Rep. Dan Didech

Creates the Deforestation-Free Illinois Act. Provides that neither the State nor any government agency of the State shall purchase, at wholesale or retail, or obtain for any purpose any tropical hardwood or tropical hardwood product. Provides that no bid proposal or solicitation, request for bid or proposal, or contract for the construction of any public work, building maintenance, or improvement for or on behalf of the State or any government agency of the State shall require or permit the use of any tropical hardwood or tropical hardwood product. Provides that every contract entered into by a State agency that includes the procurement of any product that consists, in whole or in part, of a forest-risk commodity shall require the contractor to confirm that the commodity furnished to the State under the contract was not extracted from, grown, derived, harvested, reared, or produced on land where deforestation or forest degradation occurred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that provisions concerning a credit for foreign taxes shall be applied without regard to provisions concerning distributions of investment partnership income to nonresident partners. Effective immediately.

Amends the 2-1-1 Service Act. Makes changes to a provision concerning the designation of a lead entity to administer the statewide 2-1-1 system. Requires the lead entity to have: (1) demonstrated expertise in providing access to health and human services; and (5) a demonstrated track record of securing diversified funding sources in order to support sustainable operation of 2-1-1. Requires the lead entity to establish standards consistent with prevailing national standards established for providing information about and referrals to human services agencies to 2-1-1 callers. Requires the lead entity to provide annual reports to the Department of Human Services on the 2-1-1 system, including information on call volume and interactions, caller demographics, reasons for contact, service referral gaps, and other matters. Makes changes to the definitions of "approved 2-1-1 service provider", "2-1-1 service area", and "Human services". Removes the definitions for "pay telephone", "private branch exchange", and "recognized 2-1-1 service provider". Amends the Human Services 2-1-1 Collaboration Board Act. Provides that the Act is repealed on July 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township official may not prohibit an organization from receiving township funds based upon the national origin of the person who would receive those funds from the organization. Defines "national origin".

Creates the American Hostage Tax Liability Postponement Act. Provides that, if a person was unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad or held hostage abroad, any tax liability of that person shall be postponed until 90 days after the person is no longer unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad or held hostage abroad. Provides that the person shall be exempt from paying any interest or penalty that accrues while the tax liability is postponed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution (HR 235) that formally congratulates Terry Moons on retiring after 40 years of service as a board member for Adlai E. Stevenson High School District #125. It directly honors one individual - Terry Moons - for her long-term contributions to the school district. The resolution contains no policy changes or funding mechanisms; it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of her service. As a ceremonial measure, it does not affect legislation, budgets, or any other substantive matter.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds infection preventionists, minimum data set assessment nurses, other social workers, certified nursing assistant interns, and medication aides to the list of direct care staff used to compute staff to resident ratios. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, 100% of the hours worked by the specified staff shall be counted toward the staff to resident ratio. Provides that no monetary penalties shall be imposed unless the variance between a facility's minimum staffing ratios and the Department of Public Health's computations exceeds 20%. Removes a provision prohibiting waiver of a monetary penalty for non-compliance. In provisions concerning reporting requirements for facilities that violate the minimum staffing requirements, provides that the facility must have a variance that exceeds 20% of the requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that public uses in such waters shall include boating, tubing, fishing, swimming, and wading. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to protect such public uses against interference or encroachment as provided in the Act. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, a violation of which shall be punished as otherwise provided by law, and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "person". Allows, within 5 business days after its receipt of the request, a public body that has a reasonable belief that a request was not submitted by a person to require the requester to verify orally or in writing that the requester is a person. Provides that the deadline for the public body to respond to the request shall be tolled until the requester verifies that he or she is a person. Provides that, if the requester fails to verify that he or she is a person within 30 days after the public body requests such a verification, then the public body may deny the request.