Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that first full week of March each year is designated as Soil Health Week to be observed throughout the State as a week to celebrate and raise awareness regarding the importance of soil health to Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers.
Creates the Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource Portal Act. Requires the Department on Aging, in consultation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource Portal (Portal). Provides that the Portal shall serve as a centralized and trusted online platform offering a wide range of resources related to caregiving, including, but not limited to: (1) information on State and federal programs, benefits, and resources on caregiving, long-term care, and at-home care for Illinois residents who are 50 years of age or older; (2) educational materials, articles, and videos on caregiving best practices; and (3) accommodations for users with different language preferences, ensuring the information is accessible to diverse audiences. Sets forth additional resources and information that the Portal may feature, such as information on caregiving resources, home and community-based services that support family caregivers, nursing home care, services and programs offered by Area Agencies on Aging, relevant health care and financial assistance programs, and local support group opportunities for caregivers. Requires the Portal to be designed to be user-friendly and accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities and to include features such as search functionality, language accessibility, and compatibility with assistive technologies to ensure that a diverse range of caregivers can use it. Contains provisions concerning required outreach and promotional campaign efforts to raise awareness of the Portal, reporting requirements, and State and federal funding for the Portal. Requires the Portal to be implemented one year after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2024 and thereafter, the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in all counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum income limitation for the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 (currently, $65,000). Effective immediately.
Amends the Motor Fuel Sales Act. Authorizes motor fuel blends containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol, by volume, to be sold in the State at any time during the year if permitted under federal law. Provides that, if a federal authorization must be obtained to provide for the year-round sale of those motor fuel blends, then the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall take all actions necessary to obtain the federal authorization on behalf of the State.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes the sex offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definition of "sex or other offense". Amends the Sex Offenses Article of Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to a student in a school, the student is at least 18 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student, and the person either (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual conduct is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual penetration is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Route 31 in Aurora as the "PFC Wayne W. Hill Jr. Memorial Highway" to honor a local soldier who died as a prisoner of war during the Korean War. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs and plaques along the road to mark the new name. Copies of the resolution will be given to the soldier's family, the city mayor, and the state transportation secretary. The measure is a commemorative action that does not alter traffic laws or funding but serves to recognize the service of PFC Hill.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Route 59 in West Chicago, Illinois, as the "SFC Theodore A. Katsoolias Memorial Highway" to honor a U.S. Army soldier who went missing during the Korean War. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs identifying the road with this new name and to present copies of the resolution to the soldier's family and local officials. By naming the highway after Sergeant First Class Katsoolias, the bill formally recognizes his service and sacrifice while creating a permanent public tribute in his hometown.
Condemns the violent behavior of the pro-Hamas protestors and encourages university officials to take immediate action against them. Urges the General Assembly to propose legislation that would withhold public funding from institutions of higher education that negotiate with anti-Semitic groups and for Governor JB Pritzker to sign that legislation into law.
Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall create a Veteran Internship Pilot Program for the purpose of providing internships for honorably discharged veterans to participate in the General Assembly's legislative staff internship program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning on July 1, 2024, the Commission shall implement the pilot program. Provides that the Commission shall operate the pilot program for a 2-year period. Provides that, at the end of that 2-year period, the Commission shall evaluate the pilot program and submit a report to the General Assembly with its findings. Provides that the Commission shall establish qualifications for participation in the pilot program, including that a participant must be honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces and have completed at least 60 hours of college credit. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.
Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. In provisions requiring an annual audit by a governmental unit to be performed of all the accounts and funds of the governmental unit, provides that township accounts and funds audited under the provisions do not include road district accounts or funds. In provisions relating to the type of audit report a governmental unit must provide based upon whether the unit has revenue of less or more than $850,000, provides that township revenue shall be calculated exclusive of road district funds. Effective immediately.
