Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 of the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public service company that is a member of a Regional Transmission Organization shall submit a report to the Illinois Commerce Commission on or before February 1 of each year of any recorded vote cast by the public service company during the immediately preceding calendar year. Provides that a public service company that is a member of a Regional Transmission Organization shall include in the report any recorded vote cast by an affiliate at a meeting of a Regional Transmission Organization during the immediately preceding calendar year. Provides that the report shall include: (i) all recorded votes cast by the public service company, regardless of whether the vote is otherwise disclosed; (ii) all votes cast by an affiliate of the public service company, if the public service company did not vote on the matter; and (iii) a brief description explaining how each vote cast by the public service company or its affiliate, as appropriate, is in the interest of the public.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a foreign-influenced business entity shall not make a contribution or donation to any person or entity with the express or implied condition that the contribution or donation, or any part of the contribution or donation be used for specified political purposes. Sets forth certification requirements. Provides that the provision shall be construed to establish liability on the part of any candidate, political committee, or other recipient of certification. Provides for enforcement of the provision. Defines terms. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall not wear any mask or neck gaiter while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer's duties, except for medical grade masks that are surgical or N95 respirators designed to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases and diseases, masks designed to protect against exposure to smoke during a state of emergency related to wildfires, or protective gear used by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team officers necessary to protect their faces from harm while they perform their SWAT responsibilities. Provides that "mask" does not include a face shield if it does not conceal the wearer's face and does not include a clear mask that does not conceal the wearer's face. Provides that while executing law enforcement duties, a law enforcement officer shall display on the uniform that the officer wears: (i) the officer's name or badge number and (ii) the agency in which the officer is employed. Provides that the provisions do not apply to an officer while the officer is engaged in an undercover assignment. Provides that moneys from fines received for convictions under this provision shall be deposited into a special fund in the State treasury to be known as the Immigrant Family Services Fund and shall be used by the Department of Human Services to provide immigrant family services as determined by the Secretary of Human Services. Establishes penalties for violations. Defines terms. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors Firefighter Michael E. "Mickey" Altman of the Chicago Fire Department, who died on March 17, 2026, from injuries sustained while performing his duties. The bill formally expresses the Illinois House of Representatives' condolences to his family and friends, including his wife Nora, children Theodore and Baby Girl, and parents Mark and Mary. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to Altman's family as a gesture of sympathy. This is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change, focusing on acknowledging the loss of a public servant and supporting his loved ones.

Creates the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts Act. Establishes the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for the purpose of reviewing the effectiveness of current State-led efforts to eliminate food deserts in Illinois and advising the General Assembly on policy, funding, initiatives, and best practices for the elimination of food deserts in Illinois. Describes the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall convene at the call of the chairperson and meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties. Provides that the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Provides that commissioners shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2027, with annual addenda thereafter. Provides that the Act is repealed and the Commission is dissolved if 90% of food deserts in this State have been eliminated, with certain requirements. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In a provision requiring policies of group accident and health insurance to provide coverage for certain examination and testing services provided to a victim of specified criminal offenses, prohibits the policy from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided, except to the extent that the coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person shall not take, hold, conceal, or destroy mail addressed to another person with the intent to defraud any person or deprive the person to whom the mail was addressed of the mail. Provides that a person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Provides that the provision applies if the victim of the offense is an individual whether the individual whose mail is obtained, or attempted to be obtained, is alive or deceased at the time of the violation. Provides that the provision does not prohibit a person from being charged with, convicted of, or sentenced for any other violation of law committed by that person using mail obtained in violation of the provision or any other violation of law committed by that person while violating or attempting to violate the provision. Defines "mail" and "person". 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 Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires a court, when appointing a guardian ad litem to represent a child, shall make efforts to appoint a guardian ad litem who has received evidence-based education and training relating to family violence. Includes additional factors for the court to consider when determining the allocation of parenting time. Provides criteria for the court to consider in restricting parental responsibilities that are necessary to protect a child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional well-being. Allows the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement an ongoing education and training program for judges and relevant court personnel regarding child abuse. Makes other changes. Amends the Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Restricts a court from sealing a court file related to a domestic violence order of protection. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as Kayden's Law.

Calls for the release of all files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged accomplices with redactions limited solely to shielding the identities of survivors as outlined in the Epstein Transparency Act. Further calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor independent of the Trump Administration's influence to review prosecution decisions stemming from the Epstein investigation to investigate whether the Trump Administration illegally redacted or withheld documents to shield individuals for political purposes.