Rep. Patrick Windhorst

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that no legislator or executive branch constitutional officer shall engage in compensated lobbying of the governing body of a municipality, county, or township, or an official thereof (now, that prohibition applies only if the legislator is lobbying on behalf of a lobbyist or lobbying entity that is registered to lobby the General Assembly or the executive branch of the State of Illinois).

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates a sales tax holiday period for certain school supplies from August 2, 2024 through August 11, 2024.Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that, if a minor is charged with the commission of a delinquent act and if the court has made a probable cause determination, then the court must conduct a hearing and must order the minor to take certain actions, but authorizes (and does not require) the court to order the minor to take other actions. (Now, if a minor is charged with the commission of a delinquent act, a court is authorized (but not required) to conduct a hearing and is authorized (but not required) to order the minor to take certain actions.)

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2024, no taxing district, other than a home rule unit, may levy a tax on any parcel of real property that is more than 105% of the base amount unless (i) the increase is attributable to substantial improvements to the property, (ii) the taxing district did not levy a tax against the property in the previous taxable year, or (iii) the increase is attributable to a special service area. Provides that "base amount" means the tax levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year, except that, if the property received a homestead exemption in the immediately preceding taxable year and is not eligible for that exemption in the current taxable year, then the base amount shall be the tax that would have been levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year if the homestead exemption had not been applied. Provides that a taxing district may elect to be exempt from those provisions for one or more taxable years if the exemption is approved by referendum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Creates a manufacturer child care center incentive pilot program in this State. Provides that an applicant shall follow staffing, medication, background checks, and liability insurance requirements as contained in administrative rule. Provides that the pilot program is limited to 10 sites and is available to any manufacturer who has a facility in the State. Provides that a manufacturer may apply on an individual basis or in a group of 2 or more manufacturers. Provides that a child care center must only be made available to employees of the manufacturer at no cost to the employee. Provides the application requirements for the pilot program. Provides requirements for maintaining and dispensing medications for the child care center. Provides that a child care center shall require all persons subject to background checks under administrative rule to furnish written information regarding any criminal convictions, to submit to fingerprinting, and to authorize the background checks required. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall create a website and application process for the pilot program that streamlines the application process and is maintained on the Department website. Provides that an application for the pilot program shall receive priority consideration once submitted. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each taxpayer who participates in the manufacturer child care center incentive pilot program in the amount of $250 for each child enrolled in the taxpayer's child care center.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the Critical Infrastructure Protection Law Article within the Code. Defines "critical infrastructure facility". Provides for criminal penalties, based upon the value of the property, for knowingly damaging, destroying, vandalizing, defacing, tampering with, or stealing equipment or assets of or in a critical infrastructure facility. Provides that any person who violates the Article is liable to the owner of the property for compensatory damages and, in addition, for punitive damages in an amount not less than 3 times the amount of the compensatory damages. Provides that any person or entity that compensates, provides consideration to, or remunerates a person for property stolen in violation of the Article is liable to the owner of the property for compensatory damages and, in addition, for punitive damages in an amount not less than 3 times the amount of the compensatory damages. Provides that it is an affirmative defense to this provision that the defendant was a bona fide purchaser for value who did not know, or have reason to know, that the property was stolen. Provides that, with exceptions, all items of personal property that are used, have been used, or are intended for use, in perpetration of theft or damage to a critical infrastructure facility are subject to forfeiture.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver's license of any person convicted of engaging in a street sideshow shall be revoked in the manner provided by the Code. Provides that every person convicted of engaging in a street sideshow shall be guilty of aggravated engaging in a street sideshow if the person, in committing the violation, was involved in a motor vehicle crash that resulted in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another, where the violation was a proximate cause of the injury. Provides that aggravated engaging in a street sideshow is a Class 4 felony for which the defendant, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to not less than one year nor more than 12 years.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall notify, in writing, the victim of the offense committed by the sex offender or sexual predator and the law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys' offices of the county of conviction and the county where the sex offender or sexual predator expects to reside not less than 30 days before the sex offender or sexual predator's release.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a driver of a commercial motor vehicle who hauls harvest goods for a farm is waived from the requirements of provisions concerning a requirement for a commercial driver's license or a commercial learner's permit when the driver: (1) is the owner or an employee of the farm hauling the harvest goods; and (2) is within a 150-mile radius of the farm hauling the harvest goods. Provides that an individual who operates a commercial driver's license for farm vehicles shall be exempt from new testing requirements if the farm vehicle is used in the State and is used for agricultural purposes.