Rep. Dan Ugaste

Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that no person shall cause electronic cigarettes ordered or purchased by mail, through the Internet, or other remote sale methods, to be shipped to anyone in the State other than (i) a distributor, as defined in specified Acts, or (ii) a retailer, as defined in specified Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may undertake local broadband projects and the provision of services in connection with local broadband projects, may lease infrastructure that it owns or controls relating to local broadband projects or services, may aggregate customers or demand for broadband services, and may apply for and receive funds or technical assistance to undertake local broadband projects to address the level of broadband access available to its businesses and residents. Provides that, to the extent that it seeks to serve as a retail provider of telecommunications services, the county or municipality must obtain appropriate certification from the Illinois Commerce Commission as a telecommunications carrier. Provides that certification of a county or municipality serving as a retail provider of telecommunication services is an exclusive power and function of the State. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the Subsidized Housing Joint Occupancy Act. Provides that an elderly parent with an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex shall not be required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. Provides that exceptions to the largest permissible unit size for subsidized housing shall be made when the elderly parent and adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements.

Amends the Uranium and Thorium Mill Tailings Control Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security may approve a request for license termination following adoption and implantation by the municipality or county in which the material milling facility is located of one or more ordinances restricting the use of groundwater on the property that has been licensed for the milling of source material and any property downgradient from that property if the ordinance ensures public health and safety and is in effect at the time of license termination. Requires the ordinances adopted for the purpose of terminating a license to remain in effect until the Agency approves in writing that the ordinances are no longer needed.

Amends the Regional Planning Act. Removes provisions relating to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's Wastewater Committee. Provides that approval of four-fifths of the Board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning members in office is necessary for the Board to take action regarding the Agency's budget and work plan, a regional plan, the annual federally funded program, the legislative agenda, and any matter regarding the executive director, but action on all other matters shall be taken in accordance with the Board's bylaws. Provides that the Board shall continue directly involving local elected officials in federal program allocation decisions for any other federally suballocated funding as required by law (rather than only directly involving local elected officials in federal program allocation decisions for the Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds). Repeals provisions relating to succession and transfers related to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and a transition period of the Board. Provides that each General Assembly shall appropriate dedicated funding to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to fulfill those functions and programs authorized by the Act (rather than additional funding shall be provided to the Agency to support those functions and programs authorized by the Act). Makes other changes.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall maintain and operate, or contract for (instead of being empowered to establish, maintain, and operate or contract for) the operation of a permanent statewide residential education facility (instead of statewide service center), known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include a line item in its budget to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Limits the specified services provided by the Philip J. Rock Center and School to eligible deaf-blind persons of all ages to being subject to appropriated funding for those specified services. Makes changes concerning provided services. Provides that for the purposes of employment, the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall be considered its own employer. Provides that the State Board of Education shall appoint a Chief Administrator of the Philip J. Rock Center and School who shall be employed by the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Specifies the duties of the Chief Administrator. Sets forth provisions concerning a student with an individualized education program at the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes changes concerning the Advisory Board for the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.

Maddy summaryThis Illinois law authorizes the Secretary of State to issue specialty license plates specifically for motorcycles. The legislation also expands these options to include autocycles, which are three-wheeled vehicles designed for riders with disabilities. By amending the state's vehicle code in multiple sections, the bill ensures that both motorcycles and autocycles can display these special plates under the same rules. The changes took effect on January 1, 2025, allowing eligible vehicle owners to apply for these plates starting that date.

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, removes a provision that specifies that grants made in fiscal year 2024 may be made only to public school districts. Provides that a not-for-profit early childhood entity that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Accident and Health Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act must provide coverage for wigs or other scalp prostheses worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions. Makes a conforming change in the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act. Effective immediately.