Rep. Tom Weber

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is unlawful for a person, during the commission of a felony, to knowingly kill or severely injure any animal used by a law enforcement agency, a fire department, or a search and rescue team or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the agency or department. Provides that it is unlawful for a person, during the commission of a felony, to knowingly kill or seriously injure any search and rescue dog, any police animal, or any accelerant detection dog used by a firefighter or fire investigator for arson investigations in the performance of the animal's functions or duties or in training. Provides that if the offender is found guilty, the offender shall be responsible for any veterinarian and medical expenses for the animal that was injured, and purchase and training costs for another, if the animal is killed or injured and is no longer able to be in service. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that if a veteran has a service connected disability of 100%, the taxpayer who has been granted a homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities shall no longer be required to reapply for the exemption on an annual basis, and the exemption shall be in effect for as long as the exemption would otherwise be permitted. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that tentative budgets for specified road districts shall be subject to a public hearing and public inspection prior to adopting. Further provides that the township board may adopt all or part of the tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for road purposes and levy the amount determined by the board (currently, the township board shall adopt all the tentative budget and appropriation ordinance and levy the amount determined by the highway commissioner). Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax on motor fuel, gasohol, majority blended ethanol fuel, biodiesel, and biodiesel blends shall be suspended if the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index is more than 3% over the previous 12-month period. Provides for certain amounts to be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Road Fund if the suspension is in effect. Effective immediately.

Creates the Taxpayer Protection Act. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, for bonds or incurred debt issued through a referendum by a unit of local government or school district, the bonds or incurred debt shall not be extended or reissued unless authorized by a referendum. Provides that a unit of local government or school district shall not submit the question concerning the extension or reissuance of a bond or incurring debt to voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since the retirement of the bond or debt approved by a referendum. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, a unit of local government or school district shall not submit a question concerning the issuance of a bond or incurring debt to the voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since that unit or district last proposed a question or proposition concerning the issuance of bonds or incurring debt in a referendum. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that there shall not be a service extension base annual increase unless increased by referendum. Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material. Effective immediately.

Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that the State Treasurer, for purposes related to the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, is not required to pay various fees to the circuit court clerk. Amends the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that the State Treasurer has the authority to access and reproduce, at no cost, vital records and court records.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act and continuing through the last day of the fourth month after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the taxes imposed by those Acts do not apply to the proceeds of sales of: motor fuel; gasohol; majority blended ethanol fuel; biodiesel; and biodiesel blends. Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Act. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under this Act beginning 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act and continuing through the last day of the fourth month after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to an income tax credit for each person who is (i) 62 years of age or older during the taxable year and (ii) employed by the taxpayer at a location in this State for not less than 185 days during the taxable year. Provides that the credit may be carried forward. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Adds Clonazolam as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Appropriates $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to be used for a $100,000 grant to the Willing Partners Canine Education, Inc. and a $100,000 grant to K9s for Veterans, NFP, for costs associated with service dog training for veterans. Effective July 1, 2021.