Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that county medical examiners and coroners are first responders for the purposes of provisions requiring a county to provide health insurance coverage for its employees who are first responders without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement.

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that employment protections for volunteer emergency workers apply to volunteer emergency workers participating in required training, including a prohibition on termination and penalizing (rather than only termination). Provides that the employer may not require the employee to take vacation time or other compensatory time in order to respond to an emergency or participate in training. Provides that the Act does not apply to any employer that is a municipality with a population of 15,000 or more (currently 7,500 or more). Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Provides that a fee of $25 for a commission as an electronic notary public shall be waived for a period of 2 years. Provides that a bond of $25,000 for a commission as an electronic notary shall be waived for a period of 2 years, except that a bond of $5,000 shall still be required. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 712 makes a technical adjustment to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Special Care Disclosure Act. Specifically, it amends a section related to the short title of the Act. This bill does not alter the substantive provisions of the Act, but rather clarifies its official name.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum reimbursement standard for pharmacies that are not classified as critical access care facilities, requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to pay at least the same rates as the traditional fee-for-service program. The law mandates that these payments cover both the professional dispensing fee and the acquisition cost of the medication, regardless of whether the managed care organization pays the pharmacy directly or uses a third-party pharmacy benefit manager. Additionally, the bill directs the state Department of Healthcare Finance to implement various cost-control measures, such as limiting the number of prescriptions for certain drugs within a 30-day period and requiring prior approval for specific high-cost medications.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall maintain a website that details any charges, either required by law or approved by the Commission, that are charged by an electric utility, other than delivery or supply charges. Provides that the website shall include certain information for amounts collected from a charge that are remitted to the State and for amounts collected from a charge that are retained by the electric utility.

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires a school district maintaining any of grades 9 through 12 to provide all eligible students graduating from high school with the opportunity to register to vote. Effective immediately.

Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requires institutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate service member student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission when the service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic military leave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic military leave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to the institution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member student on academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic year division following the receipt of the notice of intent to return in accordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions on exemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on service member students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRA Advocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters. Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pending military service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions for academic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Contains provisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of service member students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawal due to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution's burden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; records documentation; advance notice requirements on service member students; notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academic leave for the spouses of servicemembers; Attorney General enforcement authority; remedies; rulemaking authority; and other matters.

Maddy summarySB 318 is a procedural bill that makes a technical correction to the short title of the Illinois Fairness in Lending Act. It does not change any substantive lending rules or affect borrowers, lenders, or consumer protections. The bill simply updates the official name reference within the existing law to ensure consistency in legal documents. This is a minor administrative adjustment with no new policy implications.

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Allows a speech-language pathologist to diagnose autism spectrum disorders if: (1) the child is under 3 years of age; and (2) the speech-language pathologist is trained in autism diagnostic evaluation methods as part of the curriculum of an approved program, through worksite training, or through continuing education. Provides that if a diagnosis requires a plan of care that includes elements that are outside the scope of practice of a speech-language pathologist, the speech-language pathologist must refer the patient to the appropriate medical personnel for further evaluation or management. Makes conforming changes in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code, and provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code concerning autism spectrum disorders. Effective July 1, 2027.