Illinois

Creates the Screen Illinois Initiative Act. Authorizes the Department of Public Health to establish the Screen Illinois Initiative to increase the number of mobile health screening unit hubs in the State. Provides that the Screen Illinois Initiative funding shall be used to support the operations of the mobile health screening units by covering purchases, maintenance, salaries, and costs under the Act. Establishes requirements regarding the mobile health screening units and the protocols for follow-up care and appointments. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules. Defines terms. Makes other conforming changes.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a forest preserve district from prohibiting persons from carrying a firearm into any botanic garden, swimming pool, grounds of a swimming pool, athletic venue, picnic grove, nature center, grounds of a nature center, pavilion, grounds of a pavilion, golf course, driving range, adventure course, grounds of an adventure course, zipline building, grounds of a zipline, equestrian center, grounds of an equestrian center, exercise venue, grounds of an exercise venue, or any public or private gathering or special event conducted on property that requires the issuance of a permit. Exempts a forest preserve district from the posting of a sign that states that the carrying of firearms is prohibited. Deletes language providing that a licensee under the Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any real property under the control of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Defines "grounds".

Commends Richard Kwasneski on his years service to the Pace Board of Directors. Celebrates his great achievements.

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may accept a proposal or application from a financial institution for access to capital at a market rate that allows the Treasurer to provide funding to a county for relief of property tax payments. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for tax year 2027 and thereafter, the tax lien or certificate for all delinquent property subject to a tax sale shall be assigned to the county as trustee for all taxing districts having an interest in the property's taxes or special assessment for the nonpayment of which the property is sold. Provides that the county must attempt to sell the property acquired by tax deed at a public auction. Contains provisions concerning surplus funds. Contains provisions concerning notice. Contains other provisions. Amends the Counties Code and the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include: (1) an employee engaged in the transportation of goods through this State; (2) an employee who is free to decide what time the employee performs duties for an employer; or (3) an employee who is employed by an employer with fewer than 15 employees. Makes changes to provisions concerning the provision of paid leave; the responsibilities of the Department of Labor; and enforcement and penalties.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that no interest or penalties shall be imposed with respect to property that is included in a decedent's probate estate at the time of a delinquency if the representative of the decedent's estate applies with the county treasurer for a waiver of those amounts and is granted that waiver. Provides that the waiver shall apply beginning on the date of the decedent's death until the earlier of either: (i) the date on which the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed or (ii) the date on which the estate is closed.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to procurement expenditures that are necessary for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to respond to a radiological incident, to monitor a nuclear power plant, or to use at a nuclear facility. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for dates of service starting January 1, 2027, reimbursement calculations and direct payments for services provided by facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act are the responsibility of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that appropriations for facilities licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act must be shifted from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall prohibit the Department of Healthcare and Family Services from paying more than the rates specified in the amendatory Act. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall affect certain reporting requirements under the ID/DD Community Care Act.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish the Small Business Stabilization Grant Program to provide grants to eligible small businesses experiencing financial hardship. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Allows grants to be awarded from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury, for the installation of equipment for the storage and dispensing of fuels with higher blends of ethanol or biodiesel feedstock, according to the application and eligibility requirements established by rule by the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Comptroller and Treasurer to transfer, from June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund. Provides for eligibility for grant funding and eligible expenditures from the fund. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Defines the term "transportation protection agreement". Provides that the Illinois Insurance Code does not apply to any transportation protection agreement sold by any seller. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be deemed to apply to (1) merchandise that is delivered within 30 days of purchase, (2) a transportation protection agreement, or (3) pre-need cemetery sales (currently only pre-need cemetery sales) under the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act. Makes a change to a provision concerning payments under pre-need contracts.

