Rep. Dan Didech

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that an open or closed meeting subject to the Act may be conducted by audio or video conference, without the physical presence of a quorum of the members, if the National Weather Service has determined that all or part of the jurisdiction of the public body is located within an area that is subject to a severe weather alert on the day of the meeting. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Special County Occupation Tax For Public Safety, Public Facilities, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Transportation Law of the Counties Code. Provides that the tax may be used for active transportation and public transportation. Makes conforming changes, including to the Law's name. Defines "active transportation" and "public transportation". Makes technical corrections to definition provisions. Amends the Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. In provisions concerning the distribution of proceeds, provides that, of the moneys distributed to municipalities with 500,000 or more inhabitants and counties with 500,000 or more inhabitants, 1% shall be used for improving, developing, or incentivizing the use of non-carbon emitting transportation infrastructure.

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no person shall sell offer for sale or use, or distribute within the State any corn, soybean, or wheat seed that is treated or coated with a pesticide that has certain active ingredients, unless the Department of Agriculture suspends that requirement after determining that either (i) there is a commercially insufficient amount of seed that does not violate that requirement or (ii) the purchase of seed that complies with requirement would result in an undue financial hardship for agricultural producers. Sets out limitations on the application of pesticides containing the same active ingredients on outdoor ornamental plants and turf except in specified circumstances. Directs the Department to conduct a study to identify alternatives to the prohibited pesticides. Effective immediately.

Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that for the purpose of making up any deficiency in the appropriation for the payment of claims directed pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act, there is appropriated, on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Court of Claims, the amount, if any, by which the total appropriation for the payment of claims directed pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act for the fiscal year is less than the amount required for the payment of claims pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act for that fiscal year. Provides that the amount of any continuing appropriation used by the Court of Claims under the amendatory Act for a given fiscal year shall be charged against the unexpended amount of any appropriation for line of duty awards to the Court of Claims for that fiscal year that subsequently becomes available. Requires the Court of Claims to report to the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget any continuing appropriation that is used at the conclusion of a fiscal year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Foil Balloon Act. Provides that a person who manufactures a foil balloon in this State or a person who sells or distributes foil balloons that are filled with lighter-than-air gas in this State shall comply with specified requirements. Provides that the requirements do not apply to manned hot air balloons or to balloons used in governmental or scientific research projects. Provides that specified requirements are subject to a phase-in period of 4 years. Provides for violations and civil penalties.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in assessment year 2025, "income" does not include veteran's benefits or, to the extent not reimbursed, the cost of medical care incurred by the claimant or, if married, the claimant's spouse. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Local Government Distributive Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever a municipality is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, the municipality may publish the notice on an official municipal website instead of in a newspaper if the notice published on the official municipal website is also published electronically on a searchable online database website and that website provides independent certification of the publication. Provides conditions concerning the availability and format of the searchable online database website. Repeals a provision concerning the placement of published notices on a statewide website and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act and in the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that a law enforcement lockdown drill must not be conducted on the day of or within 2 days before a school-administered standardized test.