Rep. Barbara Hernandez

Creates the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. By January 1, 2027, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which shall be administered by the Commission. Provides that the Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible hospice and palliative care professionals practicing in a hospice program that provides services in the State. Provides that, each year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the awarding of grants by the Commission; eligibility for the Program; hospice program work requirements; and rulemaking. Provides that the Act is repealed 10 years after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Task Force Act. Creates the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Task Force. Sets forth provisions regarding administrative support, membership, compensation, meetings, and hearings. Requires the Task Force to assess the current landscape of Hispanic-serving institutions and emerging Hispanic-serving institutions in the State; identify barriers to student access, retention, and completion; review existing State policies, funding formulas, and accountability frameworks to determine their impact on Hispanic-serving institutions and their students' success; examine best practices from other states related to supporting Hispanic-serving institutions; develop recommendations to improve access to and success in higher education for students, strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination between State agencies and Hispanic-serving institutions, align Hispanic-serving institutions' efforts with State workforce and economic development priorities, and consider the feasibility of creating a permanent State initiative, designation, or funding mechanism to support Hispanic-serving institutions. Requires the Task Force to submit a written report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the Task Force's findings and recommendations for legislative, administrative, or budgetary action. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to each post the report on their respective public websites. Dissolves the Task Force upon the submission of its report to the Governor and General Assembly. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2029. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Repeals a provision that exempts titleholders and owners of beneficial interests in property that is exempt from taxation because it is used for religious purposes, for school and religious purposes, or as an orphanage from annually filing an affidavit stating whether there has been, among other things, any change in the ownership or use of the property. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop or approve a course to assist law enforcement officers in identifying and interacting with individuals with epilepsy. Provides that the course must be fully consistent with the best practice guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that the Board shall conduct or approve the epilepsy identification and treatment training course no later than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the Board may consult with the Department of Public Health or the Department of Human Services to develop and update the curriculum as needed. Provides that, every 3 years, a law enforcement officer shall complete training on identifying and interacting with individuals with epilepsy.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit of $250 for taxpayers who make 4 or more qualified donations of human whole blood or human blood components during the taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2029, the amount of the credit for volunteer emergency workers shall be $1,000 per eligible individual (currently, $500 per eligible individual). Provides that the aggregate amount of volunteer emergency worker credits shall be $6,000,000 per year (currently, $5,000,000 per year). Effective immediately.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning radon testing, provides that every school building of a school district that is occupied or will be occupied shall be tested by January 1, 2029 and shall be retested every 5 years thereafter for radon (instead of recommending that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon). Provides that all new schools of a school district shall be built using radon resistant new construction techniques in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists CC-1000, Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings standard or a successor standard (instead of recommending that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings). Removes a provision allowing a person to perform radon screening tests without a license. Makes changes concerning the exemption. Provides that if radon is found to exceed specified levels, then the school district shall (instead of may) hire a licensed radon professional to perform confirmatory measurements (instead of to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made). Sets forth provisions concerning mitigation. Provides that a school district may use life safety funds, if available, for radon testing and mitigation. Preempts home rule powers.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

Creates the Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act. Provides that every individual has the right to wear protective medical equipment in any place of public accommodation where they have a lawful right to be without obligation to disclose health status or any other protected information, and no person, entity, or authority shall deny, restrict, or infringe upon this right. Operators and public officials shall not discriminate against or penalize medical device wearers for exercising their right to wear protective medical equipment. Discrimination under this Act includes, but is not limited to: denial of service; eviction from premises; any form of harassment to remove or refrain from wearing such equipment for any amount of time; and specified actions taken by employers. Sets forth provisions concerning protection against retaliation; exceptions for security requirements and operational safety; enforcement by the Attorney General; and penalties for violating the Act. Effective immediately.