Rep. Larry Walsh

Amends the Civic Center Code. Provides that all contracts for the sale of property of the value of more than the small purchase maximum under the Illinois Procurement Code (rather than $10,000) shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder, after advertising for bids. Provides that all construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment and services, when the expense thereof will exceed the small purchase maximum under the Illinois Procurement Code (rather than $10,000), shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after advertising for bids, except in specified circumstances. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the certification of alternative retail electric suppliers, provides that the alternative retail electric supplier shall publish notice of its application in the official State newspaper within 14 days (rather than 10 days) following the date of its filing. Provides that, no later than 60 days (rather than 45 days) after a complete application is properly filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, and such notice is published, the Commission shall issue its order granting or denying the application. Provides that, in determining the level of technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities which an applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider the applicant's commitment of resources to the management of its sales and marketing staff through affirmative managerial policies, independent audits, technology, hands-on field monitoring, and training and, for applicants who have sales personnel or sales agents within the State, the applicant's managerial presence within the State. Provides that the Commission shall grant the application for a certificate of service authority if it finds, among other things, that the applicant will comply with all applicable federal, State, regional, and industry rules, policies, practices, procedures, and tariffs for the use, operation, and maintenance of the safety, integrity, and reliability, of the interconnected electric transmission system.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Illinois Future of Energy Choice and Economic Impact Commission. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission has certain duties with respect to energy policy. Effective immediately.

Creates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act. Provides that no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee, except for: (i) services provided on a hospital's campus; (ii) services provided at a facility that includes a licensed hospital emergency department; or (iii) emergency services provided at a freestanding emergency center. Provides that, except as specified, no health care provider shall charge, bill, or collect a facility fee for: (i) outpatient evaluation and management services; or (ii) any other outpatient, diagnostic, or imaging services identified by the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to annually identify services subject to the limitations on specified facility fees that may reliably be provided safely and effectively in settings other than hospitals. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting, rulemaking, and enforcement of the Act. Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who violates the Limitations on Facility Fees Act commits an unlawful practice.

Maddy summaryHB 2072 makes a technical amendment to the Illinois Act on the Aging. It modifies a specific section related to the short title of the Act, without introducing substantive policy changes.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Adds to the definition of "community college benefit recipient" a person who is receiving retirement income from a self-managed plan account under the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code and who meets other requirements. Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In the definition of "retire" and "retirement", provides that a participant in the self-managed plan retires, and the participant's retirement begins, when the participant is eligible for retirement under the Article, and the Retirement System Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) if applicable, and the participant begins receiving retirement income from the participant's self-managed plan account.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall allow commercial relocators to recover towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that are lawfully adopted by a unit of local government and imposed by a law enforcement agency as a necessary administrative fee in order to effectuate an existing relocator program in the unit of local government where the law enforcement agency and relocator operate. Allows the Commission to set the maximum amount of towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that a commercial relocator may recover.

Creates the Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act. Imposes a tax, beginning July 1, 2025, upon purchasers for the privilege of using ground-based sparklers and not for the purpose of resale at the rate of 6% of the purchase price of ground-based sparklers. Prohibits certain retail combinations or bundles. Requires every retailer required to collect the tax to apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of registration. Provides that any retailer required to collect the tax shall be liable to the Department for the tax, whether the tax has been collected, and any such tax shall constitute a debt to the State. Provides for the making of returns. Provides that from the revenue collected, the Department shall pay 25% into the Fireman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, 25% into the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund, and 50% into the General Revenue Fund. Provides for recordkeeping requirements. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department shall have full power to administer and enforce the Act. Allows for the arrest of any person who violates the Act, the search of any place of business to inspect all ground-based sparklers, and the seizure of any ground based-sparklers without a warrant. Sets forth hearing requirements after seizure. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Allows a municipality to prohibit the sale and use of ground-based sparklers on public property. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4171 amends the Sports Wagering Act to remove the ability of local governments, known as home rule units, to regulate, license, or tax sports wagering activities within their jurisdictions. This means that local municipalities can no longer impose their own rules or fees on sports betting operations. The bill centralizes the authority over sports wagering at the state level. It is effective immediately upon becoming law.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Restores certain provisions of the Act to the form in which they existed before Public Act 104-17 took effect. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits the payment of wages and fringe benefits for work performed under the Act that is based upon the craft and the skill level of the laborers, mechanics, or other employees who perform the work if the wages and fringe benefits are established and are paid in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement or understanding between an employer or an employer association and a bona fide labor organization for work performed of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed. Effective July 1, 2026.