Illinois

Creates the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Platform Act. On or before July 1, 2027, municipalities and counties with a population of more than 10,000 residents must adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform. Requires that the municipality or county anticipate that the residential automated solar permitting platform will have the capability to process at least 75% of residential solar applications on existing construction submitted to authorities having jurisdiction in the State. "Residential automated solar permitting platform" means software or a combination of software that automates plan review, automatically produces code-compliant approvals, accepts online payments for permitting fees if permitting fees are levied, and instantly issues permits and permit revisions for residential photovoltaic systems upon online submission of permitting fee payments, if permitting fees are levied, and a code-compliant application. Provides that a person or entity whose rights have been violated under this Act by a municipality or county is entitled to collect: (1) in the case of unlawful retaliation, all legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate; and (2) attorney's fees and costs. Makes other changes.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Prohibits a real estate broker or rental agent who rents or leases residential real estate as an agent of the landowner, landlord, lessor, or sublessor from demanding or receiving any payment or fee from a tenant or prospective tenant for any services as agent for any action arising out of the leasing of a residential rental property. Prohibits a landowner, landlord, lessor, or sublessor from demanding or requiring that a tenant or prospective tenant retain, hire, or engage a real estate broker or rental agent and pay the real estate broker or agent a fee or commission as a condition to applying for or leasing a residential rental unit. Authorizes a person alleging a violation of the Act to bring a civil action against the person or entity that is alleged to have violated this Act. Authorizes a court to award to the plaintiff injunctive relief, monetary relief, attorney's fees, and costs.

Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026, each school district shall determine a plan for responding to all incidents of battery committed by students against teachers and other school personnel, which shall include reporting and documentation procedures, student safety plans, behavioral intervention plans, and remedies for injured teachers and school personnel. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospice Program Licensing Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and implement a standardized system for collecting data from hospice providers across the State. Provides that the data shall include demographic information of hospice patients, including age, race, gender, and geographic location; service utilization metrics, such as average length of stay in hospice care and types of services provided; patient and family satisfaction data, collected through voluntary surveys; and workforce data, including the availability and turnover rates of hospice staff. Requires the data to be collected in compliance with applicable federal and State privacy laws. Provides that the Department shall compile an annual report summarizing key findings from the collected data, and requires the report to be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly and made publicly available on the Department's website.

Amends the Trademark Registration and Protection Act. Provides that any mark and its registration under this Act may be voluntarily cancelled. Repeals provisions concerning infringement of Olympic marks. Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; procedures for revocation of authority; activities that do not constitute transacting business; and annual reports. Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Inserts provisions concerning reports of interim changes. Makes changes in provisions concerning the withdrawal of foreign corporations. Amends the Limited Liability Company Act. Inserts provisions concerning the production of abstracts of records; reinstatement following expiration; and grounds for judicial dissolution. Makes changes in provisions concerning company names; assumed names; articles of amendment; statements of termination; grounds for administrative dissolution; revocation; withdrawal; transactions of business without admission; and annual reports. Amends the Uniform Partnership Act (1997). Makes changes in provisions concerning fees. Amends the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2001). Inserts provisions concerning reinstatement following duration expiration. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; assumed names; and amendments or restatements of certification.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that the Illinois High School Association and the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association, and the National Institutes of Health, may develop and implement eligibility standards for public and nonpublic schools and institutions of higher education to obtain a Safe Sports School Seal. Sets forth standards to receive the Safe Sports School Seal, and provides for application. Grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Deletes provision that there is a rebuttable presumption that the testimony of a victim who is a child under 13 years of age shall testify outside the courtroom and the child's testimony shall be shown in the courtroom by means of a closed circuit television. Deletes that the presumption may be overcome if the defendant can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child victim will not suffer severe emotional distress. Provides that if the court denies the State's request for the child victim's testimony to be taken outside of the courtroom, the court shall toll the speedy trial requirements under the speedy trial provisions of the Code for 30 days to allow the State to present the motion to the court again before trial requesting the child's testimony to be taken outside the courtroom by means of a closed-circuit television.

