Rep. Jason Bunting

Amends the School Code. Allows a school district to utilize a remote learning day in lieu of an emergency day provided for in the school calendar or because a school was selected as a polling place. Provides that the number of remote learning days used in a school year may not exceed 5 days and the district superintendent must approve a remote learning plan for the district before the district may utilize a remote learning day. Sets forth what the plan must address, the term of approval, and how the plan must be posted. Sets forth district requirements. Allows statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings to be administered via remote learning, allows for electronic communication for instruction and interaction between educators and students, and provides for rulemaking. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2023.

Expresses support for the Southwest Connector Coalition's efforts to keep the expansion project moving forward and encourages its members to remain engaged in their efforts to improve Illinois.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the State Board of Education.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that a local government may submit a request to the Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit to be exempt from certain audit requirements if the local government is unable to meet the audit requirements due to circumstances beyond the local government's control, including, but not limited to, a natural disaster in which financial records of the local government are destroyed or alleged employee misconduct involving the destruction or withholding of financial records. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a driver of a commercial motor vehicle who hauls harvest goods for a farm is waived from the requirements of provisions concerning a requirement for a commercial driver's license or a commercial learner's permit when the driver: (1) is the owner or an employee of the farm hauling the harvest goods; and (2) is within a 150-mile radius of the farm hauling the harvest goods. Provides that an individual who operates a commercial driver's license for farm vehicles shall be exempt from new testing requirements if the farm vehicle is used in the State and is used for agricultural purposes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on individuals, trusts, estates, and certain pass-through entities from 4.95% to 3.75%. Reduces the rate of tax on corporations from 7% to 6%. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases penalties for unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities. Provides that a person commits unlawful sale or delivery of firearms when he or she knowingly: (1) sells or gives a firearm to a person who has been convicted of a felony or who is a streetgang member or (2) sells or gives a firearm that has been purchased or acquired out of state to a person who has been convicted of a felony or is a streetgang member. Provides that a violation is a Class 1 felony. Provides that a second or subsequent violation is non-probationable. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older to be adjudged a habitual criminal. Provides that a person who attained the age of 18 at the time of the third offense may be adjudged a habitual criminal. In the Class X sentencing provision for a defendant over 21 years of age who is convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony after twice being convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, deletes a provision that the first offense had to be committed when the person was 21 years of age or older and deletes a provision that the offenses had to be forcible felonies. Exempts theft from this calculation.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2024, the exemption for farm machinery and equipment also includes electrical power generation equipment used primarily for production agriculture. Effective immediately.

Amends the Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act. Modifies requirements concerning the Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance. Provides that the Office shall implement reforms to improve interagency coordination and encourage expeditious permit issuance. Provides that the Office shall use information technology tools to track project schedules and metrics in order to improve transparency and accountability of the permitting process, reduce uncertainty and delays, and reduce costs and risks to taxpayers. Modifies and adds requirements concerning the expediting of permit reviews. Provides for the creation of an Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee. Provides additional requirements to improve the coordination of permit reviews. Defines terms. Makes other changes.