Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer an annual program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in the State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, the school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year that begins on January 1 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded may not exceed a specified maximum aggregate property tax extension. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund for the purpose of making appropriations for the grant program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that a person may not be elected to the office of State Senator or State Representative for terms totaling more than 10 years in each house or a combined total of 20 years in both houses. Provides that service prior to the date of the adoption of the amendment shall be considered in the calculation of a person's service. Provides that any person in office at the time of the adoption of the amendment who exceeds the specified term limitation shall be allowed to complete his or her current term of office. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Creates the Gun Crime Charging and Sentencing Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that in a criminal case, if a defendant is charged with an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm and subsequently enters into a plea agreement in which the charge will be reduced to a lesser offense or a non-weapons offense in exchange for a plea of guilty, then, at or before the time of sentencing, the State's Attorney shall file with the court a written statement of his or her reasons in support of the plea agreement, which shall specifically state why the offense or offenses of conviction resulting from the plea agreement do not include the originally charged weapons offense. Provides that the written statement shall be part of the court record in the case and a copy shall be provided to any person upon request. Provides that in a criminal case in which the original charge is or was for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm, if a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of the original charge or lesser offense or a non-weapons offense, in imposing the sentence, the judge shall set forth in a written sentencing order his or her reasons for imposing the sentence or accepting the plea agreement. Provides that a copy of the written sentencing order shall be provided to any person upon request.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. In provisions concerning the Illinois Veteran Grant Program, provides that a person is a qualified applicant if, among other qualifications, the person returned to this State within one year (instead of 6 months) after leaving federal active duty service or, if married to a person in continued military service stationed outside this State, returned to this State within one year (instead of 6 months) after his or her spouse left service or was stationed within this State.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Repeals the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 on January 1, 2029 (rather than January 1, 2024). Amends the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. Adds provisions concerning an email address of record and for electronic delivery of certain notices to an email address of records. Provides for instances in which telehealth may be used. Provides that a veterinarian shall not substitute telehealth, teleadvice, telemedicine, or teletriage when a physical examination is warranted or necessary for an accurate diagnosis of any medical condition or creation of an appropriate treatment plan. Makes changes to provisions concerning: application for licensure; reports; procedures for refusal to license or issue certificate; and hearing officers, reports, and review. Removes provisions concerning: refusing to issue or renew, or revoking, suspending, placing on probation, reprimanding, or taking other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action for a conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction, either within or outside this State, of any violation of any law governing the practice of veterinary medicine; and certifying exhibits without cost. Repeals a provision requiring the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to maintain a roster. Makes corresponding and other changes. Provisions amending the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Provides that, if the House of Representatives or the Senate adopts an amendment to a bill and if that amendment causes the short description of the bill that is posted on the General Assembly's website to no longer accurately reflect the bill's contents, then the chamber that adopted the amendment shall revise the bill's short description so that it accurately reflects the bill's contents.

Condemns the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Calls upon campus administrators to condemn all forms of anti-Semitism on college campuses and to ensure Jewish students, faculty, and guests can exercise the same free speech rights as are guaranteed to all other students, faculty, and guests without intimidation. Urges enforcement of State and federal civil rights laws to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism. Offers sympathy and compassion to families and individuals suffering from the current Israel-Hamas conflict.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Provides that the Commission shall only issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a public utility operating or located within the State or to a company with a fossil fuel-based power generator. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules concerning the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for the construction, purchase, or lease of small modular nuclear reactors. Provides requirements for the Commission to follow when adopting rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors. Provides that the Commission may adopt emergency rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful to take wild turkey with a shotgun smaller than 410 gauge with shot density equaling tungsten super shot (rather than smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4).