Rep. Ryan Spain

Proposes to amend the Judiciary Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, for elected terms of office commencing on or after the first Monday in December of 2030, the term of office of a Supreme Court Judge shall be one term of fourteen years. Specifies that existing provisions concerning judicial retention elections are inapplicable to Supreme Court Judges. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.

Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Proposes to amend the Judicial Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, beginning with the 2032 general election, the State shall be divided by law into 7 Judicial Districts for the selection of Supreme Court Judges and five Judicial Districts for the selection of Appellate Court Judges. Requires each Judicial District to be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population. Provides that, in the year of each federal decennial census, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Judicial Districts. Specifies that, if no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Judicial Redistricting Commission shall be constituted as provided by law. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.

Creates the Supreme Court Ethics Act. Directs a Supreme Court Judge to disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the Supreme Court Judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Specifies circumstances in which a Supreme Court Judge's impartiality might be reasonably questioned. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to keep informed about the Supreme Court Judge's personal and fiduciary economic interests and to make a reasonable effort to keep informed about the personal economic interests of the Supreme Court Judge's spouse or domestic partner and the Supreme Court Judge's children. Authorizes a Supreme Court Judge to disclose on the record the basis of the Supreme Court Judge's disqualification and to ask the parties and their lawyers to consider, outside the presence of the Supreme Court Judge and court personnel, whether to waive disqualification. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to disclose on the record information that the Supreme Court Judge believes the parties or their lawyers might reasonably consider relevant to a possible motion for disqualification, even if the Supreme Court Judge believes there is no basis for disqualification. Prohibits a Supreme Court Judge, a Supreme Court Judge's spouse, a Supreme Court Judge's domestic partner, or a Supreme Court Judge's children from accepting any gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, favors, or other things of value, except as specified in the Act. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to file annually with the Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court a verified written statement of economic interests on an Illinois Judicial Statement of Economic Interests Form. Specifies the contents of the Illinois Judicial Statement of Economic Interests Form. Authorizes the Judicial Inquiry Board to investigate any alleged violation of the Act. Provides that, if after an investigation and upon determination by the Judicial Inquiry Board that there is a reasonable basis to publicly charge a Supreme Court Judge with a violation of the Act, the Judicial Inquiry Board may file and prosecute a complaint before the Illinois Courts Commission. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of "cycle". Defines "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in addition to but separate and apart from the compensation otherwise provided in the Code, the county clerk of each county, the recorder of each county, and the chief clerk of each county board of election commissioners shall receive an annual award of $13,000 for calendar year 2025, $14,000 for calendar year 2026, and $15,000 for calendar year 2027 and for each calendar year thereafter (rather than a $6,500 award per year). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes certain changes concerning estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir".

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, in the case of a domestic or foreign corporation, no payment is required for a franchise tax that would have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2026. Provides that all amounts remaining in the Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund no later than December 31, 2026. Makes changes in provisions concerning the statute of limitations. Repeals provisions concerning franchise taxes payable by domestic and foreign corporations on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHR 286 is a commemorative resolution to congratulate Joseph E. "Joe" Creed. It specifically recognizes his appointment as CEO of Caterpillar, Inc., following 28 years of service to the company.

Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Permits any federally chartered or state-chartered veterans service organization to apply for designation of an honorary road sign for any member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in action, if no eligible family member is available to apply for designation of an honorary road sign.