Illinois

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "autonomous vehicle" as a motor vehicle that possesses the capability (enabled or not) for automated functions to control movement of the vehicle along 2 axes of direction simultaneously. Provides that, before selling or continuing to operate a new or used autonomous vehicle in this State and before updating the software or hardware of any automated driving system on such a vehicle, a manufacturer shall submit to the Department of Transportation documentation regarding the level of driving automation, along with a filing fee in an amount to be determined by the Department. Provides that the Department shall assemble an Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to evaluate submitted documentation and make determinations concerning the level of automated driving capabilities and the suitability of the vehicle for operation on public roads. Provides that an autonomous vehicle classified as having Level 2 Driving Automation may be sold to consumers and registered for use. Provides that the owner of the automated vehicle shall file an annual report with the Department of Transportation stating the number of miles driven per year, the estimated number of miles driven using equipped automated driving systems, and any collisions that occurred involving the vehicle. Prohibits the sale or operation of autonomous vehicles classified as having Level 3, 4, or 5 Driving Automation. Provides that a resident may file a request for the Automated Driving Systems Review Committee to review an existing vehicle sold or registered in this State, and that the Secretary of State shall receive and investigate complaints of a dealer selling a vehicle prohibited for sale under the new provisions. Provides that a person who operates a prohibited vehicle is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and that such a vehicle is subject to impoundment. Provides penalties for the unauthorized sale or modification of an autonomous vehicle.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall require that a covered individual's defined cost sharing for each prescription drug shall be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 100% of all rebates received in connection with the dispensation or administration of the prescription drug. Provides that an insurer shall apply any rebate amount in excess of the defined cost sharing amount to the health plan to reduce premiums. Provides that the provisions shall not preclude an insurer from decreasing a covered individual's defined cost sharing by an amount greater than the stated amount at the point of sale. Provides that the Department of Insurance may adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on diapers and baby wipes to 1% (currently, 6.25%). Makes various formatting changes.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish and provide oversight for a program of supportive living facilities (SLFs), provides that beginning January 1, 2026, the Department shall electronically publicize a list of SLF sites selected in accordance with the Code. Requires the list to be updated at least once annually.

Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall create a payment system to collect fees from any prospective candidate for elected office in a consolidated or general election in the State. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall deposit all moneys collected under the provision into the Election Income Tax Rebate Fund. Provides that, beginning in 2027, the Department of Revenue shall pay an annual rebate to each individual taxpayer who files an Illinois income tax return with the moneys in the Election Income Tax Rebate Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Election Income Tax Rebate Fund.

Creates the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning registration requirements for persons providing commercial financing; additional registration information; registration expiration; functions, power, and duties; subpoena power of the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; disclosure requirements; commercial financing disclosure forms approved for use in other states; violation of disclosure requirements; notification; suspension of registrations, civil penalties, and other discipline; investigation of complaints; confidentiality; appeal and review; registration fees; cease and desist orders; injunctions; exemptions; complaint disclosure; rules; violations; limitations on liability; beginning of registration; beginning of disclosure requirements; severability; and a commercial financing database. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the Business Enterprise Council shall develop a procedure to recognize, without additional evidence of Business Enterprise Program eligibility, the certification of businesses owned by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities certified by the Secretary of State. Provides that the Business Enterprise Council shall accept certification from a Small Business Development Center as part of its automatic certification process.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the provision concerning endangering the life or health of a child, provides that a trier of fact may infer that the life or health of a child under 18 years of age is endangered when a person owns a swimming pool and demonstrates neglect of the barrier surrounding the swimming pool in a manner in which a reasonable person could believe that a child under 18 years of age would be attracted to the swimming pool and could fall into the swimming pool and die or be injured as a result of the fall and a child under 18 years of age dies or is injured in the person's swimming pool. Defines "swimming pool".

Amends the ID/DD Community Care Act. Provides that, by no later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Public Health shall adopt and implement streamlined and person-centered procedures for appealing a resident assessment conducted by the inspection of care team. Requires the Department to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement the provisions. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all subcontractors and subrecipients who receive State grants, whether directly or indirectly, are subject to the provisions of the Act, including auditing by the Auditor General and the transparency provisions of the Act.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Defines "pharmacy desert". Requires the Department of Public Health to provide an annual report to the General Assembly by December 31 of each year that identifies the locations of pharmacy deserts within the State and provides information about health issues associated with pharmacy deserts. Provides that if the annual report contains information from the federal government that identifies the locations of pharmacy deserts in the State and provides information on health issues associated with pharmacy deserts, then the requirements of the provisions shall be satisfied. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to display, in multiple, conspicuous public places within the facility accessible to both visitors and residents and in an easily readable format, the address and statewide toll-free telephone number (rather than phone number) of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Internet web address of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website. Requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to post on the home page of the facility's website the statewide toll-free telephone number of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and a link to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website.

