Illinois

Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Creates the Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use to review current and potential future public coordination, consolidation, use, and access issues and to offer policy-making recommendations related to the efficient use of governmental bodies and structures in regulating the use of public bathing areas along Lake Michigan. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of specified members, and the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership. Requires appointments to be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires members to serve without compensation. Establishes duties of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of findings, recommendations, and other information to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Creates the Right to Repair Act. Provides that every manufacturer of an electronic or appliance product with a specified wholesale price or direct sales price shall make service and repair facilities available to owners of the product. Provides that the manufacturer shall make available to service and repair facilities and service dealers sufficient documentation and functional parts and tools, inclusive of any updates, on fair and reasonable terms, to effect the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of a product for a specified period after the last date a product model or type was manufactured, regardless of whether the period exceeds the warranty period for the product. Provides that a service and repair facility or service dealer that is not an authorized repair provider of a manufacturer shall provide a written notice to any customer seeking repair of an electronic or appliance product before the repair facility or service dealer repairs the product that informs the customer that it is not an authorized repair provider for the product and shall disclose if it uses any used replacement parts or replacement parts provided by a supplier other than the manufacturer of the product. Provides that no manufacturer or authorized repair provider shall be liable for any damage or injury caused to any electronic or appliance product, person, or property that occurs as a result of repair, diagnosis, maintenance, or modification performed by a service dealer or owner. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a manufacturer that provides an equivalent or better, readily available replacement electronic or appliance product at no charge to the customer. Provides for limitations of the Act. Provides for civil penalties. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a person may not knowingly release or cause to be released into the atmosphere within a 24-hour period 25 or more helium or other lighter-than-air gas balloons in the State unless the balloons are (1) used by an institution of higher education or a governmental agency, or pursuant to a governmental contract, for bona fide scientific or meteorological purposes, (2) released indoors and remain indoors, or (3) are helium balloons used for the safe operation of a hot air balloon. Provides that persons who violate the amendatory Act's provisions shall be subject to civil penalties in specified amounts and that the release of 25 balloons or fewer at one time is a single offense. Makes corresponding changes in provisions regarding mitigation or aggravation of penalty in determining the appropriate civil penalty to be imposed, as well as regarding minimum penalties based on economic benefits.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that electronic requests for public records must appear in their entirety within the body of the electronic submission and that no public body shall be required to open electronically attached files or hyperlinks to view or access the details of such a request. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that an Executive Inspector General may issue a public statement when the Executive Inspector General concludes its investigation and (i) recommends systemic or procedural action based on the investigation or (ii) finds reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred and the Executive Inspector General believes that a complaint concerning the investigation should not be filed by the Attorney General with the Executive Ethics Commission. Limits the scope of a public statement that may be issued. Provides that, before issuing a public statement, the Executive Inspector General shall share the public statement with the agency head and ultimate jurisdictional authority affected by the investigation and allow the agency head and ultimate jurisdictional authority affected by the investigation a period of 10 business days to provide the Executive Inspector General with a response to the proposed public statement, which must be included with the public statement. Effective immediately.

Creates the Nondiscrimination in State Contracts and Grants Act. Prohibits the State from awarding a contract or grant to any person, business, or entity that engages in discrimination as defined in the Act. Defines "discrimination" to mean if the business or entity engages in "sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy". "Sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy" means any practices or treatments that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation, as defined by in the Illinois Human Rights Act, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards individuals of the same sex. "Sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy" does not include counseling or mental health services that provide acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation or mental health services that facilitate a person's coping, social support, and gender identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation.

Amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Nursing in the Workplace Act. Provides that an employee who has been denied any rights under the Act may bring an action to enjoin future denials of those rights. Provides that, if the employee prevails in that action, the employee shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any gift certificate issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be redeemable in cash for its cash value.

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that, on January 1, 2026 the Chicago Transit Authority shall become a division of the Regional Transportation Authority. Abolishes the Chicago Transit Board and provides that the Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Authority will serve as the Board of the Chicago Transit Authority. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, on January 1, 2026 the Suburban Bus Board and the Commuter Rail Board are abolished and that the Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Authority will directly operate the Suburban Bus Division and the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transit Authority. Creates various committees composed of Directors of the Board of the Regional Transportation Authority, including committees to oversee the operations of each Division of the Authority. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Open Meetings Act, State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, and the Illinois Municipal Code making conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. By June 1, 2026, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to establish, by rule, a Montessori education endorsement to be added to a Professional Educator License. Requires the rules adopted by the State Board of Education to outline the requirements for obtaining the endorsement. Provides that these provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2027.

