Rep. Kelly Cassidy

Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Requires the Department of Natural Resources, after consulting with the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council and the Department of Insurance, to adopt rules establishing a Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program for the purpose of providing, for a period of 6 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, coverage for losses incurred by eligible persons as a result of prescribed burns conducted in accordance with the Act by certified prescribed burn managers. Sets forth programmatic requirements for the pilot program. Creates the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Fund. Allows the Department to impose and collect specified premiums and fees to implement and administer the Act and to maintain the solvency of the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be expended by the Department for purposes of the Prescribed Burn Liability Claims Pilot Program and its administration and for no other purpose. Allows the Department to contract with any entity to serve as the third-party administrator of the program and to assist in administering the Fund. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to limit the liability of a person who is enrolled in the pilot program for damages in excess of the cap established by the Department by rule. Further provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act shall not be construed to impose liability on the State for any payment of any claim beyond the amount of moneys available in the Fund. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that all housing assistance payments payable from funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services in State Fiscal Year 2027 for the purpose of providing ongoing housing assistance to long-term care residents seeking to transition to less restrictive community housing shall be structured to ensure that housing assistance recipients pay no more than 30% of their income as housing costs and may relocate to a different residence that meets applicable Department rules without losing eligibility for such housing assistance payments. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Restorative Justice Community Court Act. Provides that the chief judge of each judicial circuit shall establish at least one Restorative Justice Community Court and may establish additional satellite Restorative Justice Community Courts. Provides that Restorative Justice Community Courts shall be planned, operated, and evaluated in accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court Problem-Solving Court standards and shall obtain certification and maintain compliance with the requirements of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Provides that referral to the Restorative Justice Community Court may be initiated by the court; the defendant; counsel for the defendant; probation, pretrial services, or Restorative Justice Community Court staff; or the State's Attorney. Provides that, upon admission to a Restorative Justice Community Court, the court shall enter an order staying the criminal proceedings and tolling the speedy-trial period. Provides that, upon a finding by the court that a participant has successfully completed all conditions of a Restorative Justice Community Court Agreement, including obligations to repair harm, participate in restorative processes, and comply with services and supports identified in the restorative agreement, the court shall: (1) dismiss the charge or charges underlying the participant's admission to the Restorative Justice Community Court in the interests of justice and (2) enter an order dismissing the charge or charges and expunging the record of arrest and court proceedings in accordance with the Criminal Identification Act without any statutory waiting period. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Requires fur facilities to be licensed by the Department of Natural Resources in order to continue operating. Provides that a person is not eligible to obtain a fur facility license for a fur facility that was not owned or operated in the State before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Specifies that a person who owns or operates a fur facility before the effective date of the amendatory Act must obtain a fur facility license from the Department for the facility by January 1, 2028 in order to continue owning or operating the facility on or after January 1, 2028. Limits the transferability of licenses after January 1, 2028. Establishes various license application requirements. Requires the Department to inspect fur facilities before granting or renewing a fur facility license. Provides that a fur facility license may be granted by the Department only if the Department determines the facility meets certain requirements. Creates the Fur Facility Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that amounts in the Fund must be used by the Department to finance the administration and enforcement of the licensing system established by the amendatory Act. Specifies that the Department of Natural Resources must revoke the license of any person who violates the licensing requirements added by the amendatory Act and may confiscate the person's fur-bearing mammals. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of the licensing requirements added by the amendatory Act. Exempts fur facility license holders from the Code's fur-bearing mammal breeder permitting requirements. Defines various terms. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement that cannabis (both medical and adult-use) must be stored in an odor-proof, child-resistant container in vehicles. It affects medical cannabis cardholders, caregivers, cultivation center agents, dispensing agents, and adult cannabis users who possess cannabis in any vehicle area while driving. The change simplifies storage rules but maintains existing prohibitions against possessing cannabis in passenger areas of vehicles. The bill amends Sections 11-502.1 (medical cannabis) and 11-502.15 (adult-use cannabis) of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Human Services shall reissue the original cost and wage survey for costs associated with the administration of services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community day services that was contained in the Department's Guidehouse Rate Study. Provides that the cost and wage survey shall be used to effectuate rate increases in transportation funding for the administration of community day services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and may include provider contact information, total costs of employee salaries and benefits, staff turnover, and other information. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that removes the 5 hour per day billing maximums at community day services. Provides that the amendment shall not modify monthly and yearly billing maximums for community day services. Provides that implementation is contingent on federal approval. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Authorizes Chief County Assessment Officers in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants to renew an individual's low-income senior citizen exemption under the Code without an annual application if the applicant has previously provided the full social security number or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Provides that, if a Chief County Assessment Officer is unable to verify that an applicant remains eligible for the low-income senior citizen exemption, then the Chief County Assessment Officer shall notify the applicant and provide the applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate the applicant's eligibility for the exemption. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure under the Act information submitted to a Chief County Assessment Officer in applications for the low-income senior citizen exemption under the Property Tax Code.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the 15-year penalty enhancement for committing various offenses with a firearm, applies only if the person committed the offense while personally armed with the firearm.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that no person shall sell, attempt to sell, or offer to sell to a consumer in the State a non-externally vented natural gas appliance that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2027 unless a label on the gas appliance bears a specified warning message. Provides that the Attorney General may adopt rules setting forth additional requirements for the placement and formatting of the label. Provides that a person who violates the provision commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Creates the Illinois Future Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish the Direct Cash Assistance Program, which will provide qualifying individuals with a monthly cash payment of $500. Allows the Department of Human Services to adopt rules. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act regarding the Illinois Future Fund and further amends the Act in provisions regarding the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that the 25% of the monthly amount transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund that is transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund shall be changed, beginning July 1, 2027, according to the following schedule: (i) for the 2028 fiscal year, the excess between the amount transferred during the 2027 calendar year and the amount transferred in the 2026 calendar year shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Illinois Future Fund, and the remainder of the 25% of the monthly amount transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund; (ii) for the 2029 fiscal year, only 20% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 5% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (iii) for the 2030 fiscal year, only 15% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 10% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (iv) for the 2031 fiscal year, only 10% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 15% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (v) for the 2032 fiscal year, only 5% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 20% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; and (vi) for the 2033 fiscal year and all subsequent fiscal years, 25% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund.