Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may issue competitive grants with initial terms of 10 years for the purpose of administering an incentive program that will attract or retain conventions, meetings, sporting events, and trade shows in Illinois with the goal of increasing business or leisure travel to and within the State. Amends the State Finance Act. Establishes the Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that, on July 1, 2026, and every July 1 thereafter, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the sum of $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Government Building Permit Act. Provides that the Act only applies to units of local government that require a person to obtain a permit from the unit of local government before the person may construct a building within the unit of local government. Requires a unit of local government to comply with specified timelines for issuing building permits. Provides that, if a unit of local government fails to comply with the timelines, then the building permit is automatically approved by operation of law, unless the proposed building project violates published building or zoning codes. Requires a unit of local government to publish the specified information concerning building permits on its public-facing website. Provides that the fees that a unit of local government imposes to approve a building permit application may not exceed the actual cost the unit of local government incurs to review a building permit application. Provides that, if a unit of local government denies a person's building permit application, then the person may appeal the decision to the Building Permit Ombudsman. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Creates the position of Building Permit Ombudsman within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that the Building Permit Ombudsman shall receive, review, and resolve appeals brought under the Local Government Building Permit Act. Requires the Building Permit Ombudsman to (i) examine the issues and the information provided by both parties; (ii) make findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (iii) issue a decision to the developer and the unit of local government in response to the appeal.

Amends the Illinois State Police Law. Provides that successful completion of in-service training by the Illinois State Police shall satisfy the mandatory training requirements to be completed every 3 years by law enforcement officers under the Illinois Police Training Act and shall satisfy the on-going training requirements for a certification waiver, including scenario-based and mandatory firearms training.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that an individual convicted of a sex offense and released from the Department of Corrections to mandatory supervised release shall, to the extent practicable, be placed on mandatory supervised release in either: (1) the sentencing community or (2) a community of connection. Provides that placement outside the sentencing community or a community of connection may occur only upon a documented determination by the Department of Corrections that such placement is necessary due to one or more of the following: (1) verified public safety concerns; (2) victim safety considerations, including the location of a victim or the existence of protective orders; (3) the unavailability of compliant housing that satisfies statutory or mandatory supervised release conditions; or (4) the unavailability of required treatment, monitoring, or supervision resources. Provides that prior to release, the Department of Corrections shall develop an individualized reentry plan for each individual subject to the provision that identifies the sentencing community and any communities of connection and evaluates appropriate housing, treatment, and supervision options. Provides that nothing in the provision shall be construed to limit the authority of the Department of Corrections to impose conditions of mandatory supervised release necessary to protect public safety or to comply with existing law. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly no later than March 1 of each year containing aggregate data regarding: (1) mandatory supervised release placement patterns for individuals convicted of sex offenses; (2) the number of placements made outside sentencing communities or communities of connection; (3) the primary reasons for such placements; and (4) geographic distribution by county. Provides that the report shall not include personally identifying information. Defines "sex offense", "sentencing community", and "community of connection". Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act. Allows a solo practitioner in or employed by a private practice in a county with 20 or fewer attorneys in private practice to be considered a "public interest attorney" who may apply for loan repayment assistance under the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Allows a graduate of a law school located in the State who is a licensed attorney in another state in good standing to be eligible for assistance. Adds as an eligibility requirement that an applicant must not have earned more than $120,000 from the practice of law in the prior 12 months. Raises the maximum amount of assistance to $10,000 (rather than $6,000) per year and $50,000 (rather than $30,000) during a program participant's career. Makes other changes.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Illinois Competitiveness and Innovation Working Group within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Sets forth the membership of the Working Group. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall review and propose a megaproject incentive framework for the State, including performance-based tax credits, capital assistance, and workforce training tools. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall continue to conduct annual international trade missions to priority markets. Provides for a statewide tourism connectivity plan. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish certain grant programs. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall monitor and annually report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the affordability, reliability, and capacity of energy for industrial users.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Prohibits a home rule unit of local government with a population of over 1,000,000 from enforcing any local ordinance passed prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act prohibiting the operation of video gaming terminals within the corporate limits of the municipality. Prohibits a home rule unit of government with a population of over 1,000,000 from imposing any fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal in excess of $250 per year.

Creates the Food Truck Freedom Act. Provides that a municipality, county, or township may create a license or permitting scheme for a food truck to operate within its jurisdiction. Provides that a food truck license or permit obtained from a municipality, county, or township in Illinois has full force and effect in all other jurisdictions in Illinois so long as that license or permit was issued after: (1) an inspection by a local health department that uses recommendations made by the Food and Drug Administration concerning food trucks and (2) an inspection by a local fire department that uses recommendations made by the National Fire Prevention Association concerning food trucks. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a municipality, county, or township from imposing placement or zoning restrictions or fees so long as those restrictions and fees are uniformly applied to all food trucks, regardless of the food truck's license or permit jurisdiction. Defines "food truck". Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may consider public comment concerning commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that each licensee shall make a reconciliation payment 3 years after the date the licensee begins operating in an amount equal to 75% of the adjusted gross receipts for the most lucrative consecutive 12-month period of operations, minus an amount equal to (i) the initial payment per gaming position paid by the specific licensee and (ii) the $15,000,000 reconciliation fee.