Amends the Employee Classification Act. Provides that in making a determination of a worker's classification under this Act, the Department of Labor shall consider any guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Amends the Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that no person under the age of 18 (rather than 21) shall be eligible for employment as a firefighter.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. In provisions regarding personnel policies and work time requirements, specifies that State employees of public institutions of higher education classified as faculty and those not eligible for overtime pay may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract with the public institution of higher education. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Provides for a lottery sports wagering pilot program. Provides that the Department of the Lottery shall implement and administer the lottery sports wagering pilot program no later than June 30, 2025. Provides that every sports lottery terminal offered in this State for play shall first be tested and approved pursuant to the rules of the Department, and each sports lottery terminal offered in this State for play shall conform to an approved model, which shall be ready for play in Illinois within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act and any system testing dates designated by the Department. Provides that lottery games are a part of the private management agreement and competitive bidding process. Provides that sports lottery terminals may be placed in any lottery retailer in the State. Provides that no lottery retailer may cause or permit any person under the age of 21 years to use a sports lottery terminal or sports wagering application. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions, testing, apportionment of revenues, transfer of funds, jurisdiction of the Department, and the purchase or lease of sports lottery terminals. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Lottery Law to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an employee of a township or road district with a population of less than 10,000 (rather than 3,000) operating a vehicle within the boundaries of the township or road district for the purpose of removing snow or ice from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting is waived from the requirements of provisions regarding commercial driver's licenses or permits when the employee is needed to operate the vehicle because the employee of the township or road district who ordinarily operates the vehicle and who has a commercial driver's license is unable to operate the vehicle or is in need of additional assistance due to a snow emergency.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, upon written request for a traffic crash report by an attorney who provides an affidavit confirming representation of an individual in the traffic crash, the public body from whom the traffic crash report is requested shall disclose an unredacted copy of the traffic crash report to the requesting attorney.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Agriculture to create a grant program to award grants of up to $250,000, subject to appropriation, to cover the costs and labor of any qualified applicant farmer to distribute healthy, free food to expectant mothers in need who reside in the same county or in a municipality within 20 miles of the farmer's farm, with certain requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires a school district, if funds are available, to provide a minimum of 3 hours of instruction for students in any of grades 7 through 12 on (i) legal aspects explaining certain laws and penalties, (ii) responding to a police encounter, and (iii) the aftermath. Allows the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to school boards resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act and the Civil No Contact Order Act. Provides that the court shall (rather than may) award the petitioner costs and attorney's fees if a stalking no contact order is granted. Provides that the court shall award the petitioner costs and attorney's fees if a civil no contact order is granted.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit in an amount equal to the investment made by the taxpayer during the taxable year in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Provides that no such credit may be taken for any taxable year that begins prior to January 1, 2025. Provides that excess credits may be carried forward or back. Provides that the aggregate amount of the Qualified Opportunity Fund tax credit shall be limited to $10,000 per taxpayer per calendar year. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Provides that an out-of-state health care professional may treat a patient located in this State through telehealth if the patient is a student attending an institution of higher education in this State, but is otherwise not a resident of the State when not attending the institution of higher education.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that at the next election following the public meeting and notice required in provisions regarding a water or sewer utility that is owned by the State or any political subdivision thereof being acquired by a large public utility, a referendum, subject to the requirements of the Election Code, shall be placed on the ballot for all electors within the area the water or sewer utility operates. Provides that the votes on the referendum shall be recorded as "yes" or "no". Provides that, if a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, then the acquisition may continue. Provides that, if less than a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not approve the large public utility's acquisition of the water or sewer utility.

Amends the Fluorspar Mines Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall, no later than July 1, 2026, create and maintain an online underground mine workings portal. Provides that the portal shall be accessible to the general public without a fee. Provides that the portal shall allow access to all maps filed with the Department of Natural Resources. Requires the portal to allow a user to locate underground mine workings maps by searching for a street address.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Establishes findings. Requires teachers, administrators, and school support personnel to complete training to develop cultural competency, including understanding and reducing unconscious bias and stigmatizing assumptions about persons with disabilities. Sets forth the requirements of the training. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Illiana Task Force Act. Creates the Illiana Task Force, consisting of 24 police officers, appointed by the Director of the Illinois State Police. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall select a chairperson. Provides that members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their service on the Task Force but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made by the General Assembly for that purpose. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least once monthly to study ways to reduce violence in local communities caused by the illegal use of firearms and to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on suggested legislative solutions to this problem. Provides that the Task Force shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31 of each year and a final report 5 years after the creation of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be dissolved 6 years after its creation. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.