Illinois

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Human Services shall reissue the original cost and wage survey for costs associated with the administration of services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community day services that was contained in the Department's Guidehouse Rate Study. Provides that the cost and wage survey shall be used to effectuate rate increases in transportation funding for the administration of community day services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and may include provider contact information, total costs of employee salaries and benefits, staff turnover, and other information. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that removes the 5 hour per day billing maximums at community day services. Provides that the amendment shall not modify monthly and yearly billing maximums for community day services. Provides that implementation is contingent on federal approval. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish a diaper allowance program for eligible families with children 3 years of age or younger. Requires the Department to create an application process that requires applicants to submit an initial application for a diaper allowance and on an annual basis thereafter an application for a redetermination of eligibility. Requires the Department to maintain on its official website an online application system that permits an Illinois family to apply online for a diaper allowance or a redetermination of eligibility or to download a mail-in application form. Provides that paper application forms shall be made available at WIC offices and at family community resource centers throughout the State. Contains provisions concerning application requirements. Sets the monthly diaper allowance amount at $70 for eligible children whose family income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Provides that families may receive a diaper allowance for each eligible child and that the diaper allowance shall not be considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Permits the Department to distribute diaper allowance amounts electronically to an eligible family by means of an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Department. Permits the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the program. Contains provisions on redetermination application requirements. Provides that an advisory committee shall advise the Department on program implementation. Sets forth the composition of the advisory committee and provides that the committee shall meet monthly beginning September 1, 2025 through July 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Commission to End Hunger Act. Creates the SNAP Response Working Group. Provides that the co-chairs of the Commission to End Hunger shall convene and appoint the co-chairs of the Working Group. Provides that the Working Group shall review and analyze federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, and gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to make projections about the cost to the State to maintain SNAP in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Directs the Working Group to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027. Provides that the preliminary report shall outline the federal changes to SNAP and identify the number of State residents impacted by those changes. Further provides that the preliminary report shall include initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate any harm to State residents caused by the federal changes and shall project the cost to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Provides that, no later than April 1, 2027, the Working Group shall issue a full report to the General Assembly that includes an analysis on the impact of federal changes to SNAP on Illinois, final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from those changes, updated projections of the cost to maintain the program in federal Fiscal Year 2028, and any other cost projections relating to the Working Group's recommendations. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to provide any relevant additional updates to its recommendations or projections as appropriate. Specifies that all reports of the Working Group shall be published by the Department of Human Services on its website. Provides that the SNAP Working Group shall be dissolved on May 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Sets forth provisions concerning minimum reimbursement rates that a health insurance company must provide for a physician providing health care services in the specified counties. Prohibits a physician from waiving minimum reimbursement protections as a condition of participation in a health benefit plan or for any other reason. Grants the Department of Insurance rulemaking authority and establishes penalty provisions for violations of the minimum reimbursement provisions.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to contracts arising from a grant award if the contract is with a partner whose specific experience and expertise was used as a condition of securing the grant and followed the selection provisions outlined in the grant application. Provides that the chief procurement officer appointed by the Secretary of Transportation is the chief procurement officer for procurements related to construction support and the purchase of rolling stock under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. Amends the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act. Provides for the use of joint purchasing for contracts procured by agencies of other states.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2027 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount). Amends the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Property Control Act. Provides that the board of trustees of a public university or college in Illinois that offers courses in aviation, flight training, or other subjects involving knowledge of the workings of an airplane may sell a qualified transferable airplane, including its parts, to a bona fide purchaser for value and on terms that are in the best interests of that public university or college and are consistent with that university's or college's objects and purposes. Provides that the public university or college may retain the proceeds from the sale in a separate account for the purpose of maintaining the university's or college's fleet of aircraft or for the purpose of purchasing replacement aircraft.

Creates the Consensual Non-Transplant Donation Regulation Act. Provides for licensing of non-transplant anatomical donation organizations by the Department of Public Health. Sets forth requirements for licensed non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, including application and renewal fees, penalties for failing to comply with the Act, and enforcement of the Act's provisions. Provides for deposit of licensing and renewal fees in the Public Health Licensing Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Provides that fines accruing from a conviction under the Act shall be paid into the common school fund of the county in which the offense was committed. Sets forth conditions under which a licensee must update a license or license application. Sets forth conditions under which the Department may deny, suspend or revoke, a license, or assess a civil penalty against a licensee. Provides for a universal donor consent form and sets forth requirements for the form. Sets forth requirements for donor records and record retention policies. Sets forth requirements for labeling and packaging the non-transplant anatomical donation. Provides for final disposition of a non-transplant anatomical donation. Sets forth general responsibilities and environmental standards for licensees. Provides for transportation standards while transporting non-transplant anatomical donations. Provides screening standards for end users by licensees. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act, Vital Records Act, Illinois Vehicle Code, and Illinois Anatomical Gift Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Health Care for All Illinois Act. Provides that all individuals residing in this State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for health insurance. Sets forth requirements and qualifications of participating health care providers. Sets forth the specific standards for provider reimbursement. Provides that it is unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the coverage of the program. Requires the State to establish the Illinois Health Services Trust to provide financing for the program. Sets forth the specific requirements for claims billed under the program. Provides that the program shall include funding for long-term care services and mental health services. Creates the Pharmaceutical and Durable Medical Goods Committee to negotiate the prices of pharmaceuticals and durable medical goods with suppliers or manufacturers on an open bid competitive basis. Provides that patients in the program shall have the same rights and privacy as they are entitled to under current State and federal law. Establishes the Illinois Health Services Governing Board to administer the program. Provides that the Commissioner, the Chief Medical Officer, the public board members, and employees of the program shall be compensated in accordance with the current pay scale for State employees and as deemed professionally appropriate by the General Assembly. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions allowing a chief county assessment officer to renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without an annual application apply permanently. Effective immediately.

