Rep. Charlie Meier

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to display, in multiple, conspicuous public places within the facility accessible to both visitors and residents and in an easily readable format, the address and statewide toll-free telephone number (rather than phone number) of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Internet web address of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website. Requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to post on the home page of the facility's website the statewide toll-free telephone number of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and a link to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website.

Amends the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Tax Act. Provides that 80% of the moneys received under the Act on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be paid into the Pension Stabilization Fund and 20% of those moneys shall be paid into the Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Illinois Commerce Commission to supervise and regulate the operations of the carbon dioxide pipeline industry in Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the child care assistance program, expands the categories of families eligible for assistance to include, beginning January 1, 2026, all child care workers with incomes at or below 325% of the federal poverty level for each family size.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall require every applicant seeking employment as a mental health technician at a State-operated developmental center to: (i) complete the Test for Adult Basic Education and obtain a score that demonstrates the applicant's ability to read and write at a 5th grade level; and (ii) complete a series of basic physical agility tests, including a test that demonstrates the applicant's ability to lift at least 50 pounds, a one-mile walk test, a shuttle run, and a patient transfer test. Provides that such testing shall be in addition to any other testing or application requirements for employment as a mental health technician at a State-operated developmental center. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that the amount of the taxes imposed under the Act shall be reduced in each year by 20%. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after January 1, 2030 or for transfers occurring on or after January 1, 2030. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that cable or video providers shall issue a customer a pro rata credit if that customer requests service disconnection during the first 2 weeks of a monthly billing period.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2026, the maximum income limitation for the senior freeze shall be $75,000 for all qualified property (currently, $65,000). Provides that the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted each year according to the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Hospital District Law. Provides that each director of a hospital district may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the director's duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Lowers the age at which a person may apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without parental or legal guardian consent from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. Makes corresponding changes.