Rep. Marty McLaughlin

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who (i) is a resident of Illinois, (ii) is legally domiciled in the United States, and (iii) on or after July 1, 2027, becomes a parent, either through birth or adoption, may apply to the Department of Revenue for a waiver of the taxpayer's State income taxes for the taxable year in which the child is born or the adoption of the child is finalized and for the next 2 succeeding taxable years. Provides that, if a taxpayer has been granted such a waiver, that taxpayer's net income shall be zero for each taxable year for which the waiver is in effect.

Strongly condemns the Chicago Teachers Union's proposed "Day of Civic Action", which is to be held on May 1, 2026, as an irresponsible misuse of the school day that places a public sector union's political priorities ahead of the educational needs of Chicago's children. Urges the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools to abandon this politicized event and instead dedicate every available school day to raising proficiency in the "three R's" of reading, writing, and arithmetic so that every child in Chicago receives the basic education they deserve. Calls upon the Governor, the General Assembly, and officials of the Illinois State Board of Education to reject any further billions in new state funding for Chicago Public Schools until the district demonstrates measurable, sustained improvement in the three R's and stops diverting instructional time for political activism.

Amends the Public Higher Education Act, the Board of Higher Education Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that a resident of the State who is not lawfully present in the United States is not eligible, on the basis of residence within the State, for any postsecondary educational benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident. Provides that any benefit conferred to a nonresident of the State who is lawfully present in the United States may not be lesser in amount, duration, or scope than the benefit conferred to a State resident who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, if the payment of a retirement annuity is made to an annuitant more than one month after that retirement annuity payment became payable, then the Fund shall pay interest to the annuitant in an amount equal to 6% of that payment of the retirement annuity. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the municipal employee's continuance privilege, provides that if an employee has elected to have the monthly premium deducted by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund from the employee's monthly pension payment, then the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall promptly remit the premium payments to the insurance company, regardless of whether the employee's monthly pension payment has been paid to the employee. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. Provides that in one's "own home" means that an adult with a mental disability lives alone; or that an adult with a mental disability is in full-time residence with his or her parents, legal guardian, or other relatives; or that an adult with a mental disability is in full-time residence in a setting not subject to licensure under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, the MC/DD Act, or the Child Care Act of 1969 with 5 (rather than 3) or fewer other adults unrelated to the adult with a mental disability who do not provide home-based services to the adult with a mental disability.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026 registration year, the standard registration fee for passenger motor vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds shall be $100 for any Illinois vehicle owner who has been issued a drivers license with a veteran's designation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a small business financing program to provide low-interest financing to small businesses that secure State contracts to assist with the fulfilment of those contracts. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall, in consultation with State agencies, develop a scorecard for the assessment of bids from businesses that have annual gross sales of less than $15,000,000 as evidenced by the federal income tax return of the business. Makes changes in provisions concerning the advertisement of bids to small businesses.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxing district fails to timely file an affidavit that is required to be filed with respect to exempt property, then, prior to terminating the exemption, the chief county assessment officer shall notify the taxing district by first-class mail that the chief county assessment officer has not received the affidavit.

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Allows an active-status member of the Illinois National Guard to use a toll highway without paying the toll if the active-status member has applied for and received from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority an Official Permit Card. Requires the Authority to adopt rules for the issuance of a permit that allows an active-status member of the Illinois National Guard to use any toll highway without paying the established toll.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall allow commercial relocators to recover towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that are lawfully adopted by a unit of local government and imposed by a law enforcement agency as a necessary administrative fee in order to effectuate an existing relocator program in the unit of local government where the law enforcement agency and relocator operate. Allows the Commission to set the maximum amount of towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that a commercial relocator may recover.