Rep. Sonya Harper

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that any contract that provides for the storage of any State data shall include a requirement that the State data must be processed, stored, and disposed of within the territory of the United States. Provides that, for any contract that provides for the storage of State data, the Chief Procurement Officer shall allocate to any qualified bidder an earned credit of: (1) 2% of the contract base bid for ensuring that all State data that is included in the contract is stored within the State of Illinois; and (2) an additional 4% of the contract base bid for ensuring that all such State data is stored within an opportunity zone. Contains provisions concerning data centers.

Creates the Chicago Downtown Revitalization Task Force Act. Includes legislative findings. Creates the Chicago Downtown Revitalization Task Force. Includes provisions on Task Force membership, meetings, compensation, and administrative support. Requires the Task Force to (1) conduct an analysis of all taxes and economic incentives, monetary or otherwise, that impact downtown Chicago, including analyzing all taxes and incentives levied or administered directly by the State of Illinois as well as those authorized by State law but are implemented by units of local government, including the City of Chicago; (2) research and review trends impacting downtown Chicago, including, but not limited to, population growth, office occupancy rates, commercial office vacancy and valuation figures, retail sales, restaurant sales, hotel occupancy rates, and cultural event attendance; (3) examine national best practices in the area of post-pandemic revitalization of large urban centers and consider the applicability of such policies to downtown Chicago; (4) assess existing and potential industry clusters based on current and anticipated trends to consider policy solutions that may optimize the marketability and overall appeal of downtown Chicago to potential growth sectors; and (5) make recommendations regarding changes to existing policy or the implementation of new policies to enhance economic activity in and increase the overall vitality of downtown Chicago. Requires the Task Force to submit a report no later than 12 months after the effective date of the Act and periodically thereafter. Dissolves the Task Force 5 years after the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2032.

Creates the Illinois Good Food Purchasing Policy Task Force to study the current procurement of food within the State and explore how Good Food Purchasing can be implemented to maximize the procurement of healthy foods that are sustainably, locally, and equitably sourced.

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing media at the particular institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning shall not be subject to prior review by public officials of a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee working for or an agent of an entity creating public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity producing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning shall be immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made by the public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning

Declares March 5, 2025 as Rare Disease Day in the State of Illinois in order to raise awareness of rare diseases, support individuals and families who struggle with rare diseases, bring attention to the need for research and funding to support the discovery and development of therapies designed to treat and potentially cure rare diseases, and support the continued work of the Illinois Rare Disease Commission.

Maddy summarySJR 24 declares May 7, 2025, as Illinois Bacon Day. It invites all Illinoisans to observe the day by enjoying bacon and thanking pig farmers.

Maddy summaryHB 248 makes a technical amendment to the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program Act. Specifically, it revises a section related to the short title of that existing act.

Declares May 11 through May 17, 2025 as Black Farmers and Growers Week. Encourages the people of Illinois and their representatives in government to learn about the history of Black farming communities and the contributions made by African Americans to agriculture in the United States.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any program of study at a public institution of higher education that improves employability shall be considered equivalent to an acceptable SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program component, unless prohibited by federal law. Defines "public institution of higher education". Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Provides that rulemaking shall not delay full implementation of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Declares April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in the State of Illinois to help increase public awareness of the need to support individuals with autism and the family members, medical professionals, and human services professionals who help care for individuals with autism.