Rep. Ryan Spain

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Requires a public body to respond to a request for records submitted by a mass requester within 21 business days after receipt. Requires the response to (i) provide to the requester an estimate of the time required by the public body to provide the records requested and an estimate of the fees to be charged, which the public body may require the person to pay in full before copying the requested documents, (ii) deny the request pursuant to one or more of the exemptions set out in the Act, (iii) notify the requester that the request is unduly burdensome and extend an opportunity to the requester to attempt to reduce the request to manageable proportions, or (iv) provide the records requested. Provides that, unless the records are exempt from disclosure, a public body shall comply with a request for records within a reasonable period considering the size and complexity of the request and giving priority to records requested by requesters who are not mass requesters. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to knowingly obtain a public record without disclosing the person's status as a mass requester, if requested to do so by the public body, within 5 business days. Allows the public body to deny the request based upon the violation. Requires a mass requester to notify the public body of an objection before seeking review of a denial of a request with the Public Access Counselor, and requires review by a Public Access Counselor before judicial review. Limits awards of attorney's fees to mass requesters under the Act. Defines "mass requester". Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. In provisions concerning goals of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative related to the percentage of labor hours performed by apprentices, provides that, for contracts and grant agreements executed after January 1, 2029 and before January 1, 2031, at least 25% (instead of 50%) of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Provides that, on and after January 2031, at least 50% of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Removes provisions setting goals for those apprentices before January 1, 2029. Makes changes concerning circumstances under which the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may grant a reduction or a waiver of those goals. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall maintain a list of graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program for a period of not less than 3 years (instead of one year) after the participant graduates from the Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active or a retired law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. In a provision concerning school resource officers, provides that a school or school district that hires an active or a retired law enforcement officer as a school resource officer shall be reimbursed for salary and additional costs through the School Resource Officer Grant Program.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who employ qualified employees. Provides that the term "qualified employee" means an individual who (i) is employed by the taxpayer as an engineer and (ii) graduated from an engineering program at an accredited institution of higher learning with a Bachelor's degree or higher within the 5 years immediately preceding the taxable year. Provides that the credit shall be equal to (i) 10% of the compensation paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year to qualified employees who graduated from an engineering program at an accredited institution of higher learning in Illinois or (ii) 5% of the compensation paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year to qualified employees who graduated from an engineering program an accredited institution of higher learning not located in Illinois. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes the deputy chief of police of a non-home rule municipality with a population of 130,000 or fewer inhabitants or a deputy or assistant deputy chief of police of a non-home rule municipality with a population of more than 130,000 inhabitants to be appointed not only from among the rank of sworn, full-time officers of the municipality's police department but also from among the rank of sworn officers of any other municipality if the officer has at least 5 years of full-time service as a police officer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Removes a provision limiting a special investigator appointed by a State's Attorney to carrying a firearm only in the performance of the special investigator's assigned duties.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, of the moneys in the Transportation Renewal Fund that are used for highway maintenance, highway construction, bridge repair, congestion relief, and construction of aviation facilities, 40% (instead of 60%) shall be transferred to the State Construction Account Fund and 60% (instead of 40%) shall be distributed by the Department of Transportation to municipalities, counties, and road districts of the State. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHR 427, the "EDUCATIONAL CHOICE ACT," is a resolution that urges Governor JB Pritzker to opt Illinois into the provisions of the federal "Educational Choice for Children Act." If the Governor were to act on this urging, it would enable Illinois to participate in a program related to educational choices for children.