Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

Amends the Smoke Detector Act. Bans, beginning December 31, 2027, the selling, offering for sale, or giving as a gift a smoke detector that is not designed to receive primary power from the building wiring or does not meet certain battery requirements set forth in the Act. Specifies that this does not prohibit manufacturing within the State and distributing, selling, offering for sale, or giving as a gift outside the State any smoke detector. Specifies that a person who violates this requirement is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine. Defines "person" within certain provisions of the Act.

Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2027 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an individual from performing surgical technology services if the individual is acting within the scope of the individual's license or registration or is a student or intern under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider.

Creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act. Provides that a firefighter shall receive 6 weeks of paid family leave that may be used: (1) for the birth of a child in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age, a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age, or a newly adopted or placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; and (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that an employer shall compensate a firefighter granted leave under the Act at the firefighter's regular rate of pay, paid at the same interval the firefighter was paid while working, for those regular work hours during which the firefighter is absent from work. Sets forth provisions concerning employment protection and maintenance of benefits; prohibited acts, limitations of the Act; waiver of leave under the Act; and collective bargaining agreements. Limits home rule. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2018 and ending on or before June 30, 2025. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term "full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 598 makes a technical amendment to the Salaries Act. Specifically, it revises a section concerning the short title of the Act. This bill primarily affects the formal naming convention within the existing law rather than substantive salary provisions.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may establish and administer a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment processing program to supplement and enhance investment opportunities and secure electronic payment options otherwise available to not-for-profit corporations in the State. Provides that the Treasurer may receive funds paid into the pool for the purpose of holding and investing those funds. Provides for surety bonds payable to not-for-profit corporations who participate in the pool. Provides that the Treasurer shall adopt rules for the efficient administration of the pool.

Declares March 25, 2026 as Women's Civic Day in the State of Illinois to celebrate and promote the vital role of women in public service and encourage the development of future women leaders in public affairs.

Commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Marquette Park March. Honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby. Reaffirms the commitment to continuing the fight for fair housing and economic justice for all Illinoisans.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthen Linkage to Follow-Up Care after a Behavioral Health Crisis Act. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that for purposes of timely linking an individual to follow-up mental health care immediately after a behavioral health crisis, when mobile crisis response services are provided to someone in a behavioral health crisis, the Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool approved by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall enable the delivery of community support services, medication monitoring, and other specified services when delivered by the same provider, for up to 30 days without beginning, performing, or completing an integrated assessment and treatment plan. Provides that such services shall be billed separate from mobile crisis response services. Prohibits the Department from imposing more stringent requirements on its Illinois Medicaid-Crisis Assessment Tool than those requirements that exist on the effective date of the amendatory Act, as long as the services provided are delivered under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. Requires the Department to file any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Declares April 11-17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week. Recognizes that Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the State of Illinois. Recognizes that the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality among Black women are unacceptable and unjust. States what the Black community needs to mitigate the effects of systemic and structural racism. States that in order to improve maternal health outcomes we must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the racial justice, reproductive justice, birth justice, and human rights frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity. States that Black women and birthing people must be active participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives. States that in order to ensure access to safe and respectful maternal health care for Black birthing people, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and other legislation rooted in human rights that seeks to improve maternal care and outcomes must be passed. States the goals of Black Maternal Health Week.