Illinois

Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Local Records Act. In the definition provisions of those Acts, defines the term "junk mail" and specifies that the term "public record" does not include junk mail.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that an open or closed meeting subject to the Act may be conducted by audio or video conference, without the physical presence of a quorum of the members, if the National Weather Service has determined that all or part of the jurisdiction of the public body is located within an area that is subject to a severe weather alert on the day of the meeting. Makes conforming changes. Makes other technical changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Task Force on Firearm Insurance to review current and potential future insurance policy offerings for the safe and legal possession of firearms and to offer policymaking recommendations related to the use of that insurance. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall provide administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of specified members. Provides that the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership. Provides that appointments shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. 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.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 and thereafter, the maximum reduction for the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in all counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who have an approved NFPA 13D residential fire sprinkler system installed in a new or existing residential dwelling in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 50% of the total cost of the installation but not to exceed $10,000 per taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that credit awards under the amendatory Act shall be limited to the lesser of 2,000 credit awards per year or $8,000,000 in total credits per year. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management services provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management services provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Provides that the certified database provider shall indemnify the licensee against all claims and actions arising from illegal or willful or wanton acts on the part of the certified database provider. The certified database provider may charge a fee not to exceed the lesser of $1 or 0.1% of the loan principal for each loan entered into the certified database. Prohibits the database provider from charging any additional fees or charges to the licensee. Effective immediately.

Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act, the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Massage Therapy Practice Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics Practice Act, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, and the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that any Department of Financial and Professional Regulation process under statute or rule used to verify the criminal history of an applicant for licensure shall be used for all applicants for licensure, applicants for renewal of a license, or persons whose conviction of a crime or other behavior warrants review of a license. Provides that a finding of guilt by a judge or jury, a guilty plea, or plea of no contest to specified offenses entered after the effective date of the amendatory Act is a disqualifying offense, and the individual's license shall be automatically revoked when the Department is notified that the individual has been found guilty or has pled guilty or no contest. Provides that the individual may appeal the revocation to the Department only upon the reversal of the criminal conviction. Provides that crime victims have the right to file a complaint against the accused with the agency or department that licensed, certified, permitted, or registered the accused if the accused holds a license, certificate, permit, or registration to practice a profession. Effective 6 months after becoming law.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to contract to delay the entry of a drug into the marketplace. Makes a corresponding change.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department, then the municipality shall not cease the operation and maintenance of the ambulance department without a referendum. Provides that, if a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department. Provides that the rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to require an insurance policy to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments for genetic, rare, unknown or unnamed, and unique conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and altered drug metabolism. Provides that an insurance policy that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include coverage for opioid alternatives, coverage for medicines included in the Model List of Essential Medicines published by the World Health Organization, and coverage for custom-made medications and medical food. Provides that an insurance policy that limits the quantity of a medication in accordance with applicable State and federal law shall not require pre-approval for the treatment of patients with rare metabolism conditions that may need a higher dose of medication than what is otherwise allowed within a time frame or prescription schedule. Provides that the burden of proving that treatment is medically necessary shall not lie with the insured in cases of rejections for filing claims, preauthorization requests, and appeals related to coverage required under the Section.

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that school districts that offer a 457(b) plan through a single vendor may use their single-vendor plan to satisfy the requirements of Public Act 102-540. Limits the number of school districts that may use their single-vendor plan to 10% of school districts statewide. Sets forth requirements for a single-vendor plan. Provides that when choosing a single vendor for the pilot program, the overriding consideration with respect to all decisions made by the plan sponsor concerning the plan is that the decisions be made solely in the best interests of the plan's participants and beneficiaries. Sets forth other requirements for the single-vendor plan. Provides that no vendor may offer a plan under the provisions if an individual employed by, compensated by, or working for that vendor offers or gives anything of value to any employee who participates in the selection of the 457(b) plan vendor in the school district. Provides that an employee who participates in the selection of the single vendor must avoid outside business interests with any vendor chosen or under consideration for being chosen for the school district; disclose all outside business interests with a vendor chosen or under consideration for being chosen for the school district; not accept any gifts, preferential treatment, or benefits that might affect or appear to affect his or her ability to make sound judgments on selection of a vendor; act honestly and ethically in the best interests of the plan participants in all dealings with chosen vendor; and not obtain employment with any vendor chosen or in consideration for being chosen to offer a plan at the school district for the duration of an interested party's employment or involvement with the school district for a period of one year thereafter. Specifies that the provisions are inoperable on and after January 1, 2031.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is owned by an immediate family caregiver of a veteran with a disability or a veteran of World War II is eligible for the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II if the immediate family caregiver resides with the veteran on a full-time basis.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, if a quorum of the members of the public body is physically present, a majority of the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the meeting by other means if the member is prevented from physically attending because of performance of active military duty as a service member. Defines "active military duty" and "service member".

