Rep. Jay Hoffman

Mourns the death of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.

Congratulates Paul Schaefer on his induction into the Edwardsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that no licensee under the Act is permitted to advertise its video gaming operation using physical advertisements outside the video gaming location or on off-premises billboard signs, unless directly and permanently affixed to a building on the video gaming location or on a permanent pole sign that is permanently affixed to a foundation.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and implement uniform procedural rules for its districts. Provides that no district official or official acting on behalf of a district shall deviate from the procedural rules once established by the Department.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2024, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 (currently, $65,000). Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2025, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be increased each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person is legally accountable for the conduct of another when, acting as an aggressor as provided in the Code, he or she causes another to use force in defense of himself or another and that use of force is the proximate cause of injury to a third party.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements, including firearm certification. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may deny a permit for a commercial solar energy facility or commercial wind energy facility, including the modification or improvement to an existing facility, if the work requested to be performed under the permit is not being performed under a project labor agreement with building trades located in the area where construction, modification, or improvements are to be made.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for any amount included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income as a result of discharge of student loan indebtedness. Creates an income tax credit for qualified higher education expenses incurred during the taxable year by or on behalf of a qualifying public university student or community college student. Creates an income tax credit for qualified higher education expenses incurred during the taxable year by the parent or guardian of a qualified apprentice, trade, or vocational student. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes to the "brownfield site photovoltaic project" definition. Deletes provisions that require the Agency to develop a method to optimize procurement of the renewable energy credits from proposed utility-scale projects that are located in communities eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. Provides criteria for the Agency to use to rank the bids for evaluation and selection for the project. Provides that, if a project meets one or more of the criteria, the Agency shall apply the bid price adjustment 2 times in ranking and evaluating the bid submitted for the project. Outlines the intent of the General Assembly in enacting the provision. Effective immediately.