Creates the Chatbot Response Liability Act. Provides that a proprietor of a chatbot that is used as an alternative to a human representative or that provides any substantive response, information, advice, or action may not disclaim liability if the chatbot provides materially misleading, incorrect, contradictory, or harmful information that results in financial loss or other demonstrable harm or that results in bodily harm to the covered user or any third party. Provides that a proprietor of a chatbot shall provide clear, conspicuous, and explicit notice to covered users that the covered users are interacting with an artificial intelligence chatbot program rather than a human. Sets forth requirements for proprietors of companion chatbots, including parental consent for the use of companion chatbots by minors. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules to determine commercially reasonable and technically feasible methods for proprietors of companion chatbots to comply with the Act. Effective one year after becoming law.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, the 1% rate of tax on modifications to a motor vehicle for the purpose of rendering the motor vehicle usable by a person with a disability applies to tangible personal property that is installed in or on a motor vehicle before, during, or after the purchase of the motor vehicle for the purpose of rendering the motor vehicle usable by a person with a disability. Provides that the 1% rate of tax on that property applies only if the tangible personal property is separately itemized on the bill or invoice for the sale of the motor vehicle or if the tangible personal property is purchased separately from the motor vehicle and is separately itemized on a bill or invoice. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer that incurs qualified infrastructure costs in connection with the sale at a qualified retail motor fuel facility in the State of biodiesel, higher blends of ethanol fuel, and renewable diesel is allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of those qualified infrastructure costs. Provides that the credit may not exceed $200,000 per qualified facility and $1,000,000 per taxpayer per taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the New Markets Development Program Act. Provides that a credit under the Act may be transferred to an affiliate. Provides that the cap on credits is $37,000,000 for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2029. Makes changes concerning the allocation schedule. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the standard registration fee for passenger motor vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds shall be waived for any veteran who holds proof from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs of a service-connected disability.

Provides that, if and only if Senate Bill 642 of the 104th General Assembly becomes law in the form in which it passed both houses on October 31, 2025, then a provision in the Property Tax Code concerning the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is amended by (i) specifying that, for taxable years 2029 and thereafter, the term "maximum income limitation" means the maximum income limitation for the immediately preceding taxable year, multiplied by one plus the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index-U for the 12-month period ending in September of the calendar year immediately preceding the taxable year for which the limitation is calculated and (ii) adding a definition of the term "Consumer Price Index-u". Effective upon becoming law or on the date Senate Bill 642 of the 104th General Assembly takes effect, whichever is later.

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the statewide surcharge shall be $2.50 per connection.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, in counties under township organization, an election authority may combine a township with another township to constitute one election precinct if the townships are contiguous and 2 or more specified conditions are satisfied. Provides that the election authority shall consider voter convenience and election integrity when determining whether to combine a township with another township to constitute one election precinct.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2026, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption shall be $10,000 in all counties. Provides that, for taxable years 2027 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. Provides that, for assessment years following the next general assessment after the effective date of the amendatory Act, no increase in assessment may exceed 20% per year, subject to certain exceptions. Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that all surplus funds in the special tax allocation fund shall be distributed as soon as possible after they are calculated (rather than distributed annually within 180 days after the close of the municipality's fiscal year). Effective immediately.

Creates the Catch Heart Disease Early Act. Provides that all Illinois residents, 20 years of age or older, are entitled to heart disease screenings at no cost according to the following schedule: one screening every 6 years for individuals aged 20 through 39 years; and one screening every 2 years for individuals aged 40 years and older. Provides that no individual shall be charged any co-payment, co-insurance, deductible, out-of-pocket fee, or other cost-sharing amount or required to enter into any cost-sharing agreement in order to access heart disease screenings. Provides that the State of Illinois shall be the payer of last resort and only cover any outstanding screening costs for eligible uninsured or underinsured individuals whose public or private insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare, does not cover the full cost of heart disease screenings. Provides that service providers of heart disease screenings for eligible uninsured or underinsured Illinois residents shall be reimbursed through a voucher program. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to perform certain functions to implement the Act, including, but not limited to: (i) establishing a confidential registry to track screening dates and prevent duplicate heart disease screenings outside the authorized frequency; and (ii) provide a mechanism for individuals and providers to verify screening eligibility. Requires health care providers to verify an individual's age, residency, date of last heart disease screening, and other matters prior to administering a screening and recording it in the individual's medical record. Contains provisions on Department rules. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement the voucher program by July 1, 2027. Adds conforming language to the State Employees Group Insurance Act, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Illinois Insurance Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a police officer or firefighter with a duty-related disability is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Provides that certain provisions of the Act are inoperative for public institutions of higher education on and after January 1, 2028. Provides that certain provisions of the Act are inoperative for the Department of Central Management Services on and after January 1, 2027. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2028, a public institution on higher education shall not be considered a State construction site under the Act. Removes provisions repealing the Act on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.