Illinois

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers, designates the township officers electoral board of a township in a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more (rather than the township officers electoral board) to hear and pass upon objector's petitions. Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish and implement a Veterans' Economic Center pilot program for the purposes of assisting veterans in finding employment and addressing the problem of veteran homelessness. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that a taxpayer who receives a credit under the Act for a taxable year ending on or before December 31, 2027 pursuant an Agreement entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act may apply only 98% of that credit amount against his or her State income tax liability in any taxable year. Provides that the remaining 2% of the total credit amount awarded shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund into the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Provides that moneys in the Veterans' Economic Center Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to administer the Veterans' Economic Center pilot program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall adopt necessary administrative rules governing the employment and qualifications of personnel serving county-operated juvenile detention centers to permit the employment of personnel that possess less than a bachelor's degree, including the hiring of applicants that possess a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate and are otherwise determined to be qualified for the position. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall adopt necessary administrative rules governing personnel and training to facilitate appropriate training and qualification of county correctional officers to serve within county-operated juvenile detention centers as determined as needed by the county sheriff.

Amends the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the Ombudsperson shall require training within 90 days of election or appointment by elected and appointed members of board of managers or board of directors on the following subjects: (i) ethics to include the fiduciary responsibilities, conflict of interest, and communication between board members; (ii) roles and responsibilities for each officer of a board of managers or directors and a property management company; (iii) attributes of a property-managed association and self-run association; and (iv) information and direction about the complaint process against a board of managers or directors. Provides that those members of a board of managers or directors who complete the training do not have to retake it again for 3 years. Provides that the Ombudsperson may adopt rules to implement the amendatory Act and determine the composition and delivery of required training.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, upon receiving an election authority's request, if a school district demonstrates to the election authority that the use of a school as a polling place would interfere with scheduled programming or pose a threat to the safety of staff or students, the election authority and the school district shall work cooperatively to find an alternative location to serve as a polling place. Provides that, if the school district and the election authority are unable to identify a mutually agreeable alternative location, the school district and the election authority shall submit a report to the Board of County Commissioners that includes specified information. Provides that, after receiving the report, the Board of County Commissioners shall determine a location to be used as a polling place as soon as practicable to avoid further delay in determining a polling place.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision requiring certain licensees to file a bond with the Department of Revenue, provides an exception for a manufacturer or importing distributor who is applying for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license for the first time. Provides that the bond may be required as a condition to renew a license for subsequent annual license terms if a manufacturer or importing distributor exceeds $50,000 in tax liability. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission shall not renew a license for any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license if the State Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that the applicant is required to file and has not filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that the bond has not been approved by the Department. Removes language providing that the State Commission shall not issue a license to any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license unless the Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that such applicant has filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that such bond has been approved by the Department.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Reenacts provisions concerning the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission. Provides that the report submitted by the Commission shall include year-to-date general funds expenditures as compared to the preceding fiscal year's budget (rather than the Fiscal Year 2021 budget). Removes provisions concerning previous budget relief programs. Provides that the provision shall be deemed to have been in continuous effect since July 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to set, by rule, the maximum amount of classes a teaching assistant may teach without a professor, instructor, or teacher present.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that requirements that a quorum be physically present at the location of an open meeting shall not apply to committees of the Police Officers' Pension Investment Fund.

Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Provides that, if a public entity that owns a sports facility does not apply for a master sports wagering license, a professional sports team that (i) plays the majority of its home contests at the sports facility and (ii) has received written authorization from the public entity may apply to the Illinois Gaming Board for a master sports wagering license in place of the public entity and shall be deemed to be a sports facility for the purposes of the Act. Requires a professional sports team granted a license under the provisions to operate through a designee. Sets the initial license fee for a master sports wagering license for a professional sports team at $1,000,000, but adjusts the amount 12 months after the professional sports team licensee begins sportsbook operations based on 5% of its handle from the first 12 months of sportsbook operations. Provides that the master sports wagering license is valid for 4 years. Allows the Board to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions.

Amends the Survivor Support And Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are preparing to file an application for T Nonimmigrant status or other specified nonimmigrant status applications. Removes a provision conditioning such assistance on the availability of funding. Removes a provision excluding from cash assistance and SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who are single adults without family members. Removes a provision excluding from SNAP eligibility foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes who reside in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of their daily meals. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Provides that an administrative law judge is not liable for an injury that allegedly is caused by any decision made by the administrative law judge as part of the administrative law judge's quasi-judicial duties.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes one or more veterans or members of the armed forces shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if the gross income of such a household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that tracking wounded wild birds or wounded wild mammals by use of unmanned aircraft is permissible under certain conditions, including that: (1) the wild bird or wild mammal is wounded when a properly licensed hunter has struck the animal with a projectile fired from a legal hunting device during the open season; (2) any person operating the unmanned aircraft has obtained permission from the public or private landowner, or the landowner's authorized representative, before launching or landing the unmanned aircraft from or on the landowner's property; (3) the person operating the unmanned aircraft does not possess or control a firearm, bow, or other implement whereby wildlife could be killed or taken while afield, whether acting singly or as a group of persons while the unmanned aircraft is in flight, except this prohibition does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealed firearm under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is not used to take wildlife; and (4) the unmanned aircraft is operated in a manner that does not harass any wildlife. Exempts an operator of an unmanned aircraft that meets these conditions from hunting permit requirements if the operator is not the taker of the wounded animal. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning the objection to specified election documents, adds references to declarations of intent to be a write-in-candidate.

Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Authorizes a supervisor or trustee of a township with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants, during the term of office for which the supervisor or trustee is elected, to hold the office of school board member for a school district. Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township board may not direct a distribution to be made from the township's general fund to a school district if a supervisor or trustee of the township is concurrently serving as a school board member of that school district. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Reproductive Health Act. Creates the Illinois Abortion Law of 2025 containing the provisions of the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 before its repeal by Public Act 101-13, as well as provisions defining "viability" to include when, in the medical judgment of the attending physician based on the particular facts of the case before the attending physician, the unborn child has a fetal heartbeat, and defining "fetal heartbeat" as the cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac. Creates the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act of 2025 and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act of 2025 containing the provisions of the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act before their repeal by Public Act 101-13. Amends various Acts by restoring the language that existed before the amendment of those Acts by Public Act 101-13. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Requires each applicant for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card to submit evidence to the Illinois State Police that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony, unless the applicant has been granted a certificate of relief from disabilities, in which case the applicant shall submit a certified copy of the certificate of relief along with his or her application. Defines the term "forceible felony". Allows the Illinois State Police to deny an application for or revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card if the person is or was convicted of a felony, unless the offense was not a forcible felony and the person has received a certificate of relief from disabilities. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a person sentenced to imprisonment shall lose the right to use or knowingly possess any firearm. Provides that this right shall be eligible for restoration 5 years after the person has completed the person's sentence, including applicable periods of probation or parole, under a certificate issued by the court, with certain requirements.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that an applicant for a foster family home license who currently holds a valid foster family home license or its equivalent from another state without any pending violations or investigations shall be granted a temporary foster family home license in this State during the pendency of the Illinois application for a foster family home license.

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for Tier 2 policemen, "final average salary" is the greater of: (i) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the policeman during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest; or (ii) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the policeman during the 48 consecutive months of service within the last 60 months of service in which the total salary was the highest. Provides that the limit on salary for all purposes under the Code for Tier 2 policemen shall annually be increased by the lesser of 3% or the annual (instead of one-half of the annual) unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u, including all previous adjustments. Provides that the surviving spouse's annuity for certain Tier 2 policemen shall be 54% of the policeman's monthly salary at the time of the policeman's death. Provides that if the deceased policeman was a parent of a child or children and there is a surviving spouse, 12% of the policeman's monthly salary at the date of death, or 12% of the policeman's earned pension, shall be granted to the guardian of any such minor child or children. Provides that upon the death of the surviving spouse leaving one or more children under the age of 18, or upon the death of a policeman leaving one or more children but no surviving spouse, a monthly pension of 20% of the policeman's monthly salary at the date of death or 20% of the policeman's earned pension at the date of death shall be granted to the guardian of each such child until the child reaches age 18. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act. Provides that a park owner shall notify a manufactured home owner in the park of a rent or fee increase if the increase is in excess of 3% above the current rent or in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater. Provides that if the rent or fee increase is greater than the percentage rate of rent in the Consumer Price Index, the park owner shall provide a written justification for the increase and make documentation available to all residents that shows the costs and commencement of work that justifies the rent or fee increase. Provides that in order for an increase in costs to justify such a rent or fee increase, for costs incurred for ordinary maintenance, property or real estate taxes, and utilities not directly paid by the manufactured home owner, the park owner must demonstrate that the work performed was necessary to meet the park owner's warranty of habitability obligations and demonstrate that the rent or fee increase imposed was no more than was necessary to cover the actual and reasonable cost of the work performed.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Provides that when a licensee applies to renew a license, the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall deem the licensee's renewal fee to have been paid if the licensee can provide proof that the licensee's total annual income for the preceding calendar year was less than $50,000. Provides that renewal forms adopted by the Division shall include language informing licensees that the renewal fee shall be deemed paid if a licensee can prove that the licensee made less than $50,000 in total annual income in the preceding calendar year. Provides that a W-2 form, or similar tax document, stating that a licensee made less than $50,000 in total annual income in the preceding year shall be sufficient evidence that the licensee made less than $50,000 in total annual income in the preceding calendar year.

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to apply to companies registered with the Department of Transportation to conduct testing of autonomous vehicles.

Amends the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act of 2008. Provides that an accredited production must (i) include in the credits of the accredited production the official logo of the Illinois Film Office and (ii) include an Internet link to the website of the Illinois Film Office on any promotional website for the accredited production.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Legacy Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a Class 1 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that a person commits a Class 2 felony offense of aggravated battery when the person is 21 years of age or older and, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any Department caseworker or investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services.