Illinois

Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Defines "sports wagering". Provides restrictions on pool sports wagering. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board may issue master sports wagering licenses to persons to conduct sports wagering over the Internet or by mobile applications. Provides that applicants shall pay the Board a nonrefundable $250,000 application fee for a master sports wagering license. Provides that the initial fee for a master sports wagering license for an online sports wagering operator is $15,000,000. Provides that the master sports wagering license is valid for 4 years. Sets forth a $1,000,000 license renewal fee and a privilege tax on the fantasy contest operator licensee's adjusted gross fantasy contest receipts based on specified rates. In a provision concerning voluntary self-exclusion programs for sports wagering, includes fantasy contests. Allows the Board to regulate the conduct of fantasy contest operators under the Act. Creates provisions concerning fantasy contests and legislative intent; definitions; board powers; licensure; conduct of contests; duties of licensees; audits and recordkeeping; and responsible gaming. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that participants of fantasy contests conducted in accordance with the Sports Wagering Act shall not be convicted of gambling. Makes changes in provisions concerning recoverable gambling losses. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, if a person, committee, or other entity creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, the qualified political advertisement shall include, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a statement that the qualified political advertisement was generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence. Provides for exemptions from the requirement and for civil penalties, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, and costs for violations.

Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act. Requires an International Baccalaureate teacher to obtain appropriate training, subject to appropriation. Provides that International Baccalaureate training to teachers in high schools must: (i) provide teachers of International Baccalaureate courses with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success in International Baccalaureate courses and examination and other advanced course examinations and mastery of postsecondary course content; (ii) provide administrators with professional development that will enable them to create strong and effective International Baccalaureate programs in their schools; (iii) provide teachers at an authorized International Baccalaureate World School with training and other professional development that prepares students for success in International Baccalaureate courses; and (iv) support the implementation of an instructional program for students in grades 6 through 12 that provides an integrated set of instructional materials, diagnostic assessments, and teacher professional development in reading, writing, and mathematics that prepares all students for enrollment and success in International Baccalaureate courses. Provides that the AP exam fee reduction program also applies to fees charged for an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme subject.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning coverage for medically fragile and technology dependent children, provides that subject to federal approval, on and after July 1, 2026 the reimbursement rates paid to providers of private duty nursing services for children eligible for medical assistance shall be 25% higher than the reimbursement rates in effect for nursing services on June 30, 2026. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act. Creates a New Opportunities for Vacation and Adventure Urban District or NOVA urban district. Sets forth the capital investment and job creation requirements to be certified as a NOVA urban district. Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Megaproject Assessment Freeze and Payment Law. Provides that property that receives a megaproject certificate from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is eligible for an assessment freeze. Contains provisions concerning megaproject incentive agreements.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, before submitting a request to a school district for use of a school building as a polling place, the county board or board of election commissioners shall evaluate all other suitable alternatives before choosing a school as a polling place.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions listing the classes of persons eligible for medical assistance, provides that, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall by rule eliminate the consideration of assets when determining eligibility for any program of medical assistance. Requires the Department to seek federal authority to disregard all resources, including real and personal property, as authorized by the flexibilities provided under a specified federal law or other available authorities. Provides that if adjustment or elimination of the asset limit results in any disadvantage to receiving medical assistance in a community setting, the Department shall adopt rules rebalancing the programs so that, where medical assistance is available in a community setting, a medical assistance beneficiary has free choice between receiving those services in the community or in a long-term care facility. Makes conforming changes by: (i) removing a provision that requires the Department to establish, by rule, the amounts of assets to be disregarded in determining eligibility for medical assistance; (ii) removing a provision that permits the Department to establish resource standards for pregnant individuals applying for medical assistance that are more restrictive than those resource standards established under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; and (iii) removing a provision that permits the Department to allow non-exempt assets up to $25,000 during periods of medical assistance eligibility for employed persons with disabilities and employed persons with a medically improved disability.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Commission on Equity and Inclusion shall, by rule, develop registration procedures to recognize, without additional evidence of eligibility, the certification of businesses that are certified by units of local government in the State as service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses or veteran-owned small businesses if those local government certifications are made in accordance with requirements and procedures that equal or exceed the requirements and procedures for State certification. Provides that units of local government in the State may recognize, without additional evidence of eligibility, the certification of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses that are certified as such by the Commission on Equity and Inclusion. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the education expense credit shall be 50% of the qualified education expenses incurred by a custodian on behalf of a qualifying pupil. Provides that, for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2025, the education expense credit shall be no more than $2,000 per child for a maximum of $6,000 per family. Provides that no taxpayer may claim an education expense credit if the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty level. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified education expense". Effective immediately.

