Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority may elect to mail a vote by mail ballot to all qualified voters instead of sending notices and applications for permanent vote by mail status. Requires the election authority to make a list of all voters to whom the vote by mail ballots will be sent, publicly post that list, and send the list to the State Board of Elections. Provides that a person who has never voted before may not be sent a vote by mail ballot under the provisions unless the person first provides the election authority with sufficient proof of identity and the election authority verifies the person's proof of identity. Provides that a person may request, in writing, to the election authority that the person not receive a ballot sent under the provisions. Provides that the election authority shall keep a record of a person who has made a request and, in all future elections following receipt of the request, shall instead send the person who made the request a notice and application for permanent vote by mail status.

Amends the Data Governance and Organization to Support Equity and Racial Justice Act. Provides that, when the State Board of Education and specified Departments report demographic data, they shall use the same classifications as the Governor's Office of Equity, or other classifications as designated by the Governor, to develop a common set of racial and ethnic classifications for use by the Board and Department. Provides that the demographic classifications established shall be reviewed and updated as necessary every 5 years. Provides for exemptions from this reporting requirement. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity shall establish a project implementation team to oversee the implementation of the Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity or other entity as the Governor may designate shall work in conjunction with the Department of Innovation and Technology to identify and provide advice on common technological processes and procedures. Makes other changes.

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Provides protections for social media users and creates a private cause of action for them if their accounts have been hacked and not restored by social media websites under certain circumstances. Defines a social media website as an Internet website or mobile application that enables users to communicate with each other by posting information, comments, messages, or images; is open to the public; has more than 75 million subscribers; and has never been specifically affiliated with any religion or political party. Provides that, if a court finds that a social media website has violated this Act, the court may award actual damages computed at a rate of $1,000 per violation per day and reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in maintaining that civil action. Requires the social media website to restore access to the user's online account within 24 hours of the discovery of the security breach; provide notice of the breach of security within seven days of the discovery; and provide instructions for restoring the integrity of the user's online account of a social media website in compliance with this Act.

Creates the Work Without Fear Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to engage in, or to direct another person to engage in, immigration-related retaliation against any person or his or her family member or household member for the purpose of, or with the effect of, retaliating against any person for exercising any right protected under State employment laws or by any local employment ordinance. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Allows the Attorney General to initiate or intervene in a civil action to obtain appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person has violated the Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prevent any person from making complaint or prosecuting his or her own claim for damages caused by retaliation. Allows a person who is the subject of retaliation prohibited by the Act to bring a civil action for: (1) back pay, with interest, and front pay, or, in lieu of actual damages, liquidated damages of $30,000; (2) a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000; (3) reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; and (4) equitable relief as the court may deem appropriate and just. Provides that a person that violates any provision of the Act shall be subject to an additional civil penalty in an amount of $25,000 for each violation, or $50,000 for each repeat violation within a 5-year period. Sets forth license suspension penalties for violations of the Act. Effective January 1, 2025.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for the Statewide Railway Program for salaries and other expenses related to adding the professional staff in the rail division of the Office of Intermodal Project Implementation. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for preventative screenings for individuals 18 years of age or older and under the age of 65 at high risk for liver disease every 6 months without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Amends the Public University Uniform Admission Pilot Program Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Repeals the provisions concerning the uniform admission system pilot program on December 31, 2025. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program to automatically offer admission to a public university to qualified high school seniors in this State and public community college students in this State who qualify to transfer to a public university. Provides that under the direct admission program, a public university is required to offer admission to any high school senior who meets the public university's coursework standards for admission and to any public community college transfer student who meets specified criteria. Sets forth program and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that the provision of the Post-Conviction Hearing Article of the Code that a prisoner shows cause by identifying an objective factor that impeded his or her ability to raise a specific claim during his or her initial post-conviction proceedings shall bar a claim under the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution brought in a successive post-conviction petition by any person who was convicted of a felony offense committed when that person was under 18 years of age.

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, and a violation shall be punished as otherwise provided by law and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall produce ethanol using seeds that have been treated with a pesticide.