Rep. Marcus Evans

Creates the Underground Carbon Dioxide Storage Act. Provides that the Act applies to the underground storage of carbon dioxide but does not apply to extractable mineral resources, and the rights and requirements of the Act are subordinate to the rights pertaining to oil, gas, and coal resources. Provides that a storage operator may not operate a storage facility without a storage facility permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Includes provisions regarding: pore space ownership; integration of ownership interests; fees; requirements for drilling near a storage facility; the applicability of certain tort claims; certificate of project completion; and rulemaking. Creates the Carbon Dioxide Storage Administrative Fund and the Carbon Dioxide Long-Term Trust Fund. Makes corresponding changes in the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an electric utility subject to the requirements of the Illinois Solar for All Program may file a tariff with the Illinois Commerce Commission that creates a new rate for the supply of electric power and energy to low-income customers. Provides that the tariff shall allow for the developer of a community solar project that is the subject of a contract to sell its renewable energy credits executed pursuant to the Illinois Solar for All Program or the contract and payment terms of the renewable portfolio standard of the Illinois Power Agency Act to also enroll the project under the tariff. Provides for low-income customers the tariff shall automatically apply. Provides that the capacity and energy from the enrolled projects shall be used to serve the customers taking service under the rate authorized by these provisions. Provides that if an electric utility elects to file the tariff outside of a rate design filing, the Commission shall enter its order approving the tariff no later than 120 days after the date of the utility's filing. Provides that electric utilities that have a tariff, community solar projects enrolled in the program, and the customers taking service thereunder, shall be exempt from all application, contract, and disclosure requirements that may otherwise apply under the Illinois Power Agency Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if an alternative retail electric supplier warrants to an electric utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers that the alternative retail electric supplier's customer has provided consent to access interval data, then, until either the customer contacts the alternative retail electric supplier to opt out or the customer is no longer served by the alternative retail electric supplier, an electric utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers shall electronically transmit interval meter usage data for each residential retail customer that meets certain requirements. Provides that an electric utility shall submit tariffs to the Illinois Commerce Commission for approval within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to meet the requirements and provide such services no later than June 1, 2024. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not sell interval data and allows an alternative retail supplier to license or disclose interval data under specified conditions. Provides that no costs incurred by an electric utility to provide data or services shall be paid by ratepayers. Makes other changes. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that before an alternative retail electric supplier may warrant that it has a residential customer or small commercial retail customer's express agreement to access interval data, it must make specified disclosures and obtain consent to access the interval data. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier may refuse to enroll or disenroll a residential customer or small commercial retail customer in a product or service if the residential customer or small commercial retail customer does not provide or revokes consent. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not warrant that it has a non-residential customer's (other than a small commercial retail customer's) consent to access interval meter usage data unless the contract between the alternative retail electric supplier and the customer explicitly provides the alternative retail electric supplier with permission to access the customer's interval meter usage data. Effective immediately.

Creates the Home Buyer Savings Account Act. Sets forth provisions concerning legislative findings; establishment of first-time and second-chance home buyer savings accounts; use of first-time and second-chance home buyer savings accounts; account holder responsibilities; responsibilities of financial institutions; deduction of contributions, exclusion of earnings, and limitations; penalty for withdrawal; Department of Revenue forms; and an annual report. Defines terms. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Sets forth provisions concerning accessory dwelling units and housing. Amends the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish a pilot grant program to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of housing located near a REV Illinois Project. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Sets forth provisions concerning units of local government which have in effect an impact fee ordinance or resolution. Makes other changes.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that for any teacher who is elected by the association's membership to represent the association for federal advocacy work, for up to 10 days in any school year spent by a teacher during the term, time spent in attendance at a meeting or gathering for federal advocacy work shall be considered time expended in the service of the district and no deduction of wages shall be made for such attendance.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, a person is eligible for a diaper allowance of $30 per month per child if: the person's household income is at or below 50% of the federal poverty guidelines; the person is responsible for the welfare of a child 3 years of age or younger; and the child who is 3 years of age or younger receives medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the diaper allowance may be used only to purchase diapers and shall be issued through an electronic benefit transfer card. Provides that the diaper allowance is not considered income for purposes of determining eligibility or the amount of assistance for any public aid benefit provided under State law. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that, to ensure that foster parents who foster children with diabetes have the knowledge and tools they need to provide and advocate for their foster children's proper care, the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide eligible foster parents with training on diabetes care, including training on insulin pump therapy, general diabetes management, carbohydrate counting, how to administer insulin with an insulin pen or syringe, and how to identify the warning signs of low blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that cannabis packaging must not contain neon or fluorescent colors; the words "candy", "candies", or any variant of those words, such as "kandy" or "kandeez"; things that are commonly used to market products to individuals under the age of 21, including symbols, images, characters, public figures, or phrases; or images of individuals who could reasonably appear to be under the age of 21. Modifies a prohibition of images on labels designed or likely to appeal to minors to include games. Makes conforming changes.

Mourns the death of Mattie Ree Smith-Eiland.