Rep. Jed Davis

Creates the Starter Home Incentive Zone Act. Provides that a municipality may establish a Starter Home Incentive Zone within a designated area if the municipality adopts any 3 of the following reforms within a designated zone: (1) reduced minimum lot sizes applicable to detached single-family homes; (2) reduced minimum dwelling size requirements permitting homes of 1,600 square feet or less; (3) fast-track permitting with a decision issued within 10 to 20 business days; (4) reduction, waiver, or cap of impact fees for detached single-family homes; or (5) reduced setback requirements. Provides that municipalities containing a Starter Home Incentive Zone shall receive specified benefits from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that municipalities containing a Starter Home Incentive Zone may receive specified benefits from the Department of Transportation. Provides that, on or before January 31 of each year, a SHIZ-certified municipality shall submit a report, not to exceed 2 pages, containing specified information for each Starter Home Incentive Zone within the municipality. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement the Act in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that the Department may not require any municipality to submit reports, data, analyses, or documentation beyond the annual compliance report, unless expressly authorized by the Act. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Corporate Ownership of Residential Property Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a company to which the Act applies is prohibited from owning more than 500 residential properties in Illinois, including residential property held by affiliated entities or persons. Requires each company owning more than 500 residential properties to register annually with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Requires each company owning more than 200 residential properties but less than 500 residential properties to provide to the Department a list of all residential properties owned, a disclosure of all affiliated entities and beneficial owners, and an affirmation of compliance with the Act. Requires the Department to enforce the Act. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Limits home rule powers. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Fluoridation Local Authority Act. Provides that public water providers may opt in or out of the State's fluoridation requirements without penalty from a State agency, including the Department of Public Health. Requires the public water providers to (1) publish notice of the proposed action at least 7 days before the vote; (2) allow public comment on the proposed action; and (3) post its decision on the public water provider's website or other public platform within 5 days of its decision. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines "governing body" and "public water provider". Amends the Public Water Supply Regulation Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Fluoridation Local Authority Act, owners or official custodians of public water supplies shall be in compliance with optimal fluoridation recommendations for community water levels. Effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 4315 repeals Illinois' participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would have required the state to award its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. This bill removes Illinois from the agreement without changing federal election rules or the Electoral College system. The repeal directly affects Illinois' electoral vote allocation in presidential elections by ending the state's commitment to the compact.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2027, no taxing district may levy a tax on any parcel of real property that is more than 103% of the base amount unless (i) the increase is attributable to substantial improvements to the property, (ii) the taxing district did not levy a tax against the property in the previous taxable year, or (iii) the increase is attributable to a special service area. Provides that "base amount" means the tax levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year, except that, if the property received a homestead exemption in the immediately preceding taxable year and is not eligible for that exemption in the current taxable year, then the base amount shall be the tax that would have been levied by the taxing district on the subject property in the immediately preceding taxable year if the homestead exemption had not been applied. Provides that a taxing district may elect to be exempt from those provisions for one or more taxable years if the exemption is approved by referendum. Effective immediately.

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the purpose of the amendatory Act is to ensure that individuals with felony convictions are not assigned to child protective investigations or issued a Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL). Prohibits persons with a felony conviction from holding a CWEL, performing child protection investigations, or supervising investigation staff. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services and every purchase of service agency that contracts with the Department to require all child welfare employees to undergo a fingerprint-based background check, a statewide criminal history search, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation national criminal history background check every 3 years during the term of employment. Requires the Department to revoke a child welfare employee's CWEL immediately upon discovery that the employee has a felony conviction. Prohibits POS agencies that contract with the Department from employing any person convicted of a felony to work as a child welfare employee and sets forth certain penalties for violations of the prohibition. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the equalized assessed value of property in a general assessment year, other than long-term ownership property, shall not exceed the equalized assessed value of the property in the immediately preceding general assessment year, increased by the lesser of: (1) 3% of the equalized assessed value of the property for the immediately preceding general assessment year; or (2) the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the general assessment year for which the property is being reassessed. Provides that the equalized assessed value of long-term ownership property in a general assessment year shall not exceed the equalized assessed value of the property in the immediately preceding general assessment year increased by 2% of the equalized assessed value of the property for the immediately preceding general assessment year. Defines "long-term ownership property". Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.

Creates the School Book Rating and Transparency Act. Requires a publisher supplying books to a public or nonpublic school, including a charter school, or a school-sponsored book fair to assign a content rating to each book and provide that content rating. Provides that each school shall ensure that the content rating is displayed in at least one of the following locations: (1) the school library's online catalog entry; (2) the school library's website; (3) the classroom library's catalog or posted list; (4) printed or digital reading lists distributed to students; or (5) signage or catalogs displayed at a school-sponsored book fair. Requires the State Board of Education to develop and publish a one-page rating key, and requires a school to make the rating key available. Provides that no teacher, school librarian, school administrator, or school district employee is subject to liability, discipline, or adverse employment action for relying in good faith on publisher-provided content ratings. Requires the State Board to submit an annual report to the General Assembly containing an assessment of publisher compliance and any recommendations for system improvements. Authorizes the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Display of National Symbols Act. Provides that, if a unit of local government or school district receives sufficient donations of materials or funds to do so, then it shall display in its primary administrative building and in each facility used for instruction the following items: (1) the United States national motto, "In God We Trust" containing a representation of a United States Flag centered under the national motto; (2) the United States Bill of Rights; (3) the United States Constitution; and (4) the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the displays must: (1) use durable posters or framed copies; and (2) be located in a conspicuous, open, and public space. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of front and rear) of the motor vehicle.