Mourns the death of Jason R. McHughs of Elco.

Mourns the death of Tangie Lutisha Lanagan-Robinson.

Mourns the death of Paul Keller Boll.

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 Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom petitions for nomination are filed shall: (i) create a form for a prospective candidate to request a petition for nomination; (ii) provide a prospective candidate with a petition for nomination within 24 hours after receiving a completed request form; (iii) timestamp when a completed petition for nomination is filed; and (iv) make publicly available a list of filed petitions for nomination that shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months.

Mourns the death of Gene Austin Troutman of Vienna.

Expresses commitment to not vote for a tax increase to balance the budgets of the 104th General Assembly.

Amends the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of one week (5 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to grieve the death of a covered companion animal. Provides that, in the event of the death of more than one covered companion animal in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to a total of 2 weeks (10 work days) of bereavement leave during the 12-month period. Defines "companion animal". Makes conforming changes.

Mourns the passing of A. Dale Huston of Springfield.

Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. In provisions concerning offices a member of a county board may hold during the member's term of office, provides that a member of the county board may serve as a member of an intergovernmental joint self-insurance pool board during the county board member's term of office. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Roger Loy Yarbrough of Champaign.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division. Provides that the Division shall establish a Back-the-Badge Program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. Provides that the Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.

Mourns the passing of J. Sam Garnati of Herrin.

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Office of the Secretary of State shall install and maintain electronic monitoring devices at each entrance to the State Capitol Complex and shall install and maintain safety call boxes around the State Capitol Complex. Provides that any video or audio recording created or maintained under the provision is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Defines terms. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change.

Creates the Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act. Imposes a tax, beginning July 1, 2025, upon purchasers for the privilege of using ground-based sparklers and not for the purpose of resale at the rate of 6% of the purchase price of ground-based sparklers. Prohibits certain retail combinations or bundles. Requires every retailer required to collect the tax to apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of registration. Provides that any retailer required to collect the tax shall be liable to the Department for the tax, whether the tax has been collected, and any such tax shall constitute a debt to the State. Provides for the making of returns. Provides that from the revenue collected, the Department shall pay 25% into the Fireman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, 25% into the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund, and 50% into the General Revenue Fund. Provides for recordkeeping requirements. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department shall have full power to administer and enforce the Act. Allows for the arrest of any person who violates the Act, the search of any place of business to inspect all ground-based sparklers, and the seizure of any ground based-sparklers without a warrant. Sets forth hearing requirements after seizure. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Allows a municipality to prohibit the sale and use of ground-based sparklers on public property. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Effective July 1, 2025.

Declares February 5, 2025 as Nutella Day in the State of Illinois to honor Ferrero's significant investments in the State, the many employees who contribute to its success, and the joy that Nutella spreads throughout our communities.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for one crib and one car seat for each postpartum individual covered under the policy. Provides that the postpartum individual must be covered by the insurance policy at the time of child birth and must submit a claim within 6 months after the birth. Provides that the insurer must either reimburse the postpartum individual for the purchase of an approved crib and car seat upon submission of a valid receipt or provide a car seat and crib to the postpartum individual that complies with all federal and State safety standards. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Mourns the passing of Carroll Ray Phelps, Ph.D.

Mourns the passing of Daniel Wilford Edmonds Jr. of Ozark.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the passing of Charlester Crockett.

Declares February 1 through February 8, 2025 as Court Reporting and Captioning Week in the State of Illinois.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning instruction.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may, by ordinance, establish standards for noise pollution in the unincorporated areas of the county. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Jason R. McHughs of Elco.

Mourns the death of Tangie Lutisha Lanagan-Robinson.

Mourns the death of Paul Keller Boll.

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 Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom petitions for nomination are filed shall: (i) create a form for a prospective candidate to request a petition for nomination; (ii) provide a prospective candidate with a petition for nomination within 24 hours after receiving a completed request form; (iii) timestamp when a completed petition for nomination is filed; and (iv) make publicly available a list of filed petitions for nomination that shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months.

Mourns the death of Gene Austin Troutman of Vienna.

Expresses commitment to not vote for a tax increase to balance the budgets of the 104th General Assembly.

Amends the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of one week (5 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to grieve the death of a covered companion animal. Provides that, in the event of the death of more than one covered companion animal in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to a total of 2 weeks (10 work days) of bereavement leave during the 12-month period. Defines "companion animal". Makes conforming changes.

Mourns the passing of A. Dale Huston of Springfield.

Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. In provisions concerning offices a member of a county board may hold during the member's term of office, provides that a member of the county board may serve as a member of an intergovernmental joint self-insurance pool board during the county board member's term of office. Effective immediately.

Mourns the death of Roger Loy Yarbrough of Champaign.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division. Provides that the Division shall establish a Back-the-Badge Program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. Provides that the Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.

Mourns the passing of J. Sam Garnati of Herrin.

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Office of the Secretary of State shall install and maintain electronic monitoring devices at each entrance to the State Capitol Complex and shall install and maintain safety call boxes around the State Capitol Complex. Provides that any video or audio recording created or maintained under the provision is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Defines terms. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change.

Creates the Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act. Imposes a tax, beginning July 1, 2025, upon purchasers for the privilege of using ground-based sparklers and not for the purpose of resale at the rate of 6% of the purchase price of ground-based sparklers. Prohibits certain retail combinations or bundles. Requires every retailer required to collect the tax to apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of registration. Provides that any retailer required to collect the tax shall be liable to the Department for the tax, whether the tax has been collected, and any such tax shall constitute a debt to the State. Provides for the making of returns. Provides that from the revenue collected, the Department shall pay 25% into the Fireman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, 25% into the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund, and 50% into the General Revenue Fund. Provides for recordkeeping requirements. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department shall have full power to administer and enforce the Act. Allows for the arrest of any person who violates the Act, the search of any place of business to inspect all ground-based sparklers, and the seizure of any ground based-sparklers without a warrant. Sets forth hearing requirements after seizure. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Allows a municipality to prohibit the sale and use of ground-based sparklers on public property. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Effective July 1, 2025.

Declares February 5, 2025 as Nutella Day in the State of Illinois to honor Ferrero's significant investments in the State, the many employees who contribute to its success, and the joy that Nutella spreads throughout our communities.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for one crib and one car seat for each postpartum individual covered under the policy. Provides that the postpartum individual must be covered by the insurance policy at the time of child birth and must submit a claim within 6 months after the birth. Provides that the insurer must either reimburse the postpartum individual for the purchase of an approved crib and car seat upon submission of a valid receipt or provide a car seat and crib to the postpartum individual that complies with all federal and State safety standards. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Mourns the passing of Carroll Ray Phelps, Ph.D.

Mourns the passing of Daniel Wilford Edmonds Jr. of Ozark.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Mourns the passing of Charlester Crockett.

Declares February 1 through February 8, 2025 as Court Reporting and Captioning Week in the State of Illinois.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning instruction.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may, by ordinance, establish standards for noise pollution in the unincorporated areas of the county. Effective immediately.