Creates the Extremely High Wealth Mark-to-Market Tax Act. Provides that a resident taxpayer with net assets worth $1,000,000,000 or more shall recognize gains or losses as if each asset owned by that taxpayer had been sold for its fair market value on December 31 of the taxable year. Contains provisions concerning the calculation of the amount of tax due from those gains or losses. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Commends Felix Saji, a fourth grade teacher at John V. Leigh School, on being named to the Curriculum Associates 2026 Class of Extraordinary Educators and for his continued extraordinary efforts in and out of the classroom.

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. Makes changes to findings and defined terms provisions. Provides that a hospital shall not deny any protection or benefit of the Act on the basis of a patient's citizenship or immigration status or assets or prospective assets. Provides that a patient who inquires about a denial of financial assistance in whole or in part must be permitted to appeal the decision within at least 90 days. Requires a hospital to use only a uniform financial assistance form developed and provided by the Attorney General no later than December 31, 2026. Provides that every hospital bill and every collection notice must notify the patient, in the patient's preferred language, of the availability of hospital financial assistance and charity care. Establishes further provisions concerning hospitals pursuing collection actions; outsourced health care services; patient responsibilities; and applicability of the Act. Amends the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act. Sets forth provisions concerning uninsured patient discounts for specified income levels. Prohibits hospitals from making the availability of a discount under the Act contingent upon the uninsured patient first applying for coverage under public health insurance programs. Provides that patients may not be denied a discount under the Act on the basis of citizenship or immigration status or assets or prospective assets. Makes other changes concerning uninsured patient discounts, outsourcing health care services, and patient responsibilities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed as an early childhood teacher or an early childhood assistant during the taxable year and who have a federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year of $75,000 or less. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2027, the amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that, for subsequent taxable years, the credit amount shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year.

Strongly condemns the Chicago Teachers Union's proposed "Day of Civic Action", which is to be held on May 1, 2026, as an irresponsible misuse of the school day that places a public sector union's political priorities ahead of the educational needs of Chicago's children. Urges the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools to abandon this politicized event and instead dedicate every available school day to raising proficiency in the "three R's" of reading, writing, and arithmetic so that every child in Chicago receives the basic education they deserve. Calls upon the Governor, the General Assembly, and officials of the Illinois State Board of Education to reject any further billions in new state funding for Chicago Public Schools until the district demonstrates measurable, sustained improvement in the three R's and stops diverting instructional time for political activism.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who (i) is a resident of Illinois, (ii) is legally domiciled in the United States, and (iii) on or after July 1, 2027, becomes a parent, either through birth or adoption, may apply to the Department of Revenue for a waiver of the taxpayer's State income taxes for the taxable year in which the child is born or the adoption of the child is finalized and for the next 2 succeeding taxable years. Provides that, if a taxpayer has been granted such a waiver, that taxpayer's net income shall be zero for each taxable year for which the waiver is in effect.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning expenses that are recoverable by a public utility, provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility company, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended for political activity or lobbying, any amount expended for contributions to a trade association or a chamber of commerce, and any amount expended by a public utility for director and officer liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance. Provides that, in determining whether the purchase of other types of insurance by a public utility is recoverable, the Commission shall determine whether the specific type of insurance is financially beneficial to the public utility's ratepayers or the public utility's shareholders. Provides that, if the Commission determines that the insurance purchased by the public utility is financially beneficial to its shareholders, then the purchase of the insurance shall not be a recoverable expense. Provides that goodwill or institutional advertising shall not be a recoverable expense by a public utility. Provides that the Commission shall deem as a nonrecoverable expense by a public utility (rather than the Commission shall specifically assess the justness and reasonableness of) any amount expended by a public utility to compensate attorneys or technical experts to prepare and litigate a general rate case filing. Provides that the amount that is deposited into the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund by a public utility shall not be a recoverable expense by the public utility. Provides that the computation of compensation awarded from the Fund shall take into consideration the market rates paid to persons of comparable training and experience who offer similar services, but may not exceed the comparable market rate for services paid by the public utility as part of its nonrecoverable rate case expense reported to the Commission (rather than as part of its rate case expense). Makes other changes.

