Illinois

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an eligible police officer may elect to receive a retirement pension from each pension fund under the Article in which the police officer has at least one year of service credit, but has not received a refund, by applying in writing and paying a specified contribution. Provides that from each such pension fund other than the last pension fund, in lieu of any retirement pension otherwise payable, an eligible police officer may elect to receive a monthly pension of 1/12th of 2.5% of his or her final monthly salary under that fund for each month of service in that fund, subject to a maximum of 75% of that final monthly salary. Provides that the retirement pension from the last pension fund shall be the retirement pension that would be payable to the police officer if he or she had participated in that last pension fund for his or her entire period of service under all pension funds, minus the amounts of the retirement pensions payable to the police officer by all other pension funds. Provides that a police officer must pay to each pension fund from which he or she has elected to receive a pension a contribution equal to 1% of monthly salary for each month of service credit that the police officer has in that fund (other than service credit for which the police officer has already paid a specified additional contribution), together with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually. Contains provisions concerning eligibility for the benefit; contributions; refunds; reinstatement of terminated credits; automatic annual increases; and occupational disease disability pensions. Makes conforming and other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, provides that the State Board of Education and the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board are required to approve more than one assessment, not from the same source, and each teacher preparation program in the State may use any evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness that aligns to current State teaching standards. Effective July 1, 2025.

Mourns the death of Jerry "Iceman" Butler.

Mourns the death of Robert F. "Dobby" Clayberg of Macomb, formerly of Cuba.

If and only if Senate Bill 867 of the 103rd General Assembly becomes law, repeals the provisions of Senate Bill 867 of the 103rd General Assembly. Effective immediately or on the date Senate Bill 867 of the 103rd General Assembly takes effect, whichever is later.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Prohibits a home rule unit of local government with a population of over 1,000,000 from enforcing any local ordinance passed prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act prohibiting the operation of video gaming terminals within the corporate limits of the municipality. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Prohibits a home rule unit of government with a population of over 1,000,000 from imposing any fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal in excess of $250 per year. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions regarding a certificate of public convenience and necessity, makes changes to the limitations on the construction of a nuclear power reactor. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, construction may commence on an advanced nuclear reactor (rather than a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts of electricity or less) within the State under specified conditions. Defines "advanced nuclear reactor". Makes other changes.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she: (1) 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; and (2) is, at the time of the commission of the offense, 21 years of age or older and 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: (i) performing his or her official duties; (ii) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any (i) Department caseworker or (ii) 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. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to the employee, the penalty is a Class 1 felony.

Makes appropriations from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for grants to the City of Morris for costs associated with landfill closures and landfill well monitoring. Effective July 1, 2025.

Congratulates the St. Jude Catholic School 8th grade boys basketball team on winning the 2024-2025 Class 8-1A Illinois Elementary School Association State Championship.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by discharge of a firearm, he or she knows the individual battered to be a health care worker (rather than a nurse) while in the performance of his or her duties as a health care worker (rather than a nurse). Provides that "health care worker" has the meaning provided in the Health Care Violence Prevention Act.

Creates the PRIOR Act. Defines terms. Provides that a Pre-Regulatory Impact Assessment shall be completed and presented to the General Assembly before legislation creating a new occupational regulation, expanding the scope of practice of a licensed occupation, or increasing the personal qualification for an occupational regulation can be voted on by a committee or the General Assembly. Provides that, on or before the first day of the General Assembly's legislative session, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Chair of each relevant committee shall assign to the relevant committee or legislative staff the responsibility to analyze legislation creating a new occupational regulation, expanding the scope of practice of a licensed occupation, or increasing the personal qualifications for an occupational regulation and the accompanying Pre-Regulatory Impact Application submitted by proponents of the legislation. Provides that the designated staff are responsible for (i) reviewing legislation that requires a Pre-Regulatory Impact Assessment to ensure the least restrictive regulation is being proposed and (ii) preparing a Pre-Regulatory Impact Assessment that shall be considered with the legislation by the General Assembly. Provides that a proponent of a piece of legislation shall submit a Pre-Regulation Impact Application to the designated staff. Sets forth requirements for an application. Sets forth actions that designated staff may take. Sets forth a temporary moratorium on the creation of new occupational regulations. Effective immediately.

Thanks Senator Dan McConchie for his dedicated service to the people of Illinois and his contributions to the State.

