Illinois

Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the amount of the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000 beginning in tax year 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the tax under the Act is imposed on the operator of an electric vehicle charging station for the electric power transferred for the purpose of charging an electric vehicle. Provides that the tax is not imposed on a person who purchases electricity at an electric vehicle charging station to charge or recharge the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle or on a person who acquires such electricity for free. Provides that the term "purchase price" includes consideration paid by an operator of an electric vehicle charging station to its supplier for the electrical power transferred to the operator's customers for the purpose of charging or recharging the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle. Provides that the term "purchase price" does not include the consideration paid to an operator of an electric vehicle charging station by its customer for the electrical power transferred to charge or recharge the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create a pool of funding of at least $50,000,000 annually to be disbursed among safety-net hospitals that maintain perinatal designation from the Department of Public Health, provides that no safety-net hospital eligible for funds shall receive less than $5,000,000 annually.

Amends the School Code. Provides that any public school employee who is a member of a statewide association and is appointed to a State board, advisory council, committee, commission, or task force to represent the association in State work may spend up to 10 days during a school term representing the association in State work. Provides that no deduction of wages may be made for such absence. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Government Officer Compensation Act. In provisions relating to the time and manner of fixing compensation of elected officers of school districts and units of local government, provides that "compensation" means all remuneration for service as an elected officer, including wages, salary, health insurance benefits, and all other payments made on behalf of or for the benefit of the elected officer for service as an elected officer. Provides that "compensation" shall be construed liberally to require all elected officer compensation to be fixed in accordance with the provisions.

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever a municipality is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, the municipality may publish the notice on an official municipal website instead of in a newspaper if the notice published on the official municipal website is also published electronically on a searchable online database website and that website provides independent certification of the publication. Provides conditions concerning the availability and format of the searchable online database website. Repeals a Section concerning the placement of published notices on a statewide website and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act and in the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that sanctions for violations of pretrial release may include imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days, unless the court finds, based on the totality of the circumstances, a longer length of imprisonment in a county jail is reasonable.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision requiring a participating municipality or participating instrumentality to pay an additional contribution to the Fund for certain earnings increases above 6% or 1.5 times the annual increase in the consumer price index-u, whichever is greater, provides that the payments must be concluded within 7 years (instead of 3 years) after receipt of the bill by the participating municipality or participating instrumentality. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Prohibits alternative retail electric and gas suppliers from paying incentive-based compensation to people engaged in in-person solicitation or telemarketing. Provides that certain tariffs may be filed by an electric utility with respect to electric utilities providing supply service through an electric aggregation program. Provides that an alternative retail electric utility supplier or alternative gas supplier shall not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after the current term of the contract expires when the renewed contract provides that the consumer will be charged a rate higher than the current contract rate unless: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier complies with specified notice and disclosure requirements; and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the contract expires.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for a deferred retirement option plan for participants under the State Universities Article under which a participant who is eligible to retire may continue in active service for up to 5 years while having his or her monthly retirement annuity deposited into a special account. Provides that the election must be made no later than January 1, 2029. Provides that the amounts credited to the deferred retirement option plan shall be held in notional accounts by the retirement system, and that the amounts in the account shall not accrue interest. Provides that, upon termination of the deferred retirement option plan, the participant shall commence his or her retirement annuity from the retirement system and may not participate in employment in any way that would require the participant to become an active contributing member of the retirement system. Sets forth provisions concerning the manner of the election; automatic increases; contributions to the retirement system; accounting; expiration or termination of the deferred retirement option plan; and administration of the deferred retirement option plan. Effective immediately.

Creates the Native to Illinois Labeling Program Act. Establishes the Native to Illinois Labeling Program in the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, shall adopt rules implementing the Native to Illinois Labeling Program. Provides requirements for certification under the Program. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may, by rule, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, require certification by a third party approved by the Department of Agriculture. Provides requirements for eligibility for a "Certified Native to Illinois" label. Provides requirements for compliance. Provides requirements for labeling. Provides for investigatory powers within the Department of Agriculture. Provides for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for knowing violation of the compliance requirements, enforceable by a civil lawsuit filed by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney. Provides that any person who knowingly makes a false statement under this Act to an investigator or a certifying agent shall be guilty of a class 4 felony. Provides that any person who knowingly violates the compliance requirements or who knowingly makes a false statement under this Act to an investigator or a certifying agent, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, shall lose all certifications under this Act and shall be ineligible to obtain certifications under this Act for a period of not less than 5 years, beginning on the date of the occurrence, except if waived or modified by the Director of Agriculture. Makes findings. Defines terms.

