Rep. Suzanne Ness

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that day care homes, group day care homes, and day care centers may hire on a probationary basis any employee or volunteer who authorizes a criminal background investigation and who meets the initial requirements set out by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood and any applicable federal laws or regulations. Provides that, pending completion of all of the background check requirements, the probationary employee or volunteer must be supervised at all times by an individual who received a qualifying result on all background check components.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2025 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is $75,000 for all qualified property. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that special purpose levies made for the purpose of funding a Veterans Assistance Commission are not included in a taxing district's aggregate extension.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a community mental health board that moved from a property tax to a special county occupation tax, and is receiving less revenue under the special county occupation tax, shall automatically have the special county occupation tax increased to the next quarter increment to maintain current operations without disruption to services.

Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution honoring Robert P. "Bob" Blazier, a longtime Crystal Lake community leader who passed away on January 9, 2025. The Illinois House of Representatives formally mourns his death and extends condolences to his family, recognizing his decades of service as a school superintendent, Chamber of Commerce president, and founder of community initiatives like the Crystal Lake Young Professionals and the Bob Blazier Run for the Arts. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial tribute to his impact on Crystal Lake.

Maddy summaryHB 2673 is a procedural bill that makes a minor technical correction to the citation format of the School Code in Illinois law. It updates Section 1-1 to adjust how the law is formally referenced (changing "the School Code" to "the School Code" in the short title). This bill does not change any education policies, programs, or funding - it only affects legal documents that cite the School Code. It directly affects how state law is formally referenced in future legal contexts, with no impact on schools, students, or educators. The bill was recently filed and referred to committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2672 makes a technical correction to the School Code's short title citation in Section 1-1, changing how the law is formally referenced (e.g., updating "the School Code" to match current formatting). It does not change any education policies, programs, or requirements. The bill directly affects only legal documents and references to the School Code, with no impact on schools, students, or educators. This procedural change is purely administrative and has no substantive policy implications.

Creates the Illinois Election Integrity Act. Amends the Election Code. Requires that each election authority (i) conduct an election day audit of a random sample of 10% of votes cast and (ii) provide by contract or employment for the performance by one or more independent auditors of post-election parallel tabulations and audits. Provides for the scope of the audits and the resulting reports. Requires that optical scan technology and direct recording electronic voting systems meet certain federal and independent testing standards. Creates a voluntary tax checkoff for the Fund. With respect to early voting, requires that an election authority using only direct recording electronic voting systems have paper ballots available for voters wishing to use them. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Election Integrity Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall develop a program of technical assistance in support of regional manufacturing partnerships that include secondary, postsecondary, and workforce stakeholders. Provides that the program shall include a collaboration between an employer association representing manufacturers and a public university.

Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Nelson Mandela Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, the use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities in the State shall be restricted as follows: (1) a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days; (2) a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period; and (3) while out of cell, committed persons may have access to activities, including, but not limited to: job assignments, educational classes, vocational classes, meals, recreation, yard or gymnasium, day room, bathing facilities, medical appointments, visits, and group therapy. Provides that a committed person in protective custody may opt out of that status by providing informed, voluntary, written refusal of that status. Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to restrict any rights or privileges a committed person may have under any other statute, rule, or regulation. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall post on the Department's official website quarterly reports on the use of isolated confinement. Provides that these reports shall not include personally identifiable information regarding any committed person. Defines terms. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.