Maddy summaryHR 324 designates May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "Prevention Week." This bill serves to formally recognize and acknowledge this specific week for awareness purposes.
States that the new Department of Early Childhood and its planning process should prioritize appropriate attention to the facilities needs of our State's mixed-delivery system of early care and education. Additionally states that the State should move expeditiously to award its remaining Early Childhood Construction Grant monies to qualified applicants, to assist providers of critical birth-to-five programs in meeting their growing building-and-repair demands. Finally states that the State should also move as quickly as feasible to replenish Early Childhood Construction Grant resources to help Illinois achieve the long-term vision of the bipartisan Funding Commission for making services "simpler, better, fairer" for young children, their families, and communities statewide.
Declares April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in the State of Illinois to help increase public awareness of the need to support individuals with autism and the family members, medical professionals, and human services professionals who help care for individuals with autism.
Designates Rooms 105 and 109 of the Illinois State Library at 300 South Second Street in Springfield as the "Jim Edgar Reading Room" that houses the Illinois Authors' Collection in honor of the lasting legacy and impact of former Illinois Governor and Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar.
Congratulates Banterra Bank on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Thanks its leadership and employees for their enduring service and contributions. Extends best wishes for continued success and prosperity in the future.
Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes certain changes concerning estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir".
Creates the Department of Government Efficiency Act. Establishes the Department of Government Efficiency in the Office of the Auditor General for certain purposes. Provides that the Office of the Auditor General shall provide administrative and other support to the Department. Provides that the Department shall be led by a Board of Directors, chaired by a Chairperson elected annually at the first meeting of the year from among the directors. Lists 5 directors, including the Auditor General or the Auditor General's designee and 4 directors appointed by leaders of the General Assembly. Provides that the Board may appoint members of the Department who are experts in certain fields or with certain experience who shall serve under the Board. Provides that directors and members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides for powers of the Department, including advising the Office of the Auditor General regarding audits and investigations. Provides that the Board may request a State agency head to provide all information requested by the Board and possessed by the State agency to the Board. Provides that the Department may adopt rules. Provides that the Department shall issue quarterly reports to the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as other discretionary reports. Sets forth findings and a statement of purpose. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act to provide that the Auditor General may consult with the Department of Government Efficiency regarding audits and investigations.
Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. Modifies the audit procedures for governmental units under the Act for the governmental units fiscal years 2027 and after, including: (1) modifying the definitions of "audit report" and "report", and adds a definition for "annual financial report"; (2) requiring the governing body of each governmental unit to conduct an audit every 2 years (rather than annually) of the accounts of the unit to be made by an auditor or auditors, and modifying the requirements of the audits; (3) allowing an exception for a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $1,400,000 for any fiscal year, with the amount to increase or decrease by a percentage equal to the Consumer Price Index-U as reported on January 1 of each year, to provide a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements (rather than a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $850,000 for any fiscal year providing a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements); and (4) modifying the requirements for signing, copying, and filing completed reports. Amends the Township Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends House Rule 37. Provides that, while a Senate Bill is pending in the Senate, a House member may file with the Clerk a request to become the Principal Sponsor of the bill upon its arrival in the House, unless a previously submitted request remains pending. Authorizes a member to withdraw the member's request before arrival of the bill in the House. Specifies that, notwithstanding Rule 37(a), these sponsorship requests and withdraw of requests shall be noted in the Legislative Digest and on the General Assembly website.
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.
