Rep. Barbara Hernandez

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the amount of credits awarded under the affordable housing tax donation program is limited to $41,831,227 in State fiscal year 2027 and shall increase by 10% each fiscal year thereafter (currently, $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 increased by 5% each fiscal year thereafter). Provides that the affordable housing donation income tax credit applies through the taxable year ending on December 31, 2036 (currently, December 31, 2026). Effective immediately.

Creates the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act. Establishes a firearms manufacturer licensing program in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, with certain requirements, including that the sum of all fees for firearms manufacturer licenses shall be equal to the public health costs and financial burdens from firearm injuries and deaths. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a manufacturer of firearms may not operate in this State without a license from the Department and that a manufacturer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000,000 per month. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a retailer may not sell a firearm to a consumer in this State from a manufacturer who does not have a license from the Department and that a retailer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, with certain requirements. Establishes the RIFL Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with certain limitations. Provides that the proceeds from fees under the licensing program shall be deposited into the RIFL Fund. Establishes a financial assistance program in the Department with moneys from the RIFL Fund for financial assistance to victims of firearms and for other purposes. Provides that the Department shall contract with a program administrator to administer the financial assistance program, with certain requirements. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for financial assistance to victims of firearms, with certain requirements, including regarding exemption from certain State taxes. Provides that the Department may contract with a program administrator to implement or administer any part of the Act, with certain requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall report certain information to the Department. Provides that the Department may provide for other civil penalties of no more than $1,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act. Makes other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may license and regulate all commercial operations within the municipality's boundaries, whether for profit or not for profit, but may not impose any tax upon their operations except as otherwise authorized by law. Limits the definition of "commercial operations" to exclude agritourism operations, agricultural properties, agribusinesses, agritourism activities, agricultural experiences, and pollution control facilities.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being made publicly available online. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that specified entities that spend $10,000 or more on independent expenditures in the 12 months prior to an election, or who accepts $10,000 or more in an election cycle of in-kind contributions to enable independent expenditures, shall maintain transfer records and submit reports to the State Board of Elections. Provides that independent expenditures for public communications financed by specified entities shall include specified information. Provides that no person shall, for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements, structure or assist in structuring, or attempt to structure or assist in structuring, any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transaction. Sets forth provisions concerning independent expenditures; election spending; and coordinated expenditures. Replaces references to "electioneering communication" with "election spending". Defines terms. Makes other changes.

Amends the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transit Innovation, Integration, and Reform Act. Provides that the member appointed to the Committee to represent individuals with disabilities shall either be an individual with a disability or an individual who has demonstrated experience advocating for and advancing the accessibility and transportation needs of individuals with disabilities. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that one of the members of the Board of the Chicago Transit Authority shall be a person with a disability who lives within the Authority's service area and uses the services provided by the Authority. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that one of the Directors of the Board of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority shall be a person with a disability with expertise in transportation and shall be appointed with the advice and recommendation of a disability advocacy organization serving the Metropolitan Region. Provides that one of the directors of the Suburban Bus Board shall be the Commissioner of the City of Chicago's Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (rather than appointed by the Mayor of Chicago). Provides that one of the directors of the Commuter Rail Board shall be a person with a disability who uses the services provided by the Commuter Rail Division and appointed with the advice and recommendation of a disability advocacy organization serving the Metropolitan Region. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall each establish and maintain an ADA Advisory Committee to advise the Chicago Transit Authority, the Suburban Bus Board, or the Commuter Rail Board on accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as it relates to fixed route and paratransit service.

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who is eligible to receive an alternative retirement annuity may elect to receive an estimated payment that shall commence no later than 30 days after the later of either the member's last day of employment or 30 days after the member files for the retirement benefit with the System. Provides that the estimated payment shall be the best estimate by the System of the total monthly amount due to the member based on the information that the System possesses at the time of the estimate. Provides that if the amount of the estimate is greater or less than the actual amount of the monthly annuity, the System shall pay or recover the difference within 6 months after the start of the monthly annuity. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires every public elementary and high school to include in its curriculum the study of the contributions made by Latin Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the requirement during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement. Provides that the failure by a school district or school to comply with the requirement shall result in a written warning for the first offense, and if the school district or school continues to fail to comply with the requirements, the school district or school shall face disciplinary action at the discretion of the regional superintendent. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for the development of a Latin American unit of study. Effective August 1, 2026.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for grants to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office to expand the Human Exploitation Unit. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Changes the definitions of "harassment" to include, among other actions, doxing, electronic tracking, and nonconsensual creation, dissemination, or threatening the dissemination of electronically generated or digitally altered content pertaining to the petitioner. Requires a county (not just counties with more than 250,000 in population) to provide remote access to a hearing on a protective order to include relevant witnesses besides the petitioner and respondent. Creates additional remedies for the court to grant in a domestic violence order of protection. Requires that any motion to extend a plenary order must be filed on or before the expiration date, and the plenary order remains in effect after filing until its original expiration date or until the motion is presented or heard, whichever is later. Requires a plenary order to be extended if the court finds that since entry of the plenary order there has been no material change in the relevant circumstances as required by law, and an extension of a plenary order may be granted for any fixed period of time or indefinitely until the plenary order is vacated or modified. Provides that if the motion to extend the plenary order is uncontested, petitioner's motion or affidavit stating that there has been no material change in relevant circumstances since entry of the order and stating the reason for the requested extension is sufficient for the court to extend the plenary order for any length of time, including indefinitely. Provides that the court may grant a contested request for an extension of the plenary order for more than 2 years for good cause. Provides that a violation of the original order or a subsequent incident of abuse is not required to grant the extension or determine the length of the extension, and compliance with the original order does not negate the basis or length of the extension. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Makes conforming changes.