Rep. Marcus Evans

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

States that the Interstate 290 Corridor is a project of state, regional, and national significance that will improve multimodal transportation and connectivity and promote economic development. Further states that the goals of reconstructing the Interstate 290 Corridor should include enhancements to racial equity, promotion of open space, community enhancement, and sustainable and innovative practices. Formally requests that the U.S. Department of Transportation provide sufficient resources to the Illinois Department of Transportation to begin engineering and advance this project expeditiously.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Removes language requiring qualifying patients and designated caregivers to designate a registered medical cannabis dispensing organization for the qualifying patient or designated caregiver to receive medical cannabis. Effective immediately.

Amends the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Clarifies that it shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker to charge or collect a greater benefit or percentage upon money advanced, and for the use and forbearance thereof, than permitted under the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Provides that the definition of "loan" includes transactions subject to the Pawnbroker Regulation Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to solicit, broker, or otherwise engage in any other activity intended to facilitate or result in, or that in fact facilitates or results in, the origination of a loan that violates the Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person or entity to advertise or cause to be advertised a loan that violates the Act. Provides that a violation of the Act by a person or entity licensed under the Pawnbroker Regulation Act shall subject the person or entity to discipline in accordance with that Act. Makes other changes. Effective June 1, 2023.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes provision that no person serving a term of natural life imprisonment may be paroled or released except through executive clemency. Provides that a person serving a term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 60 years and served at least 20 consecutive years of imprisonment or a committed person who has served 25 consecutive years of imprisonment may submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Provides for the requirements of the petition. Provides that victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and provided opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this Code. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 8 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that if parole is denied, the petitioner shall be eligible to reapply for parole no later than 3 years after denial. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Prisoner Review Board) HB 2399 (H-AM 1) will have an increased cost to the Prisoner Review Board of over $4.0 Million in first 10 years of program.

Amends the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Includes the use of electronic cigarettes in the definition of "smoke" or "smoking". Changes the definition of "retail tobacco store" to include references to electronic cigarettes. Defines "electronic cigarette".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Includes catalytic converters as an essential part of a vehicle. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that theft of property not from the person and not exceeding $500 in value is a Class 4 felony if the theft was of a catalytic converter and the value of the catalytic converter does not exceed $500 in value. Provides that theft of property exceeding $500 and not exceeding $10,000 in value is a Class 2 felony if the theft was of a catalytic converter and the value of the catalytic converter exceeds $500 in value. Provides that a person commits criminal damage to property when he or she knowingly damages a vehicle of another with intent to take a catalytic converter. Provides that it is an affirmative defense if the owner of the damaged property consented to the damage. Provides that knowingly damaging a vehicle of another with intent to take a catalytic converter is (i) a Class 4 felony when the damage to property does not exceed $500 or (ii) a Class 2 felony when the damage to property exceeds $500.

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that the county board of a county having a population of more than 3,000,000 may, but is not required to, enter into an intergovernmental agreement with and provide funding to the Veterans Assistance Commission of the county.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the tax credit for affordable housing donations until December 31, 2026. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3805/7.28 Adds provisions to the introduced bill amending the Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the amount of tax credits reserved by the administrative housing agency for an approved project under the affordable housing tax donation credit program is limited to $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and shall be increased by 5% in each fiscal year thereafter. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Further amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. In provisions concerning the affordable housing tax donation credit program, provides that, for property that is for sale to homeowners, the gross monthly income standard is based on 120% (currently, 60%) of the area median income.