Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2024, no taxing district, other than a home rule unit, may levy a tax on any parcel of real property that is more than 105% of the base amount unless (i) the increase is attributable to substantial improvements to the property, (ii) the taxing district did not levy a tax against the property in the previous taxable year, or (iii) the increase is attributable to a special service area. Provides that "base amount" means the tax levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year, except that, if the property received a homestead exemption in the immediately preceding taxable year and is not eligible for that exemption in the current taxable year, then the base amount shall be the tax that would have been levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year if the homestead exemption had not been applied. Provides that a taxing district may elect to be exempt from those provisions for one or more taxable years if the exemption is approved by referendum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that a person may receive a license as a cosmetologist if the person has completed an online course approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and 750 hours of hands-on training supervised by a licensed cosmetologist extending over a period of not less than 8 months nor more than 7 consecutive years and the person has completed the other requirements for licensure under the Act. Provides that hands-on training conducted under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province shall be credited toward the 750 hours of hands-on training required for licensure if the training was supervised by a cosmetologist licensed under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or foreign country or province.

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a commercial driver training school in the State may administer the CDL test to a student who has successfully completed a commercial driver's education course. Provides that any testing administered must satisfy the specified guidelines required under federal and State law. Requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act, or of any licensing act under the purview of the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the application fee for renewal of a license issued by the Division shall be no higher than one-half of the application fee for initial issuance of the same license class at the time of license renewal.

Amends the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act, the Massage Licensing Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985, and the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides the maximum fees for original licensure and renewal of licensure for professions licensed under the Acts. Provides that the total fees required by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to enter a profession shall not exceed double the original license fee.

Amends the Wildlife Code. In provisions concerning special deer, turkey, and combination hunting licenses, provides that one or more of the following shall constitute evidence of land ownership: a current property tax bill for the property showing that the hunter is the owner of the property; a current income tax return filed with the Department of Revenue by the hunter showing that the hunter is the owner of the property; or a current Conservation Reserve Program credit award from the United States Department of Agriculture, naming the individual hunter as the credit awardee.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxing district grants a property tax abatement for a defined period of time measured in levy years, then, for the first levy year after the expiration of the abatement, the district's aggregate extension base shall be the taxing district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments, plus the amount of the expired abatement for the previous levy year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that each Firearm Owner's Identification Card must have the issuance date and expiration date boldly and conspicuously displayed on the face of the card.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow for an alternative rural staffing model for vehicle service providers that serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer inhabitants and exclusively use volunteers, paid-on-call, or part-time employees, or a combination thereof (now, the use of part-time employees is not an option). Effective immediately.