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).

Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Authorizes any public library district to construct, repair, operate, maintain, and regulate community mental health facilities. Provides that a public library district authorized to levy an annual tax under the Act shall establish a community mental health board whose members are appointed by the president of the public library district's board of trustees.

Amends the Aircraft Landing and Taking Off Restriction Act. Defines "roadable aircraft". Provides that roadable aircraft shall be required to take off and land from a suitable airstrip and shall be prohibited from taking off and landing from any public roadway, unless under conditions of an emergency. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "N-Number license markings" as markings assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration to identify roadable aircraft. Defines "roadable aircraft" as any aircraft capable of taking off and landing from a suitable airfield that is also designed to be driven on public roadways as a conveyance. Provides that a roadable aircraft shall be considered a motor vehicle while in operation on the roadways of the State. Exempts roadable aircraft from certificate of title requirements. Provides that the Secretary of State shall authorize the issuance of license plates of a suitable size that are specific to roadable aircraft and that bear the N-Number of the vehicle. Provides that roadable aircraft shall be identified using the federally issued tail number and may, but shall not be required to, display an additional license plate. Provides that roadable aircraft shall be issued one annual registration sticker and provides for the display of the registration sticker. Exempts roadable aircraft from motor vehicle inspection requirements.

Amends the General Provisions and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Tier 2 participant who is employed as an investigator for the Secretary of State or as a conservation police officer on the effective date of the amendatory Act, has accrued not less than 10 years of credit for such service, and has attained age 60 shall be entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions of the State Employees Article, in lieu of a regular or minimum retirement annuity, notwithstanding that he or she has accrued less than 20 years of eligible creditable service. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Disaster Relief Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security may provide State supplemental grants to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals and households adversely affected by any disaster declared by the President of the United States in those cases in which individuals and households are unable to meet those expenses or needs through other assistance. Sets eligibility, application, and other requirements for the grants.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority may, at its discretion, appoint a judge of election who is unaffiliated with a political party. Sets fourth requirements concerning the selection and appointment of judges unaffiliated with a political party in various types of election precincts. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to ensure that pediatricians ask about the presence of guns in homes and distribute safe gun storage information to individuals with guns in a home with a child. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to prohibit a student from using a cellular telephone in a school or on school property. Provides that the restriction shall not apply during lunch, recess, passing periods, or emergency situations. Repeals provisions allowing a school board to establish rules and disciplinary procedures governing the use or possession of cellular radio telecommunication devices by a student.

Amends the Uniform Racial Classification Act. Provides that whenever a State agency is required by law to compile or report statistical data using racial or ethnic classifications, that State agency shall use Asiatic or Moorish as a racial classification. Provides that a State agency is not required to use that classification for reporting workforce or hiring data until after July 1, 2026.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community and to establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation. Provides that an applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts to the area associated with the proposed project. Provides requirements for the environmental justice assessment. Contains provisions regarding public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community. Provides that, if the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source, a third party may petition the Pollution Control Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Contains provisions regarding environmental justice grievances. Defines terms. Contains other provisions.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2025 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 (currently, $65,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or suffer from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse and whom the school has determined require additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations but do not qualify for an individualized education program or for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sets forth what the plan may include. Provides that the plan shall remain in place until the student (i) is no longer enrolled in the district or (ii) has made such significant and sustained academic progress that the student no longer requires the plan. In provisions relating to children with disabilities, provides that beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the notice that a school board provides concerning who qualifies for services under Section 504 shall include that a child may qualify for those services if the child is a student who is at least 3 years old or older and under 22 years and who (i) has experienced the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or (ii) suffers from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse. Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted on or after July 1, 2025, then the estimated dates of completion of the redevelopment project and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs may not be later than December 31 of the year in which the payment to the municipal treasurer is to be made with respect to ad valorem taxes levied in the 15th (currently, 23rd) calendar year after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purpose of the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, the term "household" includes only the applicant and the applicant's spouse (currently, the applicant, the spouse of the applicant, and all persons using the residence of the applicant as their principal place of residence). Effective immediately.