Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "plug-in solar energy system" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that (i) may or may not include an energy storage system; (ii) exports no more than 1,200 watts to an outlet; (iii) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet; (iv) is intended primarily to offset part of an eligible customer's electricity consumption; and (v) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a plug-in solar energy system to do certain actions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is exempt from interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is not eligible for net electricity metering or any distributed generation rebate. Provides that an electricity provider is not liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less is exempt from any product listing standard that would require alterations to a building's premises, wiring, or electrical panels. Provides that landlords, homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations shall not adopt, enforce, or attempt to enforce any restriction, covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule that directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits, or imposes unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation of a plug-in solar energy system. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Provides that "solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system. Makes other changes.

Amends the Clerks of Court Act. Authorizes a circuit court clerk of any county to develop and maintain a will depository. Provides a procedure for the clerk to accept for safekeeping a testamentary instrument executed in compliance with the Probate Act of 1975, including a will, codicil, trust, or trust and one or more trust amendments. Allows a depositor to deposit a will with the clerk if the depositor certifies in writing that the depositor is unable to locate the testator after a diligent search. Creates a procedure for the clerk to follow in accepting, keeping, and returning these documents. Allows the clerk to charge a fee of $25 for each will deposited, and the clerk may not collect a separate fee for additional documents concurrently deposited in relation to a single testator or for a single joint will prepared for a husband and wife.

Creates the Building Remedies to End Abusive Tear Gas and Harmful Exposures Act. Establishes the Chemical Agent Review Board within the Department of Public Health, and sets forth the Board's membership and duties. Prohibits deployment or possession of lachrymatory agents in the State, except for limited purposes. Requires the Department to adopt rules for approval of pepper spray formulations, including safety standards, testing protocols, and restrictions on delivery mechanisms. Directs the Department to maintain a public database of approved formulations and adverse event reports. Provides for reporting of chemical irritant deployments other than for personal self-defense. Creates a private right of action and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and certain organizations, with remedies including damages, civil penalties, and injunctive relief. Establishes the Illinois Human Rights Enforcement Fund. Includes home rule limitation and severability provisions and transition and compliance periods. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act. Provides that all individual in the State have the right to wear protective medical equipment in any place of public accommodation where they have a lawful right to be without obligation to disclose health status or any other protected information, and no person, entity, or authority shall deny, restrict, or infringe upon this right. Provides that operators and public officials shall not discriminate against or penalize medical device wearers for exercising their right to wear protective medical equipment. Provides that discrimination under the Act includes, but is not limited to: denial of service; eviction from premises; any form of harassment to remove or refrain from wearing such equipment for any amount of time; specified actions taken by employers; and provision of unequal goods, services, facilities, advantages, or accommodations. Sets forth provisions concerning the protection against retaliation, the exceptions for security requirements, operational safety, age and identity restricted products, and financial institution customer identification, and an undue hardship exemption. Effective immediately.

Creates the Human Services Workforce Sustainability Act. Requires the Departments of Human Services, Children and Family Services, Juvenile Justice, and Public Health, and other specified State agencies, to complete, by June 30, 2027, a look-back calculation for each contracted human services organization that compares the funding amount awarded to the human services organization in State fiscal years 2026 and 2021 in order to identify the percentage change in funding, if any, to the human services organization between those fiscal years. Provides that based on the look-back calculations, each State agency shall identify the total aggregate amount of additional appropriations needed to ensure that grant amounts awarded by the State agency in State Fiscal Year 2028 are at least 25% more than the grant amounts awarded to grantees in State Fiscal Year 2021. Contains provisions concerning implementation of increased grant funding, subject to appropriation; additional percentage increases in grants amounts beginning in State Fiscal Year 2029; expenditure and certification requirements on contracted human services organizations that receive increased grant funding; oversight by the Department of Central Management Services; the adoption of administrative rules; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an individual operating a bicycle approaching a stop sign may proceed through the intersection without stopping if the individual slows to a reasonable speed and the individual yields the right-of-way to pedestrians and traffic. Sets forth exemptions.

Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding fetal death, deletes provisions referencing election in writing to arrange for burial or cremation under the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires a funeral director to file an Authorization for Disposition of Fetal Remains or a certificate of death (rather than only a certificate of death) before obtaining a permit for disposition of remains. Provides that, in the case of a fetal death that occurs after a gestation period of less than 20 weeks or in the case of an abortion, no fetal death certificate shall be required for the disposition of remains. Directs the Department of Public Health to create a form to be used by the funeral director to obtain a permit for burial, entombment, or cremation. Requires the local registrar to seal any form filed under these provisions, and prohibits a funeral director from retaining a copy. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In provisions regarding the disposition of a fetus, provides that no fetal death certificate shall be required in accordance with the Vital Records Act. Provides that the funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of fetal remains shall use the Department of Public Health form to obtain a permit for disposition of remains. Makes other conforming changes.

Creates the Illinois Biometric Surveillance Act. Provides that law enforcement agencies may not obtain, retain, possess, access, request, use, or enter into an agreement with a third party, State or local government agency, or federal agency to obtain, retain, possess, access request, or use a biometric identification system. Provides a private right of action and for enforcement by the Attorney General. Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code to provide that the Secretary of State may not provide facial recognition search services except for verification of an individual's identity when issuing a mobile driver's license or identification card.

Creates the Let the People Lift the Ban Act. Includes legislative findings and purpose. Defines terms. Excludes specified types of residences and occupancies from the Act. Includes provisions relating to rental agreements, tenant and landlord rights and obligations, tenant and landlord remedies, security deposits, retaliatory conduct, lockouts, and conflict with other provisions of law. Amends the Rent Control Preemption Act. Provides that a prohibition on a unit of local government enacting, maintaining, or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property does not apply if the voters of the unit of local government have approved a referendum allowing rent control. Adds provisions about local rent control regulation, including regulation within a district, precinct, ward, or other similar subdivision of a unit of local government. Changes the home rule preemption of the Act to concurrent exercise of home rule powers by a unit rather than exclusive exercise by the State. Repeals the Retaliatory Eviction Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Provides that a person operating a bicycle is deemed to be an intended user of every roadway and portion of roadway on which bicyclists are permitted to ride.