Rep. Will Davis

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the Department of the Lottery shall offer a special Lyme Disease Innovation instant scratch-off game for the benefit of the Lyme Disease Innovation Program with net revenue deposited into the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund. Grants the Department of the Lottery rulemaking powers. Adds references to the Lyme Disease Innovation scratch-off game to various provisions in the Act. Provides that the Department shall offer the game upon the discontinuation of the first game that is discontinued under certain provisions of the law. Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Specifies that the Lyme Disease Innovation Program shall be funded through moneys in the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund, including revenue generated from the Lyme Disease Innovation scratch-off game.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Increases the self-distribution limit for class 3 brewers that meet certain requirements to not more than 77,500 (instead of 6,200) gallons of beer from each in-state or out-of-state class 3 brewery premises, which shall not exceed 232,500 (instead of 18,600) gallons annually in the aggregate, that is manufactured at a wholly owned class 3 brewer's in-state or out-of-state licensed premises to retail licensees and class 3 brewers and to certain brewers, class 1 brewers, and class 2 brewers. Provides that a special event retailer's license (not-for-profit) shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale, at retail, alcoholic liquors for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license (instead of for use or consumption), but not for resale in any form and only at the location and on the specific dates designated for the special event in the license. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, a special use permit license shall allow the sale or offering for sale of certain transferred or delivered alcoholic liquor at retail for consumption on or off the premises specified in the license. Provides that a retail licensee or manufacturer with retail privileges may operate a loyalty program, reward program, or mug club for alcoholic liquors the retailer or manufacturer with retail privileges is licensed to sell so long as the price of the product is not below the retail licensee's or manufacturer with retail privileges' costs. Provides that a retail licensee or licensed manufacturer with retail privileges may offer incentives to consumers for participation in a rewards program, loyalty program, or mug club. Set forth further provisions concerning rewards programs, loyalty programs, and mug clubs. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that no person shall conduct a carbon sequestration activity within a sequestration facility that overlies, underlies, or passes through a sole-source aquifer. Defines "sole-source aquifer". Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning evidence-based funding for student success, allows the Professional Review Panel to study, at the discretion of the chairperson, any proposed legislation by the General Assembly impacting the provision or the distribution of Tier funds through the evidence-based funding formula or the adequacy targets of organizational units funded through the evidence-based funding formula.

Creates the Rural Hospital Task Force Act. Establishes the Rural Hospital Task Force within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of investigating the current state of rural hospitals and providing recommendations to prevent further closures of rural hospitals and to potentially expand rural hospital services. Provides that the Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at least 4 separate days. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires each agency and entity represented on the Task Force to share with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary to achieve the purpose of the Task Force. Provides that all findings and recommendations made by the Task Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2027

Amends the State Salary and Annuity Withholding Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Technology Advancement and Development Act, the Women's Business Ownership Act of 2015, the State Finance Act, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Vehicle Code, the Franchise Tax and License Fee Amnesty Act of 2007, the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to remove provisions concerning specified funds. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code to remove definitions and make other changes. Amends the State Finance Act to repeal specified funds on January 1, 2026. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to repeal provisions concerning certain special registration plates on January 1, 2026. Amends the State Employee Housing Act, the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Department of Public Health Act, the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the School Code, the Higher Education Veterans Service Act, the Older Adult Services Act, the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, and the Wildlife Code to make other changes. Repeals the Farm Fresh Schools Program Act, the Emergency Budget Implementation Act of Fiscal Year 2010, the Institution for Tuberculosis Research Act, and the Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 473 amends the School Code to correct a technical error in the section that defines the code's short title. This change is purely administrative and does not alter any educational policies, programs, or requirements. The bill affects no specific groups, schools, or students, as it only updates the official reference language within the code. It has no substantive impact on education funding, curriculum, or school operations.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Adds a provision that requires the Department of Early Childhood to make appropriate accommodations when an applicant for a license to operate a day care center, day care home, or group day care home requests that the application be offered in a language other than English.

Amends the Tobacco Products Act. Defines "electronic cigarette", "nicotine", and "tobacco products". Imposes a tax on any person engaged in business as a distributor of tobacco products at the rate of (i) 18% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State before July 1, 2012; (ii) 36% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State prior to July 1, 2025; and (iii) 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State beginning on July 1, 2025. Makes the changes made to the definition of "electronic cigarette" by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly apply on and after June 30, 2025, but no claim for credit or refund is allowed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly for such taxes paid during the period beginning June 30, 2025 and the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides the Illinois Gaming Board shall: allow sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing to keep their previously issued Board identification cards; or issue photographic identification cards to sworn law enforcement personnel employed by the Board who retire in good standing that indicate their separation from service and identify the person as having been employed by the Board as sworn law enforcement personnel. Provides that if a Board-issued identification card is lost or stolen, the Board shall immediately reissue a replacement identification card upon written request by the retired sworn law enforcement personnel. Effective immediately.