Commends The Selfhelp Home for its 88 years of contributions and service to the people of the State of Illinois.

Amends the Public Higher Education Act, the Board of Higher Education Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that a resident of the State who is not lawfully present in the United States is not eligible, on the basis of residence within the State, for any postsecondary educational benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident. Provides that any benefit conferred to a nonresident of the State who is lawfully present in the United States may not be lesser in amount, duration, or scope than the benefit conferred to a State resident who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property leased, subleased, or rented, in whole or in part, to a taxing district and used exclusively for a bona fide taxing district purpose is exempt. Provides that the exemption applies only to the portion of the property used for bona fide taxing district purposes. Effective immediately.

Designates U.S. Highway 250 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Illinois Route 130 in Olney to 10 miles West of Olney on U.S. Highway 50 as the "Sgt. Levi Ridgley Memorial Highway".

Congratulates the Decatur Catholic Athletics 8th grade girls volleyball team, the Bulldogs, on winning the Illinois Elementary School Association 2026 Class 2A State Championship.

Appropriates $1,000,000 to the University of Illinois for the expansion of biomanufacturing and alternative protein research and development at the University's integrated bioprocessing research laboratory. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to adopt rules that require managed care organizations (MCOs) to utilize a universal provider application developed by a council for affordable quality healthcare, as defined, for the purpose of credentialing a health care professional or a health care provider who seeks to participate in an MCO's provider network. Provides that the rules shall also require the use of a CAQH application for the renewal of credentials; and that the Department may revise the CAQH universal provider application or the application for renewal of credentials to conform to industry or national standards for credentialing health care professionals or health care providers. Provides that within 180 days after the adoption of rules, health and dental plan carriers must accept the universal provider application and the application for the renewal of credentials approved by the Department. Requires all MCOs to provide a provider network consultant to act as a liaison between a health care provider and the MCO. Require the Department to employ provider enrollment consultants to assist health care providers with enrollment in the Illinois Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology system, help navigate the enrollment and provider credentialing process by serving as the liaison between health care providers and MCOs, and other matters. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning recoupments, requires a health care professional or health care provider to be provided a remittance advice that includes an explanation of a recoupment or offset taken by a managed care organization. Removes provisions permitting insurers contracted with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to recoup or offset payments due to a federal Medicaid requirement. Provides that no contract between an MCO and health care professional or provider may provide for recoupments in violation of the Code. Effective January 1, 2027.

Reinserts the provisions of the bill with these changes. Requires the court to grant a request for remote hearing unless good cause is shown to deny the request. Provides that a petitioner may not be denied a protective order solely on the basis that the petitioner or the respondent is incarcerated in a penal institution at the time of the issuance of the order. Allows a petition seeking protection to include a crime victim who was abused by a family or household member before the offender was incarcerated and by any person who has previously suffered abuse by a family or household member convicted of certain crimes. Provides that if the respondent does not contest the motion to extend a plenary order of protection after service of the motion in accordance with Supreme Court Rules, the court may grant the request for an extension based solely on the petitioner's motion and affidavit setting forth the requirements of the provisions governing plenary orders. Makes structural changes.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as Trey's Law. Creates the Invalidity of Certain Nondisclosure Clauses Act. Provides that a nondisclosure clause in a settlement agreement is void and unenforceable as against the public policy of this State to the extent that the nondisclosure clause prohibits an individual from disclosing to any other individual or entity or reporting to law enforcement an act of sexual abuse or facts related to an act of sexual abuse that was committed or allegedly committed against the individual before the individual attained 18 years of age. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit an individual from agreeing to keep confidential any other provision of a settlement agreement, including the amount or payment terms of a settlement. Applies to any settlement agreement entered into before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

Congratulates Jim Wiseman on his retirement as executive director of the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA). Commends him for his 18 years of dedicated service to the disability community. Wishes him health and happiness in all his future endeavors.