Rep. Dennis Tipsword

Maddy summaryThis Illinois House Resolution designates the week of September 21 through September 27, 2026, as "See Tracks? Think Train Week" to promote public awareness of railroad safety. The bill cites statistics on highway-rail collisions and fatalities to highlight the need for education regarding the dangers near train tracks and the importance of obeying traffic laws. It encourages citizens to support rail safety initiatives and directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes changes concerning the taxes due under the Act on estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir". Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that on issuance of a plenary order, the emergency order remains in effect until the plenary order or short form notification is served on the respondent.

Maddy summaryHR 112 is a resolution that expresses the belief that the Illinois Income Tax Act should not be amended to permit the taxation of retirement income. It advocates against any future changes that would allow the state to tax the income of retirees in Illinois.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "wildlife rifle" as a rifle that can hold up to 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, centerfire wildlife rifle (rather than single shot centerfire rifle), or muzzleloading rifle, or (ii) as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow, during the open season, with certain requirements. Limits legal rifles to centerfire wildlife rifles (rather than centerfire rifles that are single shot). Prohibits deer hunting while being in possession of or in close proximity to a magazine that is capable of making a rifle hold more than 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined (rather than making a rifle not a single shot).

Amends the Special Plates Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person eligible to receive certain military special plates is entitled to receive, upon application to the Secretary of State, a second set of the special plates under the same terms and conditions as the first set of special plates. Effective immediately.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that employment protections for volunteer emergency workers apply to volunteer emergency workers participating in required training, including a prohibition on termination and penalizing (rather than only termination). Provides that the employer may not require the employee to take vacation time or other compensatory time in order to respond to an emergency or participate in training. Provides that the Act does not apply to any employer that is a municipality with a population of 15,000 or more (currently 7,500 or more). Makes conforming changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2270 amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. It makes a technical correction within a section of the Act that pertains to its short title. This bill primarily affects the legal text of the Act by clarifying its official short name.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall maintain a website that details any charges, either required by law or approved by the Commission, that are charged by an electric utility, other than delivery or supply charges. Provides that the website shall include certain information for amounts collected from a charge that are remitted to the State and for amounts collected from a charge that are retained by the electric utility.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1067, titled "VOID THE FOID," proposes to eliminate the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. This bill would remove the requirement for individuals to possess a FOID card to legally own or purchase firearms and ammunition within the state. It also includes necessary adjustments to other laws to align with the removal of the FOID card system. If enacted, these changes would take effect immediately.