Rep. Paul Jacobs

Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System by members of the General Assembly to persons who become participants before January 1, 2022 and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants who are members of the General Assembly. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reduces the trailer flat weight tax for maximum loads of 3,000 pounds and less from $118 to $18. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board may allow the motto "In God We Trust" to be displayed in a conspicuous location inside or outside each school building.

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 Statute on Statutes. Provides that a live child born as a result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person and accorded immediate protection under the law. Removes language regarding interpretation of specified provisions. Effective immediately.

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

Creates the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish the Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program for the purpose of providing direct relief to hotels impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall award a one-time grant to the operator of each hotel in the State in an amount equal to $1,500 for each room in the hotel. Sets forth the permitted uses for grant funds awarded under the Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides for emergency rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2022.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is also a hate crime by reason of the actual or perceived employment as a peace officer or status as a retired peace officer, regardless of the existence of any other motivating factor or factors to commit assault, battery, aggravated assault, misdemeanor theft, criminal trespass to residence, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to vehicle, criminal trespass to real property, mob action, disorderly conduct, harassment by telephone, or harassment through electronic communications.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who own and operate a grocery store in a county with a population of 150,000 or fewer inhabitants and are liable for the payment of real property taxes at the location where that grocery store is located. Provides that the credit is in an amount equal to the property taxes paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on the real property that contains that grocery store. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Requires a county clerk or board of election commissioners to cross-check each voter registration roll with the national Change of Address System information gathered by the United States Postal Service to determine if the changed address of each person who has filed a change of address has resulted in the removal of that person from the voting precinct or voting election district in which he or she was enrolled as a voter. Requires the county clerk or board of election commissioners to automatically remove, from each voter registration roll that contains a self-removed person's former address, that person from the voter roll of his or her former precinct or former election district.