Illinois

Amends the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act and the River Conservancy Districts Act. Makes changes to the competitive bidding thresholds for contracts entered into by River Conservancy Districts or the Cook County Forest Preserve District for supplies, materials, or work. Changes the bid threshold to $60,000 for contracts related to supplies or materials, $30,000 for contracts involving work, or a lower amount for any contract for supplies, materials, or work, if required by board policy. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes it a civil rights violation under the Act to use artificial intelligence in a real estate transaction without providing notice to the other person engaging in the real estate transaction that the owner, real estate broker or salesman, or agent of one of them is using artificial intelligence to conduct the real estate transaction. Makes it a civil rights violation to fail to inform an applicant for a loan or credit card if the financial institution used artificial intelligence to process the application. Makes it a civil rights violation to fail to inform a person seeking a place of public accommodation that the place of public accommodation uses artificial intelligence to determine whether the person seeking a place of public accommodation is permitted to enjoy the full and equal enjoyment of its facilities, goods, and services. Requires that the Department of Human Rights adopt any rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the Act.

Sets forth requirements for installation of fuel gas alarms. Provides that all covered buildings must comply with the requirements of this Act on or before January 1, 2028. Provides for requirements for compliance and implementation. Sets forth requirements for the transfer of real property that includes a covered building. Establishes the State Fuel Gas Safety Assistance Fund for the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide free or subsidized fuel gas alarms to low-income households. Provides that a violation of the Act is a petty offense. Provides for enforcement and penalties. Provides for grants to units of local government, subject to appropriation. Creates the Gas Detector Alliance within the Office of the State Fire Marshal to make recommendations to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Limits home rule. Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code by creating the Confidence in Firearm Protection Law Chapter. Provides that the Secretary of State shall suspend an individual's driver's license and the individual's ability to register or renew registration for a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division registered at not more than 8,000 pounds upon receiving an authenticated report that the individual has failed to comply with the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act after suspension or revocation of the individual's Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Requires the Illinois State Police to forward to the Secretary of State an authenticated document certifying the requirements have been met to suspend the individual's driver's license or ability to register or renew registration for a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division registered at not more than 8,000 pounds no more than 7 days after the suspension or revocation of the individual's Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Requires the Secretary of State, prior to suspending a driver's license or the ability to register or renew registration of a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division registered at not more than 8,000 pounds, to serve written notice upon an individual that the individual's driver's license or ability to register or renew registration shall be suspended in 60 days from the date on the notice unless the individual meets the requirements of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Allows a driver to contest these suspensions by administrative hearing. Allows the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Police to adopt necessary rules to establish standards, policies, and procedures related to the provisions. Requires the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Police to create a mechanism by which data concerning the provisions may be electronically shared.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund. Provides that the Fund is a special fund in the State Treasury that may be used to provide grants to certain eligible people, institutions, and organizations for the purpose of conducting pediatric cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Provides that the Fund shall consist of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and collected from any donations or other source for the benefit of the Fund. Provides limitations for the distribution of the Fund. Provides that the unspent portions of the Fund shall remain in the Fund and may not revert to any other fund of the State. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly concerning the administration of the Fund. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement a pediatric cancer grant program under the provision.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Revenue, shall conduct an education funding reform study, with a goal of adopting a system that controls costs while creating a more equitable funding system. Provides that the State Board of Education shall study the feasibility of creating a statewide shared funding system. Effective immediately.

Amends the Access to Justice Act. Creates the Remote Filing Task Force of 17 members. Creates an appointment process. Provides that the Task Force shall research and evaluate the existing ability of litigants to file court documents remotely across Illinois, including (1) identifying barriers for pro se litigants, people with a primary language other than English, people in crisis, people with disabilities, and people with low-literacy; (2) research and evaluate approaches to address any barriers identified by the Task Force to increase access and usability to remote filing for all Illinoisans; and (3) make recommendations to reduce barriers for litigants to remotely file court documents and improve access and usability of remote filing statewide. Requires that the Task Force submit a report containing its findings and any recommendations to the Supreme Court and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on October 2, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2027, the reimbursement rates for all dental services for children shall be increased 50% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act. Imposes a tax upon hosting platforms that facilitate the renting, leasing, or letting of short-term rentals. Provides that the tax is imposed at the rate of 4% of 94% of the gross rental receipts received by the platform from the renting, leasing, or letting of short-term rentals in this State. Provides that the proceeds from the tax shall be deposited into the Community Land Trust Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Community Land Trust Fund. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is owned by a non-profit community land trust and that is used exclusively for the creation and maintenance of permanently affordable single-family or multifamily residences is exempt beginning with the taxable year in which the property is acquired by the community land trust and continuing through the taxable year in which the property is sold to a homeowner. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that if the petitioner for a firearms restraining order against a respondent is a law enforcement officer, the petitioner shall be referred to as the law enforcement agency in which the officer is employed on all public indexes concerning the petition and not the individually named officer who filed the petition. Effective immediately.

