Rep. Adam Niemerg

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that any athletic team or sport that is under the jurisdiction of an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and student must be expressly designated as (i) a male athletic team or sport, (ii) a female athletic team or sport, or (iii) a coeducational athletic team or sport. Provides that an athletic team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex. Requires a school district or nonpublic school to obtain a written statement signed by a student's parent or guardian or the student verifying the student's age, biological sex, and that the student has not taken performance enhancing drugs; provides for a penalty for false or misleading statements. Prohibits a governmental entity or an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against a school district or nonpublic school for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with these provisions.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no voter registration may be canceled without following the procedures as required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Provides that the voter registration application or the voter registration card of an inactive voter who has not voted in 2 consecutive general federal elections shall be canceled. Requires a voter's registration to be canceled when an election authority receives certain notices regarding the voter's incarceration status, voter disqualification, or death. Provides that the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from an electronic reporting system for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who died during the preceding month.

Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 100% (currently, 75%) of the total amount of qualified contributions made by the taxpayer during a taxable year, not to exceed a credit of $1,333,333 (currently, $1,000,000) per taxpayer. Provides that the aggregate credit cap per year may not exceed $100,000,000 (currently, $75,000,000). Provides that the cap shall be increased by 20% beginning on the first day of a calendar year if, in at least 2 of the previous 3 calendar years, the cap was reached. Provides that the credit applies on a permanent basis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the issuance of Voter Identification Cards by the Secretary of State. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable form of photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions, including allowing voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a Voter Identification Card without a fee and voters who have a religious objection to being photographed to vote a provisional ballot and sign an affidavit indicating the exemption. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that in any 12-month period the Governor shall have the authority to issue only one proclamation per disaster and that any further proclamation for the disaster that triggered the original proclamation shall be in force only after a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the General Assembly approves a joint resolution containing the exact language of the proclamation and which the Governor must follow. Provides that the Governor shall have no authority to amend or change the language of the proclamation as approved by joint resolution.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Deletes provision that prohibits a licensee from knowingly carrying a firearm into any building, classroom, laboratory, medical clinic, hospital, artistic venue, athletic venue, entertainment venue, officially recognized university-related organization property, whether owned or leased, and any real property, including parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas under the control of a public or private community college, college, or university.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on individuals, trusts, and estates from 4.95% to 3.75%. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2022.

Creates the Education Savings Account Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create the Education Savings Account Program. Provides that a parent of an eligible student (defined as any elementary or secondary student who was eligible to attend a public school in this State in the preceding semester or is starting school in this State for the first time and who is a member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to 2.5 times the income standard used to qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch under the national free or reduced-price lunch program) shall qualify for the State Board to make a grant to his or her child's Education Savings Account by signing an agreement. Requires the State Board to deposit into an Education Savings Account some or all of the State aid under the State aid formula provisions of the School Code that would otherwise have been provided to the resident school district for the eligible student had the student enrolled in the resident school district. Provides that parents participating in the Program shall agree to use the funds deposited in their eligible students' accounts for certain qualifying expenses to educate the eligible student. Sets forth provisions concerning the calculation of grant amounts and other basic elements of the Program, administration of the Program, accountability standards for participating schools, and the responsibilities of the State Board and resident school districts.

Amends the Firearms Concealed Carry Act. Provides that for a new or renewal concealed carry license, the fee shall be $75 (rather than $150), of which $60 (rather than $120) shall be apportioned to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, $5 (rather than $20) shall be apportioned to the Mental Health Reporting Fund, and $10 shall be apportioned to the State Crime Laboratory Fund. Provides that a non-resident applicant for a new license or renewal shall submit $150 (rather than $300) and a licensee requesting a new license shall submit $10 (rather than $75). Effective immediately.