Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that Boone County, Winnebago County, and municipalities wholly or partially contained within those counties may not impose any fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal in excess of $250 per year for a video gaming terminal operating within Boone County or Winnebago County (rather than the City of Rockford may not impose any fee for the operation of a video gaming terminal in excess of $250 per year). Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General shall not initiate any investigation without giving notice of the allegations involved to each member of the Legislative Ethics Commission. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General shall not require the advance approval of the Commission to initiate an investigation, but the Legislative Inspector General shall not investigate matters that are beyond the scope of, or are unrelated to, the initial complaint upon which the investigation was founded, without the advance approval of the Commission. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Legislative Ethics Commission. Provides that if the Legislative Inspector General makes a finding that wrongdoing has occurred, he or she may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response. Allows the Legislative Inspector General (currently, Legislative Ethics Commission) to redact specified information in the investigation summary report, and make the documents available for review prior to publication.

Urges Governor JB Pritzker to instruct the Illinois Department of Corrections to comply with federal law and allow the DOC to continue to work with ICE and local law enforcement agencies.

Urges that Northern Illinois University's live mascot, a huskie named Mission, be recognized as an honorary service animal by the Secretary of State and be eligible for entrance into the Illinois Capitol Building on NIU's annual advocacy day.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the operation and effect of the provisions of the Election Code authorizing automatic voter registration are suspended from the effective date of the amendatory Act through December 31, 2021. Provides that the State Board of Elections, in consultation with the Secretary of State, other designated government agencies, and a statewide association representing county clerks and recorders, shall review voter registration information acquired by the Board under the automatic voter registration provisions of the Code from July 2, 2018 through the effective date of the amendatory Act in order to determine whether any persons were improperly registered to vote and to remove any improperly registered voters from the rolls. Provides that the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a comprehensive examination of the automatic voter registration process to determine the cause or causes that allowed individuals to improperly register to vote and shall determine and implement the corrective measures needed to prevent improper registration so that automatic voter registration can resume on January 1, 2022. Provides that the Board shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the cause or causes of improper automatic voter registration and the corrective measures taken, together with its recommendations to prevent the recurrence of improper automatic voter registration on or before December 31, 2021. Provides the Board with rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Creates the Right to Garden Act. Allows the State or a unit of local government to regulate gardens on residential property unless the statute or regulation has the practical effect of precluding gardens on residential property entirely. Defines the terms "garden" and "residential property". Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Instead of prohibiting an employee of the corporate authority of a host community from having financial interests in a riverboat or casino, receive certain things of value from a riverboat or casino, or accept employment from a casino or riverboat, requires the employee to make a public disclosure to the Illinois Gaming Board. Makes conforming changes in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that a legislator shall declare a conflict of interest before taking official action on a legislative matter, and shall request to be excused from voting on the matter, if the legislator or a member of the legislator's immediate family has a financial interest in a business, investment, real property, lease, or other enterprise, and if the interest is substantial and the effect on that interest of the action to be voted on is greater than the effect on the general public of the State. Provides that the Legislative Ethics Commission may impose a fine of not more than $1,000 upon a member of the General Assembly for each violation of the provision. Repeals previous provisions concerning legislator conflict situations.

Creates the End Aldermanic Privilege Law in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, in the City of Chicago, a property owner, or a developer or contractor having the written permission of the property owner, shall not have any approvals under the Zoning Division denied because of an aldermanic hold, objection, extra-judicial or extra-legal request, or for any law or ordinance enacted or adopted after the date on which the property owner, developer, or contractor: (1) participated in a concept meeting for construction with representatives from the City of Chicago regarding the subject property; (2) filed a building permit application with the City of Chicago for the subject property; (3) presented a proposed development plan to a city council for the subject property; (4) substantially invested resources in the preparation of building plans, concept drawings, or securing building contracts for a preceding period of one year for the subject property; or (5) otherwise gave sufficient notice of an intent to develop to the pertinent regulatory authorities for the subject property. Allows suit against the State or the City of Chicago that seeks to enforce or impose a more restrictive law, regulation, ordinance, or resolution against the property owner, developer, or contractor and allows for a $5,000 civil penalty and other damages if the property owner's, developer's, or contractor's claim is successful. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the Board of each System to establish and maintain a voluntary defined contribution plan to address the retirement preparedness gap for participants in a defined benefit plan who are not on track to maintain their standard of living in retirement. Provides that the contribution rate shall be established by the Board. Provides that the plan shall exist and serve in addition to other retirement, pension, and benefit plans established under the Code. Provides that any Tier 2 participant who first becomes a participant on or after establishment of the plan shall automatically be enrolled, unless he or she opts out within 60 days after first becoming a participant. Authorizes Tier 1 participants and Tier 2 participants who first became participants before the plan was established to enroll in the plan. Contains provisions concerning investment options, qualified plan status, and distribution requirements. Defines terms and repeals a definition added by Public Act 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional. Effective immediately.