Rep. Brad Fritts

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the design and color of registration plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. Provides that plates for veterans with disabilities who have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act shall pay a specified fee (instead of $24). Authorizes the Secretary to suspend or revoke a certificate or the special plates issued to tow truck or wrecker operator upon determining that the person is not lawfully entitled thereto or has made or knowingly permitted any illegal use of the plates or has committed fraud in the registration of vehicles or failed to give notices of transfers. Prohibits a vehicle from being registered in the name of a person who is not an owner or lessee of that vehicle. Requires a vehicle owner seeking to register a vehicle in the State to register that vehicle to a State address. Provides that it is a violation for a person to alter, forge, or counterfeit a license plate or digital license plate. Provides that if no assignable title is available when auctioning a vehicle, the auctioneer or dealer must apply for Illinois title for the purpose of assigning title. Provides that the renewal fee for licenses and permits issued to 18, 19, and 20 year olds is $5. Provides that the Secretary shall issue a meter-exempt decal or device to the parent of a person with a disability who is under 18 years of age and incapable of driving or the legal guardian of a person with a disability incapable of driving. Makes other changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2137 makes a technical amendment to the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995. This bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of that existing act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. With regard to automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, provides that "safety zone" does not include any roadway in which the 30 mile per hour speed limit is decreased by local ordinance without an engineering or traffic investigation. Provides that a local authority or park district shall determine and declare by ordinance a reasonable and safe absolute maximum speed which: decreases the limit within an urban district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour, but not less than 20 miles per hour and a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour in an alley; increases the limit within an urban district, but not to more than 55 miles per hour, if after increasing the limit within an urban district an engineering or traffic investigation is required to decrease the limit; or decreases the limit within a residence district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 20 (rather than not to less than 25) miles per hour. Requires a park district, city, village, incorporated town, or county board to post a sign designating the new speed limit. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows for the issuance of the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois decal. Provides that for the original issuance of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $10 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $15 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that for the renewal of the decal, a $25 fee shall be charged, with $23 to the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund and $2 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Creates the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Fund. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHR 112 is a resolution that expresses the belief that the Illinois Income Tax Act should not be amended to permit the taxation of retirement income. It advocates against any future changes that would allow the state to tax the income of retirees in Illinois.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "wildlife rifle" as a rifle that can hold up to 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, centerfire wildlife rifle (rather than single shot centerfire rifle), or muzzleloading rifle, or (ii) as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow, during the open season, with certain requirements. Limits legal rifles to centerfire wildlife rifles (rather than centerfire rifles that are single shot). Prohibits deer hunting while being in possession of or in close proximity to a magazine that is capable of making a rifle hold more than 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined (rather than making a rifle not a single shot).

Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. Modifies the audit procedures for governmental units under the Act for the governmental units fiscal years 2028 and after, including: (1) modifying the definitions of "audit report" and "report", and adds a definition for "annual financial report"; (2) requiring the governing body of each governmental unit to conduct an audit every 2 years (rather than annually) of the accounts of the unit to be made by an auditor or auditors, and modifying the requirements of the audits; (3) allowing an exception for a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $1,400,000 for any fiscal year, with the amount to increase or decrease by a percentage equal to the Consumer Price Index-U as reported on January 1 of each year, to provide a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements (rather than a governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $850,000 for any fiscal year providing a 4-year audit report and annual financial report or annual financial report under specified requirements); and (4) modifying the requirements for signing, copying, and filing completed reports. Amends the Township Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

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.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that the length of a contract between a deactivating school district that is seeking to send its students to more than one district and the receiving district shall be for 4 (rather than 2) school years, but the districts may renew the contract for a length of time that is mutually agreed upon by the districts (rather than for additional one-year or 2-year periods).