Amends the Innovation Development and Economy Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of any political subdivision that (i) is not a home-rule unit and (ii) has established a STAR bond district under the Act may, by ordinance or resolution, impose a tourism tax upon all admission and amusement charges from transactions at places of business located within the STAR bond district, at a rate not to exceed 9% of the gross receipts derived from any admission and amusement charge within the STAR bond district, to be imposed only in 0.25% increments. Provides that the tax imposed under the provisions and all civil penalties that may be assessed as an incident of the tax under the provisions shall be collected and enforced by the Department of Revenue. Provides that, for any STAR bond district created on or after January 1, 2025, the Director of Revenue may only approve a STAR bond district if the Director finds that: (i) the proposed STAR bond district is an eligible area; (ii) the STAR bond district plan includes a projected capital investment of at least $500,000,000; (iii) the STAR bond district plan is reasonably projected to produce at least $100,000,000 of annual gross sales revenues, 1,500 new jobs, and 5,000 construction jobs; (iv) the STAR bond district plan includes a statement of how the jobs and taxes will contribute significantly to the economic development of the State and region; (v) the STAR bond district plan shows visitation expectations in excess of 1,000,000 visitors annually; (vi) the STAR bond district plan includes potential destination users and a potential entertainment user; (vii) the creation of the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan are in accordance with the purpose of the Act and the public interest; and (viii) the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan meet any other requirement the Director deems appropriate. Provides that, for the purposes of the Act, "local sales tax increment" includes, with respect to local sales taxes administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, all of the local sales tax paid by, among others, amusement park users. Makes other changes.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Provides that, beginning with the budget prepared for Fiscal Year 2027, the rate of growth of appropriations from the State general funds over the preceding fiscal year appropriations from the State general funds shall not exceed the rate of growth of the Illinois economy. Provides that the rate of growth of the Illinois economy is the compound annual growth rate of the gross domestic product in the State over the preceding 10 calendar years, calculated using data reported by the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis or its successor agency before the December 31 that immediately precedes the beginning of the applicable fiscal year.

Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Employment Security shall create a self-employment assistance program to provide benefits to individuals who are working to start a business in the State and who are otherwise eligible to receive benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that a participant in the program shall be deemed to be actively engaged in seeking work as required under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that benefits paid to a participant in the program are considered to be benefits paid under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Employment Security shall adopt rules to implement and administer the program.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Changes the age at which a person may possess and consume alcoholic liquor to the age of 18 (instead of 21) so long as a parent or guardian is present, including at licensed establishments. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Video Gaming Act and the Innkeeper Protection Act to make conforming changes.

Mourns the passing of soul singer-songwriter Jerry Butler of Chicago.

Appropriates $1,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for a comprehensive study of the Kaskaskia River watershed in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Effective July 1, 2025.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, includes a battery committed by a person who, at the time of the commission of the offense, is 21 years of age or older and the battery was committed upon an individual whom the person committing the offense knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, or a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, a violation is a Class 1 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee" and "ombudsman".

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that law enforcement shall issue a citation in lieu of custodial arrest, upon proper identification, for those accused of any offense that is not a felony or Class A or B misdemeanor (rather than any offense that is not a felony or Class A misdemeanor) unless (i) a law enforcement officer reasonably believes the accused poses a threat to the community or any person, (ii) a custodial arrest is necessary because the criminal activity persists after the issuance of a citation, or (iii) the accused has an obvious medical or mental health issue that poses a risk to the accused's own safety. Provides that nothing in this provision requires arrest in the case of Class A or B (rather than a Class A) misdemeanor and felony offenses, or otherwise limits existing law enforcement discretion to decline to effect a custodial arrest.

Repeals the Rent Control Preemption Act.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that each member of the General Assembly shall, on an annual basis, participate in a law enforcement educational program, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, a ride-along program and a simulation training program, as organized by a county sheriff's department of that member's legislative district or representative district.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Restores the provisions concerning consecutive sentencing prior to the effective date of Public Act 102-1104. Deletes provisions that a defendant shall be given custodial credit for each day he or she was subjected to home confinement. Deletes provisions that the court may give custodial credit to a defendant for each day the defendant was subjected to GPS monitoring without home confinement or electronic monitoring without home confinement.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Repeals a provision excluding certain minors accused of committing specified crimes from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Effective immediately.