Rep. Regan Deering

Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of "cycle". Defines "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals, the Department of Human Services shall develop and implement a transitional benefits program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a TANF or SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should the beneficiary's income exceed the maximum allowable income under the TANF or SNAP program. Provides that the transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income. Sets forth monthly benefits amounts based on monthly household income. Requires beneficiaries to comply with TANF and SNAP work requirements. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement, by July 1, 2026, a program to allow recipients to receive transitional child care benefits without the requirement that such recipients first be eligible for full child care benefits. Provides that transitional child care benefits shall be determined on a sliding scale for recipients with household incomes in excess of the eligibility level for full benefits. Sets forth the sliding benefit schedule for the program. Requires the Department to track the number of participants in the program and issue an annual report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027 and by September 1 each year thereafter, detailing the effectiveness of the program in encouraging recipients to secure employment earning an income greater than the maximum wage eligible for the full child care benefit. Requires the Department to pursue all necessary waivers from the federal government to implement the program. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department shall limit any initial application for the SNAP, TANF, or the Child Care Assistance Program to a one-page form that is easily accessible on the Department's website. Provides that persons participating in TANF, SNAP, or the Child Care Assistance Program who are required to complete a periodic eligibility review form, may submit such form as an attachment to their Illinois income tax return. Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes certain changes concerning estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir".

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules requiring a local health department to make public announcements for the purpose of informing the general public when a positive case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is detected within a county or area under the local health department's jurisdiction.

Condemns in the strongest possible terms Governor JB Pritzker's recent inflammatory and divisive rhetoric that appears to advocate for unlawful action against the duly elected President and members of the federal government. Urges the Governor to retract and clarify his remarks and to reaffirm his commitment to civil discourse, the peaceful transfer of power, and adherence to the Constitution of the United States.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that a public school or public postsecondary educational institution that offers, operates, or sponsors interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics shall provide equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes. Provides that a school may operate or sponsor single-sex teams if the selection for such teams is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport. Provides that a school that participates in competitions or athletic events with or against other schools shall designate each team, competition, or athletic event as (i) for males, men, or boys; (ii) for females, women, or girls; or (iii) coeducational or mixed. Provides that a school or athletic association that is participating in a competition or an athletic event with or against another school that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow any male to compete for, against, or with a team designated for females, women, or girls. Provides that a school or athletic association that operates, sponsors, or permits athletic events or competitions may not allow certain actions. Provides that a governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization, athletic association, or school may not consider a complaint, open an investigation, or take adverse action against a school for complying with the amendatory provisions. Provides for private causes of action. Makes other changes.

Urges President Donald J. Trump and the United States Congress to immediately begin the process of relocating the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Central Illinois, specifically to Bloomington-Normal or Decatur, where the department can serve the people it was meant to serve.

Amends the Streets and Public Ways article of the Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of each municipality may remove containers placed by truckers in a street or a ditch for the purpose of containing human waste from streets, ditches, and other municipal property.

Maddy summaryHR 226 is a symbolic resolution congratulating Rebecca L. Hooks on becoming the first woman to attain the rank of first deputy director with the Illinois State Police. This bill does not create new laws, alter policies, or affect any legal obligations - it is solely a ceremonial recognition. It directly honors an individual for a personal achievement within the Illinois State Police. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legislative impact or practical effect.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires the Department of Transportation to name a highway under its jurisdiction if one chamber of the General Assembly passes a resolution directing the Department to do so.