Repeals the Educational Loan Default Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2026 and prior to January 1, 2027, the first $100,000 in liability is exempt from the franchise tax payable by domestic corporations. Provides that, in the case of a domestic corporation, no payment is required for a franchise tax that would have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2027. Repeals the provision concerning franchise taxes payable by domestic corporations on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

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 Foster Parent Law. Provides that foster parents have a right to receive an initial payment of $480 per child to be made within 21 days of a permanent placement. Provides that if the final monthly payment for a child amounts to $480 or more, the amount of $480 shall be deducted from the final monthly payment. Provides that if the final monthly payment amounts to less than $480, the final monthly payment shall not be made.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2026-2027 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2027-2028 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2028-2029 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes provision that the Prisoner Review Board shall revoke parole or mandatory supervised release for violations of the requirement that if the parolee or releasee was convicted for an offense that would qualify the accused as a sexual predator under the Sex Offender Registration Act on or after January 1, 2007, wear an approved electronic monitoring device for the duration of the person's parole, mandatory supervised release term, or extended mandatory supervised release term and if convicted for an offense of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, or ritualized abuse of a child committed on or after August 11, 2009 when the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the defendant used force or the threat of force in the commission of the offense wear an approved electronic monitoring device that has Global Positioning System (GPS) capability for the duration of the person's parole, mandatory supervised release term, or extended mandatory supervised release term. Makes other changes concerning violations of parole or mandatory supervised release. Provides for different conditions if the parolee or releasee violates a criminal statute of any jurisdiction during the parole or release term than for violations of other conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release.

Amends the Gas Use Tax Law. Exempts certain business enterprises from taxation under the Act. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act. Provides that the definition of "gross receipts" does not include consideration received from certain business enterprises. Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Provides that the tax under the Act is not imposed with respect to any use by the purchaser in the process of manufacturing or assembling tangible personal property for wholesale or for retail sale or lease. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Changes all references in the General Provisions Article and the Abused, Neglected or Dependent Minors Article of the Act from "reasonable efforts" to "active efforts" in cases that involve reunification by the Department of Children and Family Services. Defines "active efforts" as efforts that are affirmative, active, thorough, timely and intended to maintain or reunite a child with the child's family and represent a higher standard of conduct than reasonable efforts. Provides that "active efforts" includes the provision of reasonable efforts as required by Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 through 679c). In the court review provisions, provides that if the court makes findings that the Department of Children and Family Services has failed to make active efforts to provide services as provided in the service plan, the court's order shall specify each party that failure applies to and the applicable time period. Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a person shall not be considered an unfit person for the sole reason that the Department of Children and Family Services or its assign has been found to have not made active efforts as defined in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 during any period during the pendency of the case at hand. Provides that a parent shall not be found unfit for failure to make reasonable efforts or reasonable progress for any 9-month period during which a court, hearing a case under the Abused, Neglected or Dependent Minors Article of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, found that the Department failed to make active efforts, as defined in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 with respect to that parent. Provides that this provision applies to findings of failure to make active efforts made on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Creates the Commission to End Gun Violence in Disproportionately Impacted Areas Act. Establishes the Commission to End Gun Violence in Disproportionately Impacted Areas. Provides that the purpose of the Commission is to study, analyze data, make recommendations, and develop policy proposals addressing the root causes of violence and resulting trauma to drastically reduce gun violence in Disproportionately Impacted Areas. Sets forth provisions concerning membership; terms; compensation; and administrative support. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than July 1, 2026 and each year thereafter, including, at a minimum, detailed findings and recommendations related to the reduction of gun violence in Disproportionately Impacted Areas. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated assault of a teacher upon school grounds or grounds adjacent to a school or in any part of a building used for school purposes is a Class 4 felony (rather than a Class A misdemeanor).

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other and conforming changes.

Creates the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act. Enters into the compact, which may be entered into by any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of America, in order to facilitate interstate practice of audiology and speech-language pathology with the goal of improving public access to audiology and speech-language pathology services, along with other stated objectives. Defines terms. Provides that a license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as authorizing an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or speech-language pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state. Contains other provisions relating to: state participation in the compact; compact privilege, including practicing telehealth; designation of home state by active military or their spouses; taking adverse actions against audiologists and speech-language pathologists; creation of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission, including rulemaking authority; database and reporting system; oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; construction and severability; and the binding effect of compact and other laws. Provides that the Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact is enacted into law in the 10th member state, commonwealth, district, or territory. Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Provides that, if the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact becomes law, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall revise its rules related to implementing and enforcing the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to be in conformance with the Compact, if necessary. Provides that the Department shall also make recommendations in a report to the General Assembly as to what portions of the Act and other laws should be modified, if at all, to be consistent with the Compact.