Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Adds, as a permitted disbursement from the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund, payments of contingency fees to third-party entities that the Office of Inspector General authorizes to conduct audits pursuant to specified provisions of the Code or any similar audits required by State or federal law.
Creates the Legal Deserts Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may establish a program to provide grants or reimbursements to compensate an individual lawyer or law firms that relocate or open an office within a geographic area for the purpose of providing legal services to individuals residing within a legal desert. Provides that the grants or reimbursements may cover marketing expenses, compensation for an attorney or up to 2 attorneys per firm, or other eligible expenses identified by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that provisions requiring the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's official website to contain a comprehensive list of State, local, and federal economic benefits available to businesses in each of the State's counties and municipalities are repealed on July 1, 2026. Provides that the following reports shall be filed on or before January 31 of each year (instead of January 1): a report on entrepreneurial assistance centers; reports on the Enterprise Zone Loan Fund and the Large Business Attraction Fund; and reports concerning cannabis social equity. Amends the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the membership of the Board of the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the sunset for the apprenticeship education expense tax credit, the research and development tax credit, the angel investment tax credit, and the River Edge Redevelopment Zone tax credit. Effective immediately.
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 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 Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the medical assistance program to provide coverage and reimbursement for a prescribed proteomic blood test to identify and manage the risk of spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant persons. Provides that the test results shall be used to assign care management services and other appropriate interventions to manage risk, prolong pregnancy, and improve outcomes.
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 Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions concerning the abatement of property taxes pending or imposed upon property acquired by a governmental unit also apply to property acquired by a township.
Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Revenue shall conduct a study to determine the living wage in the State and shall make recommendations concerning how to increase the minimum wage to ensure residents of the State earn a living wage. Provides that, no later than July 1, 2027, the Department shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. Repeals the provision on January 1, 2028.
Amends the Broadband Advisory Council Act. Requires the Broadband Advisory Council to identify and evaluate the costs and benefits that may materialize pursuant to the installation and deployment of rural broadband in all areas served by broadband cooperatives in Illinois. Provides that the study shall consider all material social and economic costs and benefits of the installation and deployment, including, but not limited to, the effects of expanded access to telehealth, remote job opportunities, and educational materials.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning nondiscrimination, provides that the Commission is authorized to approve a low-income discount rate for residential electric and natural gas customers that applies to the entirety of a qualifying customer's bill, including, but not limited to, a qualifying customer's delivery service charges and energy supply charges. Provides that an electric or natural gas utility may fund low-income discount rates through a surcharge on customers' electric and natural gas bills. Provides that the changes to the Act apply retroactively on and after January 1, 2023. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. In provisions concerning eligibility under the Act, provides that, in setting the annual eligibility level for the use of State funds from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall consider the amount of available funding and may not set a limit higher than 300% of the federal nonfarm poverty level. In provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, provides that the yearly administrative expenses of the Fund may not exceed 15% (rather than 13%) of the amount collected during that year, except when unspent funds from the Fund are reallocated from a previous year. Provides that any unspent balance of the 15% administrative allowance may be utilized for administrative expenses in the year they are reallocated. Provides that, of the 15% administrative allowance, no less than 9% (rather than 8%) shall be provided to Local Administrative Agencies for administrative expenses. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Base Energy Assistance Charge shall be $0.80 per month for each utility that is required by the Illinois Commerce Commission to implement a low-income discount rate and shall be $0.40 per month for each utility that is not required to implement a low-income discount rate and that contributes to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund. Makes other changes.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, on July 1, 2026, and each July 1 thereafter, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the sum of $5,000,000 from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. Provides that, among other things, moneys in the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund may be used for the issuance of grants or providing additional subsidization. Removes provisions limiting the size of grants to municipalities issued under the Municipal Brownfields Redevelopment Grant Program.
