Rep. Jerry F. Costello, II

Congratulates the Bigham Family on 100 years of showing jersey cattle at the Perry County Fair.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that no provision of the Act shall be construed to afford any rights to any person: (i) incarcerated in a State, local, or federal correctional facility; or (ii) in the custody of the Department of Human Services as unfit to stand trial or under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. Provides that the new provisions shall not be construed to prevent a person from exercising his or her constitutionally-protected rights. Exempts from disclosure under the Act records requested by persons committed to a county jail if those materials are available in the library of the jail. Exempts from inspection and copying information or materials received, generated, or maintained by a State's Attorney or county sheriff as part of the criminal discovery process that the disclosure of which would violate the Supreme Court Rule concerning the disclosure of discovery materials in felony cases. Provides that the exemption applies regardless of whether the case has concluded. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Illinois Veteran Grant Program. Provides that a person is a qualified applicant for a grant 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 Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Lowers the age in which a person may apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without parental or legal guardian consent from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. Provides that an applicant who is 18 (rather than 21) years of age or older seeking a religious exemption to the photograph requirement must furnish with the application an approved copy of United States Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form 4029.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Eliminates existing preemption provisions concerning firearms. Provides that regulation of the ownership and possession of firearms and related items are the exclusive powers and functions of the State. Provides that a unit of local government may not require registration, reporting of the sale or transfer of a firearm, or may not keep a firearms registry. Provides that existing or future local ordinances or resolutions imposing any registration requirement on firearms and related items are invalid and void. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Reduces the rate of tax on corporations to 4.8% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2015. Makes corresponding changes concerning transfers from the General Revenue Fund to the Local Government Distributive Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that from September 1, through December 31, a truck used to transport grain sorghum may, except on an interstate highway, have a gross maximum weight of 90,000 pounds and an axle weight 12.5% above the applicable axle weight limit. Effective July 1, 2016.

Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. Provides that the operator of an off-highway vehicle shall not be required to display an Off-Highway Vehicle Usage Stamp if the off-highway vehicle is operated on any private land with the permission of the land owner. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that an application for a concealed carry license shall contain the applicant's valid driver's license number, valid state identification card number, or valid United States Military identification card number.