Rep. Katie Stuart

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a unit of local government shall make the unit's public buildings within the election authority's jurisdiction available as permanent or temporary early voting polling places without charge if the unit of local government determines that the use would neither interfere with the normal operations within the building nor cause the unit of local government to incur additional expenses, including, but not limited to, additional labor costs (currently, the use of the public building is mandatory, without exceptions, upon request of the election authority). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of assistance furnished to any individual. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civil Service In Cities Division and Board Of Fire and Police Commissioners Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Expands the definition of "firefighter" to include persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district, or employed by a State university, unit of local government, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System, and sworn or commissioned or employed to perform (i) firefighter duties, (ii) paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), or advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT) duties, (iii) or both (rather than persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform firefighter duties, paramedic duties, or both).

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the credit for wages paid to qualified veterans also extends to wages paid to a qualified veteran's spouse. Provides that active duty members of the United States Armed Forces are also considered "qualified veterans". Effective immediately.

Amends the State Parks Act to require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a pilot program to make menstrual hygiene products available, at no cost to the public, in each restroom facility that is serviced daily and that is situated within the 5 most visited State parks under the jurisdiction and control of the Department of Natural Resources. Defines "menstrual hygiene products" and "restroom facility". Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. For specified applications, change of address forms, or recertifications of a driver's license or State identification card, provides that the application, form, or recertification shall serve as a dual-purpose application when the applicant presents specified identification (rather than meets the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005). Modifies requirements of the dual-purpose application. Modifies the content of the written notice required to be given by the Office of the Secretary of State to each applicant and requires the Office of the Secretary of State to determine whether each applicant is currently registered to vote in Illinois and the applicant's registration address. Provides that, if an applicant provides the Secretary of State with an identification document which demonstrates that the applicant is not a United States citizen, the application shall not serve as a dual-purpose application. Makes conforming and other changes. Provides that changes made by the amendatory Act that require implementation shall be implemented no later than January 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall, in consultation with the Illinois Community College Board, create a standardized electronic form through which a community college district may document student demand or workforce needs for a specific baccalaureate degree completion program and may demonstrate that the demand or needs are currently unmet or that there is insufficient access to such a program for students in the district. Provides that the form must be completed by the requesting community college district and must be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for initial review. Provides that if the Illinois Community College Board concurs with the community college district that unmet demand or needs exist in the district, the Illinois Community College Board must forward the form to the Board and if the Illinois Community College Board does not concur with the community college district, the district may appeal the decision directly to the Board. Provides that if the Board determines that unmet student demand or welfare need exist, the Board shall communicate a request for partnership notification to all universities, and allows a university to respond to the request for a partnership; defines "university" and specifies the procedures for a request for partnership. Requires the Board and the Illinois Community College Board to jointly adopt rules.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the minimum salary of teachers, provides that the minimum salary shall be fixed at $42,500 for the 2029-2030 school year, $45,000 for the 2034-2035 school year, $47,500 for the 2039-2040 school year, and $50,000 for the 2044-2045 school year. Removes provisions that adjust the minimum salary rate by an increase in percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for public school fees and contributions. Sets forth purposes for which those fees and contributions may be used. Provides that the credit may not exceed $200 for each individual taxpayer or $400 for a married couple filing jointly. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. In provisions concerning construction management services, provides that, if the services are to be procured by (currently, for) a public institution of higher education, then "Board" means the public institution of higher education. Effective immediately.