Rep. Norma Hernandez

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Commission to End Hunger Act. Creates the SNAP Response Working Group. Provides that the co-chairs of the Commission to End Hunger shall convene and appoint the co-chairs of the Working Group. Provides that the Working Group shall review and analyze federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, and gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to make projections about the cost to the State to maintain SNAP in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Directs the Working Group to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027. Provides that the preliminary report shall outline the federal changes to SNAP and identify the number of State residents impacted by those changes. Further provides that the preliminary report shall include initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate any harm to State residents caused by the federal changes and shall project the cost to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Provides that, no later than April 1, 2027, the Working Group shall issue a full report to the General Assembly that includes an analysis on the impact of federal changes to SNAP on Illinois, final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from those changes, updated projections of the cost to maintain the program in federal Fiscal Year 2028, and any other cost projections relating to the Working Group's recommendations. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to provide any relevant additional updates to its recommendations or projections as appropriate. Specifies that all reports of the Working Group shall be published by the Department of Human Services on its website. Provides that the SNAP Working Group shall be dissolved on May 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Removes provisions requiring the Illinois Investment Policy Board to include companies that boycott Israel in its list of restricted companies. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Survivor Support and Trafficking Prevention Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Extends eligibility for State funded cash assistance and SNAP benefits to humanitarian immigrants, subject to available funding, if they are not eligible for such benefits solely due to citizenship or immigration status requirements but otherwise meet the financial and nonfinancial factors of eligibility. Lists the classes of humanitarian immigrants eligible for SNAP benefits under the Article. Provides that any individual residing in an institution or other setting that provides the majority of the individual's daily meals is not eligible for SNAP benefits. Exempts persons who do not have legal authorization to work from the statutory work requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the advice and technical assistance provided to State grant-making agencies by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Act shall include training for State agency staff. Sets forth requirements for the training. Provides that a State grant-making agency that awards a grant must issue the grant agreement associated with the grant within 60 days after the grant's effective date. Sets forth requirements for the grant agreement.

Creates the Wetlands Protection Act. Provides that no person may discharge dredged or fill material into a State jurisdictional wetland except with a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Exempts certain activities from the requirements of the Act. Sets forth procedures for individual permit applications and other related procedural requirements. Provides that the Department shall not issue an individual permit unless the Environmental Protection Agency certifies to the Department that there will not be a violation of State water quality standards. Provides that the Department may issue an after-the-fact permit in certain emergency circumstances. Sets forth financial assurance requirements. Authorizes the Department to adopt general permits under the Act. Provides that any person who intends to conduct a regulated activity may do so in accordance with a general permit issued by the Department, which pre-authorizes a category of activities with minimal adverse effects. Provides procedures and requirements regarding preconstruction notifications. Provides that certain entities may establish and operate a mitigation bank or in lieu fee program. Describes procedures and requirements for mitigation banks. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Provides that the Department shall prepare certain reports and studies. Provides for the review of final decisions of the Department. Provides for investigations by the Department and enforcement by a State's Attorney or the Attorney General. Provides for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day of violation, with interest after judgment, and with certain costs, fees, and expenses, payable to the Wetlands Protection Fund. Provides that any person may file a complaint with the Illinois Pollution Control Board concerning a violation of the Act, a rule adopted under the Act, a condition of a permit issued under the Act, or an order of the Pollution Control Board issued under the Act. Provides for county and special district stormwater program authorities to control or regulate activities in any wetlands within their jurisdiction. Establishes the Wetlands Protection Fund. Provides that a permit review fee for all permit applications is to be set by the Department by rule. Makes corresponding changes to the State Finance Act. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Creates the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act. Establishes a firearms manufacturer licensing program in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, with certain requirements, including that the sum of all fees for firearms manufacturer licenses shall be equal to the public health costs and financial burdens from firearm injuries and deaths. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a manufacturer of firearms may not operate in this State without a license from the Department and that a manufacturer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000,000 per month. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a retailer may not sell a firearm to a consumer in this State from a manufacturer who does not have a license from the Department and that a retailer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, with certain requirements. Establishes the RIFL Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with certain limitations. Provides that the proceeds from fees under the licensing program shall be deposited into the RIFL Fund. Establishes a financial assistance program in the Department with moneys from the RIFL Fund for financial assistance to victims of firearms and for other purposes. Provides that the Department shall contract with a program administrator to administer the financial assistance program, with certain requirements. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for financial assistance to victims of firearms, with certain requirements, including regarding exemption from certain State taxes. Provides that the Department may contract with a program administrator to implement or administer any part of the Act, with certain requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall report certain information to the Department. Provides that the Department may provide for other civil penalties of no more than $1,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act. Makes other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being made publicly available online. Effective immediately.

Commends Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia for his lifetime of dedicated public service to the State of Illinois and the nation. Commends him for his enduring legacy of strengthening representation for immigrant and working-class communities. Congratulates him on his retirement from public service, effective January 2027.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that specified entities that spend $10,000 or more on independent expenditures in the 12 months prior to an election, or who accepts $10,000 or more in an election cycle of in-kind contributions to enable independent expenditures, shall maintain transfer records and submit reports to the State Board of Elections. Provides that independent expenditures for public communications financed by specified entities shall include specified information. Provides that no person shall, for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements, structure or assist in structuring, or attempt to structure or assist in structuring, any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transaction. Sets forth provisions concerning independent expenditures; election spending; and coordinated expenditures. Replaces references to "electioneering communication" with "election spending". Defines terms. Makes other changes.