Amends the Build Illinois Bond Act. Authorizes bonds to be issued under the Act for the purpose of making of grants to units of local government, including counties and park districts, through the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program to restore and protect shorelines in the State.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop an intercity grid bus pilot program that offers free and fast buses that interconnect cities, suburbs, and townships across the State. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Free and Fast Buses Act.

Creates the Flavored Tobacco Ban Act. Provides that a distributor, secondary distributor, retailer, or any of the retailer's agents or employees may not sell, offer for sale, or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale a flavored tobacco product, flavored related tobacco product, flavored alternative nicotine product, or flavored solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes. Provides that a distributor may temporarily possess or store in the State, flavored tobacco products, related tobacco products, flavored alternative nicotine products, or flavored solutions or substances intended for use with electronic cigarettes, acquired by the distributor outside this State that, after being brought into this State and possessed or stored here temporarily, are shipped by the distributor outside the State. Provides that there is a rebuttable presumption that a tobacco product, related tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes is a flavored tobacco product, flavored related tobacco product, flavored alternative nicotine product, or flavored solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes if the tobacco product, related tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes has or produces a characterizing flavor or, if a manufacturer or any of a manufacturer's agents or employees, in the course of their agency or employment, has made a statement or claim directed to consumers or to the public that the tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes has or produces a characterizing flavor, including, but not limited to, text, color, or images on the product's labeling or packaging that are used to explicitly or implicitly communicate or suggest that the tobacco product, related tobacco product, alternative nicotine product, or solution or substance intended for use with electronic cigarettes has a characterizing flavor. Provides for the suspension of distributors licenses for violation of the Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to enforce the Act. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Amends various other Acts to make conforming changes. Effective June 1, 2026.

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 August 10, 2010 by the Village of Bedford Park to create the 65th Street TIF District. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Requires the Department of Early Childhood to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of nonprofit organizations or community-based organizations providing early childhood resources or services. Provides that grant funds shall be made available to each eligible entity upon completion of an application process that is consistent with Department rules. Sets forth application requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the amendatory Act, including, but not limited to, rules on the identification of additional prioritization areas for each competitive grant application cycle that are within the scope of the authorized uses. Provides that priority consideration for all applications shall be given for proposals that intend to serve a majority of families with racial or ethnic identities that are underrepresented in the early childhood system.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the date of the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even-numbered years shall be a State holiday known as General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State. Requires the State Board of Elections, in conjunction with election authorities, to implement a secure, free access system available to voters by January 1, 2026. Provides that the system shall allow a voter to track receipt of the voter's vote by mail ballot and check the ballot's status with the election authority. Provides that an election authority shall allow any voter who is in line to vote at the time an early voting polling place closes to cast a ballot. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code, School Code, and State Universities Civil Service Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority shall not permit a law enforcement agent to enter and remain in a polling place, unless the law enforcement agent is called upon by the election authority or judges of election or required by court order. Provides that an election authority shall ensure that any law enforcement agent who is permitted to enter and remain in a polling place has provided the election authority with a valid pollwatcher credential. Provides that no judge of election, pollwatcher, or other person shall engage in any practice that is intended to intimidate a voter within any polling place, within 100 feet of any polling place, or on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall (i) prohibit a law enforcement agent from serving as a pollwatcher when the law enforcement agent is not performing law enforcement duties or (ii) apply to other spaces within a municipal building that are not specifically being used as polls.

