Rep. Jerry Lee Long

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Business Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may enter into a financing agreement with an eligible industry with respect to an economic development project. Provides that those eligible industries are entitled to a credit against their Illinois income taxes in an amount not to exceed 5% of the gross wages paid in one year by an eligible industry to all eligible employees in new jobs. Provides that an "eligible industry" is a business located in the State which is engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, or assembling products, conducting research and development, or providing services in interstate commerce, office industries, or agricultural processing, but excluding retail, health or professional services. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates the Natural Disaster Home Repair Assistance Homestead Exemption. Creates a homestead exemption for homestead property that meets the following criteria: (1) the property sustains damage as a result a natural disaster occurring in assessment year 2017 or any assessment year thereafter; and (2) the homeowner incurs costs to repair that damage during the assessment year for which the exemption is sought. Provides that the exemption is a reduction in the equalized assessed value of the property in an amount equal to the costs incurred by the homeowner, but not to exceed $5,000 per year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Gina Nuske Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall suspend the driving privileges for 6 months (rather than 3 months) for a first offense and for 2 years (rather than one year) for a second or subsequent conviction for approaching, overtaking, or passing a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose or receiving or discharging pupils or the visual signals are still in operation. Provides that any person convicted of such a violation shall be fined $500 (rather than $150) for the first violation and $1,000 (rather than $500) for a second or subsequent violation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs may make expenditures from a members benefits fund, subject to approval by the Director of Veterans' Affairs, for recognition and appreciation programs for volunteers who assist the Veterans Homes.

Creates the Industrial Hemp Act. Provides that a person desiring to grow, cultivate, or process industrial hemp or industrial hemp products must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the application for a license shall include the name and address of the applicant and the legal description of the land area, including Global Positioning System coordinates, to be used to cultivate industrial hemp. Provides that the Department may determine, by rule, the duration of a license and the requirements for license renewal. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Noxious Weed Law. Provides that "noxious weed" does not include industrial hemp. Amends the Cannabis Control Act. Provides that "cannabis" does not include industrial hemp. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision that allows a manufacturer, distributor, or importing distributor to provide signs to a retailer if certain conditions are met, including a limitation on the dollar value of the signs that may be provided, provides that the cost adjustment factor applied to the limitation on the dollar value of the signs is 5% annually (rather than the change in the consumer price index or 5%, whichever is greater). Effective immediately.

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Creates a tax increment allocation financing extension for an ordinance adopted on May 30, 1995 by the Village of Dalzell. Effective immediately.