Rep. Blaine Wilhour

Creates the Citizens Empowerment Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to provide exceptions for the Citizens Empowerment Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Parental Access and Curriculum Transparency Act, which may be referred to as PACT. Makes findings. Provides that no public school district or public institution of higher education shall direct, require, or otherwise compel a student to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to specified tenets. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, a school board, parent, legal guardian, or student has the right to object to and refuse any unit of instruction or required course of study that directs, requires, or otherwise compels a student to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any of the specified tenets. Provides that school boards have the ultimate obligation to review and resolve objections to school curriculum. Provides a list of ways to resolve objections. Provides that a school board may submit a certified question to the applicable board of elections to approve or disapprove of funding certain curriculum. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no distinction or classification of students shall be made on account of race or color, but nothing in the provisions shall be construed to prohibit the required collection or reporting of demographic data by public school districts or public institutions of higher education. Effective immediately.

Urges the U.S. DHHS to withdraw its proposed IHR amendments until such a time that there is sufficient input from the public and partner agencies.

Makes application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.

Directs the Illinois Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security's administration of the Unemployment Insurance Act.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Increases the exclusion amount to $8,000,000 for persons dying on or after January 1, 2023 (currently, $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the health examinations and immunizations that school children are required to receive, provides that a child may not be required to submit proof of having received an immunization against COVID-19 upon enrolling in school nor may a child already enrolled in school be required to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Pursuant to the School Code provisions, prohibits the Department of Public Health from adopting any rules that require children to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a defendant who at the time of the commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or more and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may be sentenced to death if the murdered individual was a peace officer killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have known that the murdered individual was a peace officer. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2022. Provides specified funding and resources for cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund are transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition, the State Appellate Defender shall provide trial counsel with legal assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses, investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. Provides that the Office of State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve as trial counsel in capital cases. Amends the Freedom of Information Act, the State Finance Act, and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that procedural requirements regarding the Governor taking possession of property for and on behalf of the State must take place in cases where the sum that the owner is willing to accept as just compensation is less than $25,000 (currently, $1,000). Provides that if the Governor issues a proclamation declaring a disaster, the Governor may extend the proclamation or make an additional proclamation regarding the same disaster, but the extension or additional proclamation shall be void and have no legal effect unless within 5 days of the extension or additional proclamation (i) he or she receives written approval to extend the proclamation or make an additional proclamation from 3 legislative leaders or (ii) the General Assembly adopts a joint resolution approving the extension or additional proclamation. Provides that a disaster proclamation issued, or a disaster proclamation regarding the same disaster, shall be void and have no legal effect if at any time the General Assembly adopts a joint resolution declaring the proclamation to be void. Provides that after a disaster proclamation is issued a member of the General Assembly may at any time file a request with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate for a session to consider the proclamation if the request is signed by no fewer than 20 members of the General Assembly. Provides that upon such a filing, the House of Representatives and Senate shall convene within 5 calendar days and vote on a resolution declaring the proclamation void.

Creates the Vaccine Credential Act. Provides that a unit of local government or the State may not require a person to have a vaccine credential or show a vaccine credential before the person enters a public event or public venue. Limits home rule powers. Defines "vaccine credential" as any written or electronic record evidencing that a person has received a vaccine. Effective immediately.