Creates the Citizens Empowerment Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning payments from the Indemnity Fund to provide that all property owners who sustain loss or damage by reason of the issuance of a tax deed are entitled to payments from the Indemnity Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Creates an exemption from the requirements of the Code for procurements by the Department of Natural Resources regarding the management of the North Point Marina State Recreation Area. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "automated license plate reader" or " ALPR" to mean a camera or system of cameras using computer algorithms to convert images of license plates into automated computer-recognized searchable alphanumeric data (rather than an electronic device) that is mounted on a law enforcement vehicle or positioned in a stationary location and that is capable of recording data on or taking a photograph of a vehicle or its license plate and comparing the collected data and photographs to existing law enforcement databases for investigative purposes. Allows a law enforcement agency to retain ALPR system detection records for 5 years after the date of the creation of the records. Requires the detection records to be archived 90 days after the creation of the records unless the information is relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial. Provides that any detection records that are older than 90 days shall only be accessed with the written approval of the law enforcement agency head. Prohibits all detection records archived after 90 days from being searchable by out-of-state agencies. Requires all detection records to be destroyed 5 years after the records were created unless the information is relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial. Requires the Illinois State Police to retain ALPR detection records for a period that is consistent with the provisions of the Expressway Camera Act and the State Records Act.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that an election to claim the credit against the taxpayer's withholding tax liability also applies to certain taxpayers that are primarily engaged in the business of pharmacy, health, and wellness and that have a corporate headquarters and distribution centers located in Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that, upon request by an owners licensee authorized to conduct casino gambling in the City of Waukegan and upon a showing of good cause by the owners licensee, the Illinois Gaming Board shall extend the period during which the licensee may conduct gaming at a temporary facility by up to 48 (rather than 30) months. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, on and after the publication of population data from the 2030 federal decennial census, provisions concerning multi-township assessors apply to qualified townships with less than 3,000 inhabitants (currently 1,000 inhabitants). Effective immediately.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no member of the State Board of Elections or affiliated person shall contribute, either financially or in services or goods or any other way, to any political party, candidate, or organization engaged in political activity. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that no executive branch constitutional officer, candidate for an executive branch constitutional office, member of the General Assembly, candidate for the General Assembly, any political caucus of the General Assembly, or any political committee on behalf of any of the foregoing may hold a political fundraising function on any day immediately after a day in which the legislature is in session. Further provides that this restriction does not apply to a political fundraising function scheduled at least 14 days in advance of a day the legislature is in special session or the day immediately prior to or after a day the legislature is in special session. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sustainable Agriculture Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources shall conduct a joint study to evaluate the corrective actions that may be adopted within the agricultural sector to mitigate dust storm occurrences and the severity of dust storms. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources may consult with and seek assistance from similar state agencies in other states and federal agencies, to the extent that such coordination aids in furthering the purposes of this study. Requires the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources to coordinate with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security to evaluate and publish findings on the short-term and long-term threats of dust storms and the protocol that should be developed to protect the public from current and future threats posed by dust storms. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources shall publish the joint study on an agreed upon publicly available website and shall provide suitable copies to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than December 1, 2027.

Amends the School Code. Requires, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. Provides that eligible entities are schools or school districts that have hired an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer and the law enforcement agency or agencies that a school or school district has an intergovernmental agreement with to employ a school resource officer. Provides that any funds distributed to an eligible entity under the Program shall be equally distributed between the eligible entities in an intergovernmental agreement to employ a school resource officer. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to adopt rules as needed for the Program's implementation and the distribution of grants. Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a unit of local government required to store public records under the Act may satisfy the requirements of the Act by storing the public records in an electronic form.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the estimated date of completion of a redevelopment project and the retirement of obligations issued to finance redevelopment project costs for an ordinance adopted on January 1, 2006 by the City of Paris. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, if Cook County is delinquent in distributing property tax proceeds to taxing districts the proceeds of property taxes imposed by the taxing districts that Cook County is required to collect from taxpayers and distribute to the taxing districts, then Cook County shall reimburse the taxing districts for (i) the interest that the taxing districts would have earned from keeping the proceeds of property taxes in reserves and (ii) the interest that taxing districts paid on debts incurred because Cook County is delinquent in distributing property tax proceeds to taxing districts.