Appropriates $33,244,600 to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy to meet its ordinary and contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Effective July 1, 2026.
Creates the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Act. Establishes the Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission as an investigatory and advisory commission to investigate matters related to Jeffrey Epstein's network with a nexus to Illinois, facilitate enforcement of Illinois law, and promote transparency. Grants the Commission investigatory powers, including subpoena authority enforceable in circuit court, and requires referrals to the Attorney General and periodic reports to the Attorney General, Governor, and the General Assembly. Provides victim and whistleblower protections. Authorizes the Attorney General to exercise specified authority. Directs the Attorney General to share information upon request by the Commission. Ceases operation of the Commission after 5 years and repeals the Act after 6 years. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act to expand jurisdiction, to include human trafficking, involuntary servitude, sexual exploitation of children, permitting and failure to report sexual abuse of a child, prostitution-related offenses, patronizing a sexually exploited child, child pornography, bribery, official misconduct, solicitation of misconduct, tampering with public records, perjury, communicating with or harassment of jurors and witnesses, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and racketeering activity, but with a requirement for Attorney General certification or a requirement that offenses occur in more than one county or have a statewide nexus. 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 Property Tax Code. Provides that the maximum income limitation under the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption shall be adjusted each year by the annual cost of living increase, if any, in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits that took effect during the immediately preceding calendar year. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. Provides that eligibility limits under the energy assistance program may not exceed the greater of (1) 150% of the federal nonfarm poverty level as established by the federal Office of Management and Budget or 60% of the State median income for the current State fiscal year as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whichever is higher; or (2) the eligibility limit for the immediately preceding calendar year, increased by the annual cost of living increase, if any, in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits that took effect during the immediately preceding calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Creates emergency rulemaking procedures for the student teaching stipend program. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the student teaching stipend program. Defines terms. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of Higher Education of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program. Creates requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating teacher who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report in collaboration with the State Board of Education evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to send and receive all original physical mail (rather than an unlimited number of uncensored letters), but the Director may order that mail be inspected and read for reasons of the security, safety, or morale of the institution or facility. Provides that no institutions or facility of the Department shall deny the distribution of original physical mail to committed persons after such incoming mail has undergone inspection and it has been determined that the mail does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Provides that the Department shall collect evidence of original physical mail that is deemed to pose a threat to the safety or security of the facility or institution, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Defines "original physical mail" and "threat to the security or safety".
Condemns President Donald J. Trump's racist social media post and his attempts to erase history. Expresses that members will continue to honor the 100th recognition of Black History Month in the State of Illinois by committing to learn from history rather than hiding from it.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that as soon as possible after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections shall amend applicable administrative rules and policies in respect to restriction or termination of volunteer services to provide the following: (1) the Department shall provide the volunteer individual or group the reasons in specific detail in writing for any disapproval, restriction, or termination of volunteer services within 30 days of the action; (2) notices of the disapproval, restriction, or termination of volunteer services shall include detailed information and instruction on the process to appeal any disapproval, restriction, or termination; and (3) the individual or group shall have 90 days to appeal any action of disapproval, restriction, or termination of volunteer service. Effective immediately.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections shall make available to each person within the Department's custody all rehabilitative and educational programs and services available to committed persons within that committed person's facility if the committed person is otherwise qualified for those programs and services, notwithstanding the committed person's projected release date. Effective immediately.
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.