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the assessed value of non-income producing wooded acreage property may not exceed the product of the assessed value of the property for the immediately preceding assessment year multiplied by 104%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "immediate hazard". Provides instances in which an individual operating a bicycle approaching a stop sign may proceed through the intersection without stopping at the stop sign.

Amends the Ticket Sale and Resale Act. Provides that a person or entity that does not have actual or constructive possession of an event ticket shall not sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale the event ticket unless specified conditions are satisfied. Prohibits a ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller from offering for sale an event ticket unless the ticket issuer, ticket broker, or ticket reseller makes specified disclosures. Sets forth provisions concerning refunds, if an event is cancelled or postponed, and advertisements. Provides that whoever violates the amendatory provisions may be fined up to $5,000 for each offense. Defines terms.

Congratulates Tim Smith on receiving the 2025 Annual Historical Preservation Award from the Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society Foundation.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Removal of Private Compromising Images Act. Defines "image" to include a computer-generated image or video, whether made, produced, or altered by electronic, mechanical, or other means.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that 20% of the lesser of (rather than the lesser of): (i) the purchase price or (ii) the fair market value shall constitute the rate base associated with the water or sewer utility as acquired by and incorporated into the rate base of the district designated by the acquiring large public utility, subject to any adjustments that the Illinois Commerce Commission deems necessary to ensure such rate base reflects prudent and useful investments in the provision of public utility service. Provides that the difference between the rate base and the purchase price or fair market value shall be borne by the shareholders of the acquiring large public utility. In provisions concerning the acquisition of a water or sewer utility, provides that, at the next election following the public meeting and notice requirements, a referendum shall be placed on the ballot for all electors within the area the water or sewer utility operates. 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 Commission shall not approve the large public utility's acquisition of the water or sewer utility.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for individual taxpayers in an amount equal to 100% of the eligible recycling costs incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, not to exceed $1,000 per taxpayer. Provides that "eligible recycling costs" means costs associated with the collection, separation, conversion, or treatment of recyclable solid waste materials, including, but not limited to, paper, glass, and plastic.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person who hosts or registers an Internet domain name to a person located in this State shall not sell or lease the Internet domain name to another person for a period of 5 years after the buyer or lessee ends his or her ownership or lease of the Internet domain name. Provides that a buyer or lessee who ends his or her ownership or lease agreement shall have the right to repurchase or renew the lease for the Internet domain name during the 5-year period for the cost the buyer or lessee would have owed to the host or registrar if the ownership or lease agreement had not ended. Provides that any person who violates these provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a grant program to reimburse school districts for providing stipends for classroom Career and Technical Education teachers who participate in externships with a manufacturing company in this State. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Small Estates Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Allows a small estate affidavit to be used to transfer personal property in a decedent's estate if: (1) no letters of office are outstanding on the decedent's estate and no petition for letters is contemplated or pending in the State or in any other jurisdiction; and (2) the decedent's personal estate passing to any party by intestacy or under a will is limited to tangible and intangible personal property not exceeding $150,000 and motor vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes registered with the Secretary of State. Makes a corresponding change in the form for a small estate affidavit. Provides that the changes made to the Act apply to a decedent whose date of death is on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each tax bill shall include a statement of the dollar amount of the taxpayer's total tax bill that is attributable to a ballot initiative or referendum and the date on which each property tax-related change made by that ballot initiative or referendum will expire. Effective immediately.