Creates the Capital Area Tourism Authority Act. Establishes the Capital Area Tourism Authority as a political subdivision and unit of local government for the benefit of the general public and for the promotion of business, industry, commerce, and tourism in the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, and the State of Illinois. Provides that, if and only if the Sangamon County Board, by ordinance, imposes a tax under a specified provision of the Counties Code on all hotel operators who engage in business as a hotel operator within a STAR bond district that is established in the territory of the Authority and if the Sangamon County Board also resolves that all of the revenue generated from that tax, as well as all of the tax receipts generated from local sales tax within such a STAR bond district, shall be dedicated to the payment of the project costs for any STAR bond project in such a district and shall be considered pledged STAR revenues under the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act, then the Authority may exercise certain economic development powers. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Authority; the membership of the Board of the Authority; meetings and records of the Board of the Authority; the use of pledged tax revenue; ownership and control of projects financed by the Authority; the investigatory authority of the Board of the Authority; and other matters. Contains legislative findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning tax sales, provides that, for tax sales that occur on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the redemption period shall be 5 years (instead of 2.5 years). Provides that a tax deed grantee may file a petition in the circuit court of the county in which the property is located forcing a judicial sale of the property. Contains provisions concerning the distribution of surplus funds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 and thereafter, in all counties, a taxpayer who has been granted a senior citizens homestead exemption need not reapply for that exemption. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for frontline personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval of any relevant Waiver Amendment, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide a $1.20 per hour wage rate increase for all direct support professionals and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Prohibits community-based providers from using the rate increases for operational or administrative expenses. Requires rate increases that are sufficient to provide wages for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the rates for ID/DD and MC/DD facilities for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include a $1.20 per hour wage increase for all direct support professionals and other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases. Provides that changes to the rate methodologies are subject to federal approval. Grants emergency rulemaking authority to the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to implement the rate increases. Effective immediately.

Amends the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act. Provides that, on August 1, 2026, and August 1 of each year thereafter, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund a sum equal to the difference between (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) the amount appropriated to the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund by the General Assembly for the award of African-American HIV/AIDS Response Grants in the then current State fiscal year. Directs the Department of Public Health to adopt specified revisions to the rules in the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 691) concerning the award of African-American HIV/AIDS Response Grants. Repeals provisions in the Act concerning African-American HIV/AIDS Response Officers and the HIV/AIDS Response Review Panel. Effective immediately.

Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market Act. Provides that a real estate lessor, or any agent or subcontractor of a real estate lessor, shall not subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange anything of value in return for the services of a real estate service provider. Provides that a real estate service provider shall not facilitate an agreement to not compete between real estate lessors with respect to residential dwelling units. Provides that a violation of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides for a private right of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change.

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 conduct, in consultation with the Department of Labor, a comprehensive study to identify strategies to protect jobs that are at risk of loss due to artificial intelligence. Provides that the study shall include specified recommendations and analysis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Increases one of the fees allowed as part of the taxable costs in a specified action to $240,000 (instead of $60,000). Provides that it shall be unlawful for any company transacting insurance business in this State to pay a claim of an insured property owner for loss by fire or explosion to a structure located in this State where the amount recoverable for loss to the structure under a policy exceeds $100,000 (instead of $25,000), until the insurance company receives the required certificate. Sets forth provisions concerning adjustment and settlement of first party property insurance losses based on replacement cost. Requires the insurer to replace items with material of like kind and quality so as to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance, including interior and exterior covered losses, when a covered loss for real property requires the replacement of an item or items and the replacement item or items do not match adjacent items in quality, color, or size. Excludes expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster from the 10% cap on a public adjuster's salary, fee, commission, compensation, or consideration. Sets forth provisions concerning direction to pay letters and payments to public adjusters. Provides that the policies must be individually underwritten for personal, family, or household use. Provides that expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster are not limited to emergency mitigation expenses, and requires expenses to be reimbursed to the public adjuster regardless of whether the expense is covered by the applicable insurance policy. Includes the named insured's public adjuster and the named insured's attorney as designees.