Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides that, in the calendar year 2 years before a regulatory agency or program is scheduled for termination (rather than annually), the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall study the performance of each regulatory agency and program scheduled for termination under the Act and report to the Governor the results of the study. Requires the Governor to review the report of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and, no later than December 1st of the year preceding the year of termination (rather than in each even-numbered year), make recommendations to the General Assembly on the termination, modification, or continuation of regulatory agencies and programs.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the amount of the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000 beginning in tax year 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Directs the Department of Children and Family Services to amend its rules establishing licensing standards for group day care homes to provide a revised maximum authorized extended capacity for group day care homes that is applicable through July 1, 2027. Provides that the revised maximum extended capacity rules adopted by the Department shall, at a minimum, allow one caregiver and 2 assistants to have the option of caring for 2 additional children who are 30 months of age or older, as well as 2 additional children who are attending school full-time, notwithstanding any other provision of the Act. Requires the revised rules not only to provide that the second full-time assistant shall be present at all times when there are more than 12 children in the home, but also to prohibit the total capacity of the group day care home from exceeding 16 children. Effective immediately.

Amends the Limited Liability Company Act. Provides that, for the 5 years immediately following the formation of a limited liability company, if that limited liability company has a gross annual revenue of less than $1,000,000, the fee for filing an annual report shall be waived for that year.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act. Provides that associations may establish and maintain a system of master metering of public utility services to collect related payments subject to the Residential Property Utility Service Act. Repeals the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act and adds the provisions of the repealed Act to the Residential Property Utility Service Act. Amends the Rental Property Utility Service Act. Provides that a municipality may request a copy in writing of the formula used by the landlord, condominium, or common interest community association for allocating public utility payments among the unit owners. The landlord or condominium or common interest community association shall respond within 30 calendar days of receiving the municipality's request. Prohibits treble damages from being awarded to tenants under the Residential Property Utility Service Act for violations of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that in counties with a population of less than 3,000,000, if a unit of local government, community college, or school district is required to provide notice in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, those entities may publish the notice on its official government website instead of in a newspaper. Provides that the entity or the host of the notice website must enter into a service-level agreement with an Internet service provider that guarantees the site is accessible to the public over the Internet at least 98% of the time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Provides that the official Internet website of the entity must prominently display a link to the notice web page. Provides that if an individual is unable to access an electronic publication of a legal notice, the entity must provide a copy of the notice to the individual free of charge. Requires that notices must remain available on the website at least until the last posting date required by law has expired or until the event described in a notice has taken place, whichever is later. Repeals the current provisions that a newspaper that publishes a notice required by law must contract to place the notice at no additional cost on the statewide website established and maintained as a joint venture of the majority of State newspapers as a repository of these notices. Amends the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Requires the county board in counties with a population of more than 100,000 to hire a county administrator. Provides that the county administrator shall advise, assist, act as agent for, and be responsible to the county board for the proper and efficient administration of the county.

Amends the Employee Classification Act. Provides that in making a determination of a worker's classification under this Act, the Department of Labor shall consider any guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, if a public body uses an electronic system for the submission of requests under the Act, then it shall employ a CAPTCHA test or other similar measures to verify that those electronically submitted requests are being made by a human.