Rep. Laura Faver Dias

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, subject to federal approval, beginning January 1, 2027, any individual age 22 to 64 who is diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia and is determined to be a person with a disability by the Social Security Administration shall be eligible for services in a supportive living dementia care setting if the individual meets all other eligibility requirements to receive services in a supportive living dementia care setting in accordance with specified administrative rules. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to apply for any federal waiver necessary to implement the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the State Board of Education to implement Public Act 103-1076, referred to as the Faith by Plate Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall develop an educational document explaining, at a minimum, the values of good indoor air quality and shall supply the document to school districts. Provides that, subject to funding from the State Board, a school district shall ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor.

Creates the Farmer Tax Benefit Act. Provides that taxpayers may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for an income tax credit in an amount equal to either (i) 100% of the fair market value of a qualified donation to a conservation agency of a land protection agreement or (ii) 50% of the fair market value of the qualified donation to a conservation agency of a fee simple interest or a remainder interest in qualified real property. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Commission to End Hunger Act. Creates the SNAP Response Working Group. Provides that the co-chairs of the Commission to End Hunger shall convene and appoint the co-chairs of the Working Group. Provides that the Working Group shall review and analyze federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, and gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to make projections about the cost to the State to maintain SNAP in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Directs the Working Group to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027. Provides that the preliminary report shall outline the federal changes to SNAP and identify the number of State residents impacted by those changes. Further provides that the preliminary report shall include initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate any harm to State residents caused by the federal changes and shall project the cost to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Provides that, no later than April 1, 2027, the Working Group shall issue a full report to the General Assembly that includes an analysis on the impact of federal changes to SNAP on Illinois, final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from those changes, updated projections of the cost to maintain the program in federal Fiscal Year 2028, and any other cost projections relating to the Working Group's recommendations. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to provide any relevant additional updates to its recommendations or projections as appropriate. Specifies that all reports of the Working Group shall be published by the Department of Human Services on its website. Provides that the SNAP Working Group shall be dissolved on May 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. Changes the income eligibility levels used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Early Childhood for grants and administration expenses associated with support for the inclusion of children ages 3 to 5 with developmental delays and disabilities in school and community-based early childhood settings. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act. Provides that any person doing business in this State, or any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or any other entity, may erect, maintain, and operate a natural organic reduction facility in the State and provide the necessary appliances and facilities for the natural organic reduction of human remains in accordance with the Act. Provides that an individual or a person, cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or other entity may reduce human remains only in a natural organic reduction facility operated by a disposition authority licensed for this purpose and only under the limitations provided in the Act. Provides for: grounds for denial or discipline; surrender of a license; license, display, transfer; authorizing agent; authorization for natural organic reduction; performance of natural organic reduction services, training; recordkeeping; natural organic reduction procedures; disposition of reduced human remains; limitation of liability; hazardous implants; penalties; failure to file an annual report; injunctive action, cease and desist order; service of notice; investigations, notice, and hearing; compelling testimony; administrative review, venue, certification of record, and costs; and preneed of natural organic reduction arrangements. Effective June 1, 2026.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes findings about the imposition of disproportionate and adverse effects on communities in areas of environmental justice concern. Defines terms. Applies to the following permits for which an owner or operator applies on or after January 1, 2026: (1) a construction permit for a new source that is to be located in an area of environmental justice concern and that is required to obtain from the Agency a CAAPP permit or a Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit; (2) a construction permit for any existing source that is located in an area of environmental justice concern, that possesses a CAAPP permit or a Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit issued by the Agency, and that seeks an increase in annual permitted emissions; or (3) a construction permit for any existing source that is located in an area of environmental justice concern, that seeks an increase in annual permitted emissions, and that will for the first time require a new CAAPP permit or a Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit issued by the Agency. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate the application for affects on environmental justice and may suggest additional testing or changes in the application. Requires that the Agency to conduct an evaluation of the prospective owner's or operator's prior experience in owning and operating sources of air pollution before it may issue a construction permit. Makes other changes. Creates the Office of Environmental Justice within the Environmental Protection Agency. Effective immediately.