Rep. Maura Hirschauer

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Expands the definition of "developmental disability" to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Expands the definition of "severe and multiple impairments" to include a substantial disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome. Exempts persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome from any assessment or evaluation to measure cognitive functioning or IQ for purposes of making determinations on whether such persons have severe and multiple impairments eligible for home-based and community-based services. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to include Prader-Willi syndrome as a developmental disability in any rule defining the term "developmental disability" and in any rule listing specific medical conditions or disabilities eligible for developmental disability services provided by the Department. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Provides that, except where the context indicates otherwise: (i) in any rule, contract, or other document the term "developmental disability" shall include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome; and (ii) whenever there is a reference in any Act to "development disability" the term shall be construed to include a disability attributable to Prader-Willi syndrome.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.

Creates the Health Care Transparency Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall identify reproductive health care services, LGBTQ health care services, and end-of-life health care services that are or may be subject to denial of care for nonmedical reasons in the State and develop a clear and simple disclosure form for the purpose of conveying to patients and to the public which of the identified health care services are and are not generally available, are subject to restriction for nonmedical reasons, and are subject to restrictions on referral by each covered entity. Requires the Department to publish and maintain on its public-facing website a current list of covered entities and provide for public access to the disclosure form submitted by each covered entity; adopt rules implementing the Department's duties; and develop and administer to the public an education and awareness program regarding how denial of care may negatively impact health care access and quality, may be avoided, and affects vulnerable people and communities. Establishes disclosure requirements for covered entities. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires a court, when appointing a guardian ad litem to represent a child, shall make efforts to appoint a guardian ad litem who has received evidence-based education and training relating to family violence. Includes additional factors for the court to consider when determining the allocation of parenting time. Provides criteria for the court to consider in restricting parental responsibilities that are necessary to protect a child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional well-being. Allows the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement an ongoing education and training program for judges and relevant court personnel regarding child abuse. Makes other changes. Amends the Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Restricts a court from sealing a court file related to a domestic violence order of protection. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as Kayden's Law.

Calls for the release of all files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged accomplices with redactions limited solely to shielding the identities of survivors as outlined in the Epstein Transparency Act. Further calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor independent of the Trump Administration's influence to review prosecution decisions stemming from the Epstein investigation to investigate whether the Trump Administration illegally redacted or withheld documents to shield individuals for political purposes.

Opposes Illinois Senate Bill 3572 (SB3572). Opposes any effort to punish women for accessing reproductive healthcare, efforts to subject survivors of rape and incest to more severe punishments than a rapist, and efforts to restrict access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other forms of assisted reproductive technology.

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the two Houses shall convene in Joint Session on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at the hour of 12:00 o'clock noon for the purpose of hearing his Excellency Governor JB Pritzker present to the General Assembly his Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2027, as required by Chapter 15, Section 20/50-5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person who has had the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card revoked or denied under certain provisions because the person was a patient in a mental health facility shall not be permitted to obtain a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, after the 5-year period has lapsed, unless the person has received a mental health evaluation by a licensed clinical mental health professional (rather than a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner as those terms are defined in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code). Provides that the person receiving a mental health evaluation shall share all collateral records with the licensed clinical mental health professional making the certification and shall attest that all collateral records have been provided before the evaluation. Provides that the licensed clinical mental health professional shall attest that the licensed clinical mental health professional has requested, received, reviewed, and considered all of the person's collateral records in making the licensed clinical mental health professional's determination that the person is not a clear and present danger to self or others. Provides that the licensed clinical mental health professional shall identify the types of collateral records received. Requires the licensed clinical mental health professional to make all reasonable attempts to obtain collateral records, and, if no collateral records are obtained, requires the licensed clinical mental health professional to document the efforts used to obtain such collateral records. Provides that the results of the mental health evaluations that are performed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be transmitted to the Illinois State Police. Defines terms.

Creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act. Restricts a public educational institution from the adoption or continued use of discriminatory disability mascots. Allows a public educational institution to continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a prohibited name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the Act until September 1, 2028 if certain requirements.

Urges the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Pritzker Administration to delay cuts to Direct Service Professional (DSP) service hours set to begin January 1,2026, until such time as the State is prepared to implement the "Zero Hour" Staffing Model, to protect the services depended on by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).