazard area as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Provides that the amount of the exemption shall be a reduction in the property's equalized assessed value of $5,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Condominium Property Act and the Common Interest Community Association Act. Prohibits associations under both Acts from (1) classifying authorized emergency vehicles as commercial vehicles and (2)restricting the parking of authorized emergency vehicles owned or under the control of a resident or unit owner or the tenant, guest, or invitee of a unit owner.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In provisions regarding ethylene oxide emissions from nonnegligible ethylene oxide emissions sources, adds requirements for an Ambient Air Monitoring Plan that substantially mirror requirements in provisions regarding ethylene oxide emissions from ethylene oxide sterilization sources. Changes the definition of "nonnegligible ethylene oxide emissions source" to any ethylene oxide emissions source permitted by the Agency that currently emits more than 30 pounds of ethylene oxide, with certain other requirements (rather than an ethylene oxide emissions source permitted by the Agency that currently emits more than 150 pounds of ethylene oxide, with certain other requirements). Removes a provision in that definition that excludes facilities that are ethylene oxide sterilization sources or hospitals that are licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that each school board may provide free transportation for any pupil residing within a one-half mile (rather than one and one-half miles) from the school attended where conditions are such that walking, either to or from the school to which a pupil is assigned for attendance or to or from a pick-up point or bus stop, constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil due to either vehicular traffic or rail crossings or a course or pattern of criminal activity.

Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take proceedings may be used for a period of no more than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act by Cook County and the City of Calumet City for the acquisition of certain described property for the purpose of economic development. Repeals the Section 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency that encrypts police scanner transmissions must provide, by license or otherwise, real-time access to those transmissions to broadcast stations, broadcasting stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that hypoallergenic formula shall be covered under the medical assistance program for persons otherwise eligible for medical assistance who have been prescribed hypoallergenic formula by a physician. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for any federal waivers or approvals necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department shall at a minimum determine by rule the amount of hypoallergenic formula an eligible person shall receive coverage for per day.

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

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Removes language providing that a hospital shall provide an itemized bill upon request. Provides instead that the hospital shall provide notice that the patient will be given an itemized statement of charges for inpatient and outpatient services rendered by the hospital unless the patient chooses to opt out of receiving such statement. Allows the itemized statement to be provided in an electronic format. Requires the information regarding the patient's choice to opt out to be prominent, clearly labeled, and provided to the patient before signing any documents relating to itemized billing. Prohibits a patient from being under the influence of any anesthetic or drug that inhibits mental performance when given the documents. Provides that the hospital's failure to comply with the requirements constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Amends the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act, the Massage Therapy Practice Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985, and the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides the maximum fees for original licensure and renewal of licensure for professions licensed under the Acts. Provides that the total fees required by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to enter a profession shall not exceed double the original license fee.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the failure to wear a seat safety belt or the misuse of a seat safety belt by a driver or passenger of a motor vehicle may be considered evidence of negligence and may diminish any recovery from damages, but shall not limit the liability of an insurer.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in the amount of $500 for a taxpayer who serves as a full-time police officer, firefighter, or rescue worker during the taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Allows attendance by a means other than physical presence under certain circumstances if a member of a public body is prevented from physically attending because of any reason designated in rules adopted by the public body in accordance with certain provisions in the Act.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Commission on Tourism to develop a statewide travel and tourism strategy. Identifies the members of the Commission. Sets out requirements for the statewide travel and tourism strategy and meetings of the Commission. Requires the Commission to file a statewide travel and tourism strategy with the Governor and General Assembly by no later than 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act and by no later than January 1 of each year thereafter. Specifies that members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. Directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide administrative and other support to the Commission.

Creates the Illinois Abortion Law of 2025, with provisions similar to those of the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 before its repeal by Public Act 101-13, as well as including provisions defining "viability" and "fetal heartbeat" and restricting the performance of an abortion to a patient who resides in the State. Creates the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act of 2025 and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act of 2025, with provisions similar to those of the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act before their repeal by Public Act 101-13. Creates the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 2025, with provisions similar to those of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 before its repeal by Public Act 102-685. Amends various Acts by restoring the language that existed before the amendment of those Acts by Public Acts 101-13 and 102-1117. Repeals the Reproductive Health Act, the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Act, the Lawful Health Care Activity Act, the Protecting Reproductive Health Care Services Act, and the Youth Health and Safety Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section regarding property tax exemptions for charitable purposes, provides that property held by a charitable organization for the purpose of constructing or rehabilitating residences for eventual transfer to qualified low-income families through sale, lease, or contract for deed is exempt from property tax as a charitable purpose. Provides that the exemption commences on the day title to the property is transferred to the organization and continues to the end of the levy year in which the organization transfers title to the property to a qualified low-income family. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Requires a person to have a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card issued in his or her own name by the Illinois State Police in order to acquire or possess a flamethrower. Exempts certain military, law enforcement, and other specified persons. Defines flamethrower. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is a Class 4 felony to deliver a flamethrower to a person, incidental to a sale, without withholding delivery of the flamethrower for at least 72 hours after application for its purchase has been made.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to an income tax credit for each person who is (i) 62 years of age or older during the taxable year and (ii) employed by the taxpayer at a location in this State for not less than 185 days during the taxable year. Provides that the credit may be carried forward. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall file any market conduct studies seeking to levy fines against an insurance company with the General Assembly before each legislative session and the General Assembly must approve before any fines are leveled. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall conduct a hearing with the House Insurance Committee and Senate Insurance Committee before any further proceedings occur. Provides that before the release of announcements of the fines to the public, there shall be an appeal process scheduled within 30 days after the committee hearings.

Creates the Amber Alert Plus Act. Defines "Amber Alert Plus" as a notification system designed to issue and coordinate alerts with respect to Black youth, including young women and girls, who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, who are reported missing and are at risk, who are reported missing and are developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired, or who have been abducted. Provides for procedures for law enforcement agencies to request activation of an Amber Alert Plus by the Illinois State Police if the law enforcement agency determines that an Amber Alert Plus would be an effective tool in the investigation of missing or abducted Black youth, including listing factors for the agency to consider. Allows use of a changeable message sign under specified circumstances. Provides that radio, television, cable, satellite, and social media systems are encouraged, but not required, to cooperate with disseminating the Amber Alert Plus or the information contained in an Amber Alert Plus. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board, in its discretion, may require video gaming terminals to display Amber Alert and Amber Alert Plus (rather than only Amber Alert) messages if the Board makes a finding that it would be economically and technically feasible and pose no risk to the integrity and security of the central communications system and video gaming terminals.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the juvenile law enforcement records of a person who before his or her 21st birthday has committed an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a criminal violation under the Cannabis Control Act or a criminal violation of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act with respect to cannabis are subject to automatic expungement. Provides that the law enforcement agency who initiated the violation shall automatically expunge, on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, the juvenile law enforcement records of a person eligible under this provision. Provides that the law enforcement agency shall provide by rule the process for access, review, and confirmation of the automatic expungement by the law enforcement agency. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall expunge, upon order of the court, or in the absence of a court order on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, the juvenile court records of a person who before his or her 21st birthday has committed an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a criminal violation under the Cannabis Control Act or a criminal violation of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act with respect to cannabis in the clerk's possession or control and which contains the final satisfactory disposition which pertain to a person eligible under this provision. Effective immediately.