Rep. Curtis Tarver

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring William Noel "Billy" Lawless, a Chicago restaurateur and former Irish emigrant senator who passed away in November 2024. It formally records the Illinois House of Representatives' sadness over his death and extends condolences to his family and friends. The document outlines his life story, including his work in the restaurant industry and his advocacy for immigrant rights, but it does not create new laws or policies. Instead, it serves as an official expression of sympathy and a tribute to his contributions to Irish and American communities.

Amends the School Finance Authority Act of the School Code. Reinstates the School Finance Authority and reverts any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Chicago Board of Education upon the abolition of the original Authority established by the Article back to the Authority. Provides that any powers, duties, rights, or property granted to the Board before the abolition of the original Authority and after the reinstatement of the Authority under the amendatory Act shall remain vested in the Board. Updates the expiration dates of terms of the Chairman, the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Governor, and the 2 Directors of the Authority appointed by the Mayor. Requires the Board to adopt and submit for approval a financial plan on or before March 1, 2026 and adopt and submit for approval a budget on or before February 1, 2026 with respect to the remaining portion of the fiscal year ending in 2026. Requires the Board, beginning in fiscal year 2028 and every second year thereafter, to adopt a financial plan covering a period of 2 fiscal years. Requires the Board to submit a staffing plan for the fiscal year ending in 2026 to the Authority within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes other changes.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that "alcoholic liquor" includes alcohol-infused products. Defines "alcohol-infused products" and "co-branded alcoholic beverage". Provides that, except for persons issued a license under the Act, no person shall manufacture, distribute, or sell alcohol-infused products. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to similar products that are not alcohol-infused products or immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor area that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images or immediately adjacent to products that are not alcohol-infused products. Provides that any retail establishment with a retail sales floor that is equal to or less than 2,500 square feet shall either not display alcohol-infused products or co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to specified products or equip the display with specified signage. Prohibits retail licensees from keeping, exposing for sale, or displaying alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to products marketed toward children.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Large Event Recycling and Composting Law. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2025, an owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,000 persons and that receives funding from the State of Illinois shall participate in the recycling program established by the county in which the event facility is located and shall send recyclable materials to a recycling center. Defines "event facility".

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. In provisions requiring a claimant or claimants to repay certain amounts received under the angel investment tax credit if a qualified new business venture fails to maintain its minimum employment threshold, provides that, during the 3-year reporting period that includes March 13, 2020 to January 1, 2024, the repayment of any tax credits issued under those provisions shall be determined at the discretion of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning charitable exemptions granted to limited liability companies, removes a requirement that the limited liability company must be a disregarded entity for federal and Illinois income tax purposes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Extends the date to file a charge from 300 calendar days to 3 years for an alleged violation under the Act except for the Real Estate Transactions Article. Authorizes the Human Rights Commission to award damages under the Act that are recognized under Illinois tort law and punitive damages if the allegations of the violation under the Act meet the evidentiary requirements under Illinois law for an award of punitive damages. Exempts action under the Real Estate Transactions Article.

Amends the Consumer Legal Funding Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, a consumer legal funding may be refinanced as authorized by rule. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall publish first notice of a rule concerning the refinancing of consumer legal fundings in the Illinois Register in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to permit the refinancing of consumer legal fundings. Makes conforming changes to contract disclosures.

Amends the Build Illinois Act. Provides that the amount of small business loans made to minority persons, veterans, females, or persons with a disability under the Act shall not exceed $2,000,000 (rather than $400,000) or 50% of the business project costs unless the Director of Commerce and Economic Development determines that a waiver of these limits is required to meet the purposes of the Act. Provides that eligible projects under those provisions include refinancing current debt if the loan will refinance a loan previously made by a lender that is unaffiliated with the financial intermediary making the new loan and the proceeds of the refinance transaction are not used to finance an extraordinary dividend or other distribution.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.