Rep. David Friess

Amends the Jury Commission Act. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall notify the jury administrator or jury commissioners of each jury summons that is returned indicating a change of address. Provides that, not less often than every 3 months, the jury administrator or jury commissioners shall send the local election authority a list of each such change of address. Amends the Election Code. Contains provisions concerning the cancellation of voter registration if the county clerk is of the opinion that the person is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter. In provisions requiring election authorities to automatically register a voter who has moved to a new jurisdiction in Illinois or within the jurisdiction, requires the election authority to act within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address database. Requires county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to complete verifications of voter registrations after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year (rather than at least once in every 2 years). Requires the county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to certify to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed within 30 days of completion of the verification.

States opposition to any additional excise taxes on Illinois businesses that produce beer, wine, or liquor or their related industries.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, shall develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any Illinois ratepayer funds from being used by the Agency for the procurement of solar panels that are not manufactured or assembled by a company located in the United States under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan.

Creates the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of such person's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief. Requires all health care facilities to adopt written access to care and information protocols that are designed to ensure that belief-based objections do not cause impairment of patients' health and that explain how belief-based objections will be addressed in a timely manner to facilitate patient care. Provides that it is unlawful for any public or private employer, entity, agency, institution, official, or person to deny admission because of, to place any reference in its application form concerning, to orally question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any applicant, in terms of employment, admission to or participation in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on account of the applicant's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination that is against the applicant's beliefs. Provides that it is unlawful for any public official, guardian, agency, institution, or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or to condition the reception in any way of any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify, or discriminate against any person, otherwise entitled to such aid, assistance, or benefits, because that person refuses to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the person's belief. Allows any person injured by any public or private person, association, agency, entity, or corporation by reason of any action prohibited by the Act to bring an action. Provides that a person who brings an action shall recover threefold the actual damages, the costs of the action, and reasonable attorney's fees, but in no case shall recovery for each violation be less than $2,500 plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the Invest in Kids credit applies permanently (currently, the credit applies for taxable years ending before January 1, 2023). Effective immediately.

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that neither the Treasurer nor the Comptroller shall authorize payment of any increase in salary for a member of the General Assembly, including cost of living adjustment increases, as compared to a prior year, without the General Assembly voting on such increase in a stand alone appropriations bill. Provides that a member of the General Assembly who has held office any part of a month, but not for the entire month, is entitled to compensation only for those days during that month that he or she held office (currently, entitled to compensation for the entire month). Provides that no allowance for meals shall be provided to members of the General Assembly for any given day if meals have been provided to members on that day at the place of their meeting, without charge to the members, and the cost of the meal was paid for through any budget authority associated with the House, Senate, or State of Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2 registration plates) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of the front and rear) of the motor vehicle.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that a person applying for a position in a fire department or fire protection district must disclose if he or she has been convicted, arrested, or charged with arson, aggravated arson, or criminal damage to property due to recklessly, by means of fire, damaging the property of another or knowingly starting a fire on the land of another. Provides that the person or board hiring an individual who has applied to a position in a fire department or fire protection district may take into consideration the disclosed convictions, arrests, or charges in the hiring or retention of the applicant. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Deletes language providing that nothing in the Act requires that each parent be allocated decision-making responsibilities. Provides that it is presumed that fit parents act in the best interests of their children. Deletes language providing that in determining the child's best interests for purposes of allocating parenting time, the court shall consider the amount of time each parent spent performing caretaking functions with respect to the child in the 24 months preceding the filing of any petition for allocation of parental responsibilities, or, if the child is under 2 years of age, since the child's birth.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an owner may only apply for and receive 10 (instead of 5) farm truck registrations, and only 5 (instead of 2) of those vehicles shall exceed 59,500 gross weight in pounds per vehicle. Effective immediately.