Rep. Barbara Hernandez

Creates the Emerging and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Infrastructure and Market Access Grant Program. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall administer grants to eligible applicants to increase agricultural production, strengthen farm viability, and expand market access. Defines "emerging farmer," "socially disadvantaged farmer," and related terms. Specifies allowable uses of grant funds, priorities for awards, and reporting requirements. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Creates the Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act. Provides that any person doing business in this State, or any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or any other entity, may erect, maintain, and operate a natural organic reduction facility in the State and provide the necessary appliances and facilities for the natural organic reduction of human remains in accordance with the Act. Provides that an individual or a person, cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or other entity may reduce human remains only in a natural organic reduction facility operated by a disposition authority licensed for this purpose and only under the limitations provided in the Act. Provides for: grounds for denial or discipline; surrender of a license; license, display, transfer; authorizing agent; authorization for natural organic reduction; performance of natural organic reduction services, training; recordkeeping; natural organic reduction procedures; disposition of reduced human remains; limitation of liability; hazardous implants; penalties; failure to file an annual report; injunctive action, cease and desist order; service of notice; investigations, notice, and hearing; compelling testimony; administrative review, venue, certification of record, and costs; and preneed of natural organic reduction arrangements. Effective June 1, 2026.

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.

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.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Removes provisions requiring the Illinois Investment Policy Board to include companies that boycott Israel in its list of restricted companies. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2028, a person convicted of a felony, or otherwise under sentence in a correctional institution, shall have his or her right to vote restored and shall be eligible to vote not later than 14 days following his or her conviction. Provides that a person who is serving a sentence in a correctional institution starting prior to January 1, 2027 shall have his or her right to vote restored not later than January 14, 2028. Provides that a person may not be denied the right to vote because of a past criminal conviction. Provides that each local election authority shall coordinate with the correctional institution, Illinois Department of Corrections, and other correctional agencies incarcerating eligible voters to facilitate voting by mail for those voters eligible to vote in that election jurisdiction who are incarcerated in the correctional institution. Provides that the Attorney General, any individual aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, any entity whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, any entity whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of these provisions, or any entity that would expend resources in order to fulfill its mission as a result of a violation of these provisions may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that the Act is intended to benefit and protect the rights of individual voters and to provide a remedy for infringing on the rights granted under this Act. Amends the Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall conduct the civics peer education program each of the 3 sessions not less than twice a month at each correctional institution totaling not less than 6 sessions per month at each correctional institution. Provides that the civics peer education program and workshops must be made available to all committed persons regardless of the date they were first committed or the length of their sentence. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2028.

Amends the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for State funded cash assistance and SNAP benefits to humanitarian immigrants, subject to available funding, if they are not eligible for such benefits solely due to citizenship or immigration status requirements but otherwise meet the financial and nonfinancial factors of eligibility. Lists the classes of humanitarian immigrants eligible for SNAP benefits under the Article. Provides that any individual residing in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of the individual's daily meals is not eligible for SNAP benefits. Exempts persons who do not have legal authorization to work from the statutory work requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the advice and technical assistance provided to State grant-making agencies by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Act shall include training for State agency staff. Sets forth requirements for the training. Provides that a State grant-making agency that awards a grant must issue the grant agreement associated with the grant within 60 days after the grant's effective date. Sets forth requirements for the grant agreement.

Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Nelson Mandela Act. Provides that a committed person may not be in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days. Provides that a committed person may not be in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period. Provides that the provision of basic needs and services, such as nutritious food, clean water, hygiene supplies, clothing, bedding and mattress, religious materials, legal materials, access to grievance forms, and access to medical and mental health, shall not be restricted as a form of punishment or discipline for committed persons in isolated confinement. Provides that a committed person in protective custody may opt out of that status by providing informed, voluntary, written refusal of that status. Provides that a committed person shall not be placed in isolated confinement if the committed person: (1) is 21 years of age or younger; (2) is 55 years of age or older; (3) has a disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or (4) is pregnant or postpartum. Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to restrict any rights or privileges a committed person may have under any other statute, rule, or regulation. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.