Rep. Anna Moeller

Urges the State Board of Education to conduct a study on the number of schools, school districts, and other public school associations across the State that currently utilize Native American names, logos, and mascots. Urges the State Board of Education, through conversations with local schools and school districts, to collect findings on what the cost would be for these individual schools and districts to remove and change Native American names, mascots, and logos. Urges the State Board of Education to include its findings in a written report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2024. Urges schools, school districts, and other public school associations to consider and plan for changing these harmful Native American names, mascots, and logos. Urges the State Board of Education to use all tools available to work towards the immediate end of the practice of using racial slurs as team names in Illinois schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 21, 2024, as "It's Our Fox River Day" to honor the Fox River's historical and ecological significance. It directly affects residents and communities within the Fox River Valley in Wisconsin and Illinois by encouraging public and private events to celebrate the river's recovery from pollution. The resolution acknowledges the river's past role in supporting Native Americans and early settlers before detailing efforts to clean its waters and restore wildlife populations. By formally declaring this date, the legislation aims to foster community appreciation for the river's value as a safe resource for recreation and public water supply.

Congratulates David Sam, Ph.D. on his retirement as president of Elgin Community Community (ECC). Commends his exemplary service and dedication to the students, faculty, staff, and community of ECC.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Route 31 in Batavia as the "SSG Robert D. Herreid Memorial Highway" to honor Staff Sergeant Robert Dale Herreid, a U.S. Army soldier who died in Vietnam in 1968. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs marking the road with this new name and to send copies of the resolution to the soldier's family and local officials. It does not change any laws or funding but serves as a formal tribute to Herreid's service and sacrifice by renaming a local roadway in his memory.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Route 25 in Aurora, running from Sullivan Road to Ashland Avenue, as the "SFC Ogden N. Thompson Memorial Highway" to honor a local soldier. The legislation directly affects the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is asked to install signs or plaques at appropriate locations to display the new name. It also requires that copies of the resolution be given to the family of the late Sergeant First Class Ogden N. Thompson, the Aurora Mayor, and the Secretary of Transportation. The bill serves as a commemorative measure recognizing Thompson's service and presumed death during the Korean War.

Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to continue taking appropriate action to facilitate equitable access to adolescent and adult vaccinations, including establishing appropriate programs and initiatives to raise public awareness on the importance of adolescent and adult vaccinations. Urges the IDPH to continue working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in-state healthcare providers, and patients to implement an effective and actionable state immunization strategy that includes adult immunizations. Urges the IDPH to continue increasing community resilience to communicable and other emerging disease threats. Urges the IDPH to continue determining goals on which to center the immunization plan. Urges the IDPH to continue exploring federal funding opportunities and partnerships to support vaccine awareness and access programs aligned with the goals established in the state immunization strategy.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for an amount equal to the amount included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income that is attributable to student loan repayment assistance received by the taxpayer during the taxable year from a qualified community foundation if the taxpayer is a qualified worker. Effective immediately.

Amends the Gender Violence Act. Provides that "gender-related violence" means, among other meanings, contact between a sexual organ from which a condom has been removed and the intimate part of another who did not verbally consent to the condom being removed and contact between an intimate part of the person and a sexual organ of another from which the person removed a condom without verbal consent.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program. Provides that no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that the educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the distribution of funds. Provides for rulemaking.

Creates the Prairie Lawns Act. Establishes the Prairie Lawns Program, which requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide assistance for installing pollinator-friendly native plants in residential lawns to protect and support native species of pollinators. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for the Program. Provides for individual support grants to reimburse Illinois residents for up to $400, subject to appropriation and other requirements. Provides for demonstration neighborhood grants to units of local government and nonprofit organizations through a request for proposal process, subject to appropriation and other requirements. Provides that homeowners’ associations and common interest communities may not prohibit the planting of pollinator habitats. Defines terms.