Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Vision Benefit Managers Article. Beginning on July 1, 2026, requires a vision benefit manager to be registered with the Department of Insurance, as specified, to conduct business in the State. Requires amounts collected under provisions concerning vision benefit manager registration requirements to be deposited into the Low-Income Student Vision Examination Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Grants the Director or the Director's designee the authority to examine a registered vision benefit manager related to all of its lines of business. Amends the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Vision Benefit Manager Regulation Act. Establishes the legislative intent of the Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Throughout the Act, replaces references to vision care plans with vision benefit plans and vision benefit discount plans and vision care organizations with vision benefit managers. Sets forth provisions concerning required actions for noncovered services; fee schedules for eye care providers; reimbursement paid by a vision benefit manager to an eye care provider; application of the Act to a specified limited health service organization; an eye care provider's choice of vendors and affiliations; the modification of a plan; audits of an eye care provider; prohibited conduct impacting patient access and choice; credentialing; termination of agreements; prohibition on security interests; arbitration costs; nonretaliation; and private rights of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2027.
Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall award grants to not-for-profit fire departments exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (in addition to units of local government) for the rehabilitation or construction of fire stations.
Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that for all funds in the State treasury established to provide funding for the administration and operation of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's responsibilities, interest earned by the investment or deposit of moneys accumulated in the funds shall be deposited into the respective fund. Effective immediately.
HB 1944 appropriates $2 from the state's General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education. This funding is designated for the Board's ordinary operating and contingent expenses for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Universities Retirement System for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB 1949 appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Civil Service Commission. This funding is designated to cover the Commission's ordinary and contingent expenses for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill is set to become effective on July 1, 2025.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Northeastern Illinois University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2032 appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Supreme Court. This funding is designated for the court's ordinary and contingent expenses for Fiscal Year 2026, becoming effective on July 1, 2025.
Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Teachers' Retirement System for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