Creates the Community Mental Health Workforce Paid Internship Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish the Community Mental Health Workforce Paid Internship Program to provide funding to eligible entities to support paid internships for non-clinical staff positions within a community mental health organization. Requires the Department to develop the necessary application procedures and standards for acceptance for eligible entities, including, but not limited to, consideration of (1) workforce shortages; (2) service to underserved or rural communities; (3) commitment to training, supervision, and mentorship of interns; and (4) efforts to promote workforce development. Sets forth internship requirements and the permissible uses for funds awarded under the program. Requires eligible entities to submit yearly reports to the Department outlining (1) number of interns hired; (2) duration of internships; (3) positions of internships; and (4) employment outcomes, such as retention, following internship. Requires the Department to submit a report, every 2 years, to the General Assembly outlining the program's outcomes and impact. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Provides that the General Assembly may appropriate funds for the purposes of the Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2025, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption shall be $10,000 in all counties. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 and thereafter, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption in all counties shall be the maximum reduction for the immediately preceding taxable year, increased by the lesser of (i) 5% or (ii) the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the immediately preceding taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Provides that a data collector shall not own, maintain, license, store, or disclose records that contain immigration or citizenship status information concerning an Illinois resident. Provides that the provision shall not apply to government agencies, public and private universities, or financial institutions. Provides that the definition of "personal information" includes immigration or citizenship status information. Defines "immigration or citizenship status information".

Creates the Emerging Adult Criminal Justice Task Force Act. Establishes the Emerging Adult Criminal Justice Task Force within the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides that the Task Force shall hold public meetings. Requires at least 3 meetings of the Task Force to be held in different regions of Illinois. Provides that the first meeting of the Task Force shall be held within 60 days after the appointment of its members. Provides that the Task Force shall review Illinois law and practices affecting emerging adults across pretrial, sentencing, corrections, supervision, and reentry. Provides that the Task Force shall develop recommendations for statutory, policy, and programmatic improvements to the Illinois criminal justice system. Allows any Task Force member to prepare a written dissent or statement of concern regarding any finding or recommendation. Provides that the Task Force shall submit an interim report summarizing preliminary findings, analyses, and recommendations, to the Governor and the General Assembly, no later than January 31, 2027. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a final report, including all final findings and recommendations, draft statutory language, and estimated fiscal impacts, no later than December 1, 2027. Repeals the Act on June 30, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that there shall be printed on each property tax bill the dollar amount of tax due that is used to fund a Veterans Assistance Commission.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when the person knowingly manufactures, sells, or offers to sell, purchases, receives, manufactures, imports, or transfers a convertible pistol. Establishes penalties. Provides exemptions. Provides that a machine gun also includes any convertible pistol equipped with a switch. Defines "convertible pistol", "switch", and "common household tool". Contains a severability provision.

Amends the Industrial Hemp Act and the Cannabis Control Act. Makes changes to conform with changes in federal law. Directs the Department of Agriculture, within 12 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act, to adopt rules consistent with the changes in federal law with respect to hemp and industrial hemp reflected in the federal Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Eliminates language providing that no person may acquire or possess firearm ammunition within the State without having in his or her possession a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the provisions of the Act. Eliminates language providing that no person may knowingly transfer, or cause to be transferred, any firearm ammunition to any person within the State unless the transferee with whom the person deals displays either: (1) a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card which has previously been issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the provisions of the Act; or (2) a currently valid license to carry a concealed firearm which has previously been issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital Services Trust Fund Article in the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning annual funding for the health care transformation program, provides that funds that had been budgeted but unexpended in State fiscal years 2021 through 2027 may be allocated in State fiscal year 2028 in an amount not to exceed $150,000,000.

Appropriates $4,500,000 to the State Board of Education for grants to school districts to contract with organizations that directly provide students and school-based staff with mental telehealth services that are billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall compile an annual budget implementation report. Provides that the report shall include the following information concerning each grant agreement entered into by a State awarding agency during the previous calendar year: (1) the total cost of each project; (2) detailed line items specified under guidelines issued by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget; and (3) a description specified purpose for the project. Requires the report to be submitted to the General Assembly and posted on the website of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2027, the rates paid for children's dental comprehensive oral exams, periodic oral exams, problem focused exams, behavior management codes, sealants, resin-based composites-posterior teeth, and extraction and surgical extraction codes shall be increased by 33% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure any studies, drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda, and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record is not exempt if the record has remained in draft form for more than a 12-month period and public dollars were spent by a unit of local government to conduct such a study.