Rep. Blaine Wilhour

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to the county board affiliated with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county clerk's or coroner's full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of relevant documents. Allows injunctive relief, attorney fees, and fines for failure to comply with the provisions. Requires the county clerk to request from the United States Postal Service records of each permanent change of address form submitted related to an address in the county and to update the registration of any person whose address appears to have changed, as indicated by those records.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act or for transfers made on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Creates the Efficient School District Commission. Provides for the membership and support of the Commission. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the electorate on the number of school districts in this State and where reorganization and realignment of school districts into unit districts would be beneficial. Sets forth what areas the recommendations must focus on, including drafting recommendations to reduce the statewide total number of school districts through the reorganization of school districts into unit districts. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2025, the Commission must vote on its recommendations and file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that if the Commission adopts the recommendations by an affirmative vote of at least 13 of its members, then the Commission's specific recommendations for reorganization of school districts into unit districts shall be filed with the appropriate regional superintendent of schools. Sets forth the regional superintendent's and State Superintendent of Education's duties with respect to the recommendations. Repeals these provisions on January 31, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, provides that the Board of Trustees shall give priority admission to residents of this State. Based upon academic year, sets forth the percentage of the University's freshman class of undergraduate students that must be State residents. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the total amount of the retirement annuity or pension benefits a person may receive from any pension fund or retirement system under the Code in any year shall not exceed $132,900; however, that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments. Provides that the changes apply without regard to whether a person became a member, participant, beneficiary, or annuitant before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the retirement annuity or supplemental annuity for a participant, member, or annuitant in any pension fund or retirement system under the Code shall be subject to annual increases equal to the 10-year moving average of the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u. Provides that the changes apply without regard to whether the participant is in active service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System by members of the General Assembly to persons who become participants before January 1, 2024 and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants who are members of the General Assembly. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Officer Eligibility Act. Provides that a person seeking a local office or a local officer seeking another office may not qualify as a candidate for more than one office unless the person follows the requirements of the Act. Provides that, if a local officer seeks to become a candidate for any other office and any part of the terms run concurrently with each other, the person must first resign the local office that the officer presently holds. Includes resignation requirements. Provides that a person who is a deputy sheriff, county corrections officer, court security officer, or other person a sheriff otherwise supervises must resign as provided under the provisions if the person is seeking to qualify for the office of the sheriff. Provides that, if an election authority determines that a person failed to resign as required under the Act, an automatic resignation occurs 14 days after the filing of a petition for nomination. Requires the election authority to provide notice of the automatic resignation. Provides that the Act does not apply to a person already appointed to or is seeking appointment to an appointive board, task force, commission, or authority. Defines terms. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Election Code making conforming changes.

Repeals the Real Estate Transfer Tax Law of the Property Tax Code. Moves provisions concerning the real estate transfer declarations and exemptions to the Conveyances Act. Makes conforming changes.