Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Creates the Right to Play Act. Provides that a student who is a member of a school athletic activity may participate in a nonschool athletic activity that is of the same sport as the school athletic activity during the season in which the student participates in the school athletic activity without losing eligibility to participate in the school athletic activity, provided that the student may not participate in both the nonschool athletic activity and a school athletic practice or competition for the same sport on the same day.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Creates a distillery shipper's license, a class 3 craft distiller license, and a spirits showcase permit. Provides that a class 3 craft distiller license, which may be issued to a distiller or a non-resident dealer, shall allow the manufacture of no more than 100,000 gallons of spirits per year and shall allow the sale of spirits from the class 3 craft distiller's in-state or out-of-state class 3 craft distillery premises to retail licensees, class 3 brewers, and class 3 craft distillers as long as the class 3 craft distiller licensee meets certain requirements. Authorizes a class 3 craft distiller to self-distribute subject to certain requirements and limitations. Provides that a distillery shipper's license shall allow a person with an Illinois distiller license, a craft distiller license, a class 1 craft distiller license, a class 2 craft distiller license, or a class 3 craft distiller license or who is licensed to make spirits under the laws of another state to ship spirits directly to a resident of this State who is 21 years of age or older for that resident's personal use and not for resale. Provides that a spirits showcase permit shall allow an Illinois-licensed distributor to transfer a portion of its spirits inventory from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; in the case of a class 3 craft distiller, to transfer only spirits the class 3 craft distiller manufactures from its licensed premises to the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license; and to sell or offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the spirits showcase permit license, the transferred or delivered spirits for on or off premises consumption, but not for resale in any form and to sell to non-licensees not more than 156 fluid ounces of spirits per person. Sets forth provisions concerning licensure application; fees; recordkeeping; and shipping and delivery of spirits. Preempts home rule powers. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates a sales tax holiday period for certain school supplies from August 2, 2025 through August 11, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to availability of funds, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish the Illinois Apprenticeship Voucher Program for the purpose of providing funds to apprentices to pay for their tools and equipment upon completion of their registered apprenticeship program. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall disburse the sum of $300 to each recipient in the form of a voucher for the purpose of paying for tools and equipment required in their intended line of work. Creates the Illinois Apprenticeship-to-Career Starter Kit Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department for the purposes of the voucher program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Modifies the definition of "representation case" to include matters before units of local government. Provides that no legislator or employee of a governmental entity may accept or participate in any way in any representation case if the State or unit of local government is an adverse party or if the result is an adverse effect on State or local revenue, State or local finances, or the health, safety, welfare, or relative tax burden of any State resident. Prohibits (rather than allows) participation in a representation case by a person with whom a legislator maintains a close economic association. Provides that no legislator or employee of a governmental entity may derive any income, compensation, or other tangible benefit from providing opinion evidence as an expert against the interests of the State or a unit of local government in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding before any administrative agency or court. Provides that a legislator shall officially recuse himself or herself from any legislative matter in which the legislator or his or her spouse or immediate family member has a financial interest and shall include in the recusal a written explanation for the recusal. Makes conforming and other changes.

Creates the Reducing Barriers to Start Act. Beginning January 1, 2026, this State shall encourage the elimination of all first-year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home-based businesses, whose principal place of business is in this State.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that any vessel or watercraft, vehicle, or aircraft is subject to forfeiture if the vessel or watercraft, vehicle, or aircraft is used with the knowledge and consent of the owner in the commission of or in the attempt to commit the offense of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, including, but not limited to, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or a federal immigrant agent: (1) participate, support, or assist in any capacity with an immigration agent's enforcement operations; (2) provide the immigration agent access to an individual in the Department's custody, either in person or by telephone; (3) transfer any individual in the Department's custody into an immigration agent's custody; (4) allow the use of Department facilities or equipment, including any electronic databases, for investigative interviews or other investigative or immigration enforcement purpose; (5) enter into or maintain any agreement regarding direct access to any electronic database or other data-sharing platform maintained by the Department and provide such direct access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency; and (6) provide information in response to any immigration agent's inquiry or request for information regarding any individual in the Department's custody including information regarding the individual's release. Amends the Illinois TRUST Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor in the definition of "sex offense" under the Act.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that any member of the General Assembly, person whose appointment to office is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, or head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority, or other administrative unit within the government of this State who takes office on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act shall not, within a 3-year period immediately following termination of that person's most recent term of office, register as a lobbyist and engage in lobbying with members of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.