Rep. Tony McCombie

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language providing that the examination of an applicant for a driver's license or permit who is 75 years of age or older or, if the Secretary of State adopts rules to raise the age requirement for actual demonstrations, the examination of an applicant who has attained that increased age or is older shall include an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor vehicle. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the 100 Club of Illinois Fund. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as 100 Club of Illinois license plates to residents of this State upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State. Provides that the design and color of the plates is wholly within the discretion of the Secretary. Provides that an applicant shall be charged a $45 fee for original issuance in addition to the appropriate registration fee, if applicable. Requires all money in the 100 Club of Illinois Fund to be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and distribution by the Secretary, as grants to the 100 Club of Illinois for giving financial support to children and spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty and mental health resources for active duty first responders.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2024, the maximum income limitation for the senior freeze shall be $73,700 for all qualified property (currently, $65,000). Provides that the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted each year according to the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 1855, titled the Illinois Forestry Fix, makes a technical correction to the Illinois Forestry Development Act by updating the short title of a specific section. This procedural change does not alter the existing laws or programs regarding forest management cost-sharing, land eligibility, or reporting requirements that are currently in effect. The bill was passed by both houses of the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor on August 9, 2024.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning surplus line insurance, changes the definition of "home state". Amends the Farm Mutual Insurance Company Act of 1986. Sets forth provisions concerning farm mutual insurance company investments in home office real estate. Makes other changes.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning fentanyl education, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, provides that in at least one unit in the State-required health courses for grades 6 through 8 a school district shall provide instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall create, and the Department of Labor shall make available, at no cost, a veterans and service members' benefits, services, and protections poster. Requires the poster to include, but not be limited to, information regarding free veterans' benefits and services provided by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and other veterans service organizations, tax benefits, the Illinois veteran driver's license and non-driver veteran identification card, and Illinois protections for survivors of sexual violence in the military. Requires the poster to also include contact information for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Veterans Crisis Line. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Human Remains Protection Act. Provides that if remains that are over 100 years old are identified as veteran's remains, the Department of Natural Resources shall permit a veterans' organization to place a marker to designate that grave, if not already designated, as the grave of a veteran. Provides that if the grave is damaged or destroyed, the veterans' organization may fix, add, install, or refurbish the grave or replace a broken or damaged headstone. Before the veterans' organization may repair, refurbish, place a marker, or otherwise repair a broken headstone on the grave, the veterans' organization must make a good faith effort to contact the next of kin of the person whose grave has been identified and receive no response from the next of kin within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Department, by rule. Provides that the Department shall, by rule, determine what relationship to a person whose grave has been identified as a veteran's grave must be contacted by the veterans' organization.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, if a drug overdose is determined to be the cause or a contributing factor in a death, the coroner or medical examiner shall report the following information, at a minimum, to the Department of Public Health: (i) if known or knowable (rather than if possible), the cause of the overdose; (ii) whether or not fentanyl was part or all of the consumed substance; (iii) if fentanyl is part of the consumed substance, what other substances were consumed, if known or knowable; and (iv) if fentanyl is part of the consumed substance, in what proportion was fentanyl consumed to other substance or substances, if known or knowable. Currently, the report only requires the coroner to report, if possible, the cause of the overdose. Provides that the coroner must also communicate whether there was a suspicious level of fentanyl in combination with other controlled substances present to all law enforcement agencies in whose jurisdiction the deceased's body was found within 24 hours after receipt of the toxicology results whether or not a cause of death has been determined.

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to issue non-mandatory guidance to employers on: (1) acquiring and maintaining opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) training employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to adopt rules to require each State agency to: (1) acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) train employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication.