Rep. Sharon Chung

Amends the Tobacco Products Act. Defines "electronic cigarette", "nicotine", and "tobacco products". Imposes a tax on any person engaged in business as a distributor of tobacco products at the rate of (i) 18% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State before July 1, 2012; (ii) 36% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State prior to July 1, 2025; and (iii) 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in this State beginning on July 1, 2025. Makes the changes made to the definition of "electronic cigarette" by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly apply on and after June 30, 2025, but no claim for credit or refund is allowed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly for such taxes paid during the period beginning June 30, 2025 and the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution (HR 235) that formally congratulates Terry Moons on retiring after 40 years of service as a board member for Adlai E. Stevenson High School District #125. It directly honors one individual - Terry Moons - for her long-term contributions to the school district. The resolution contains no policy changes or funding mechanisms; it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of her service. As a ceremonial measure, it does not affect legislation, budgets, or any other substantive matter.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the General Assembly and the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall be elected by ranked-choice voting. Provides for ranked-choice ballots to be produced. Provides that voters may rank their choice for candidates for those offices and provides for interpretations of certain ballot marks. Provides that tallying ranked-choice votes proceeds in rounds. Provides that in each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted, that each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round, and that exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. Provides that if only 2 candidates remain, the candidate with the higher vote total wins, and that if more than 2 candidates remain, the last-place candidate is eliminated and another round of tallying is to commence. Provides that rounds continue until a winner is found. Makes conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 27) that formally recognizes the Asian American Law Enforcement Association (AALEA) for its community service and advocacy. It does not create new laws, policies, or funding; it simply expresses the Illinois House of Representatives' appreciation for AALEA's work since 1983. The resolution highlights AALEA's efforts in promoting law enforcement diversity, supporting Asian American communities through initiatives like pandemic food distribution, and honoring officers who made significant contributions. It directly affects AALEA as the recipient of this symbolic recognition.

Creates the Balanced Earnings And Record Standards (BEARS) and Stadium Oversight and Expectations Act. Sets forth the purpose of the Act. Defines terms. Provides that, to be eligible for public financing, a professional sports team must have achieved a 0.500 record in at least 3 out of the last 5 regular seasons. Provides that the eligibility requirement applies to all requests for public financing related to: (1) stadium construction; (2) stadium renovation; and (3) stadium maintenance. Provides that teams that have been in existence for fewer than 5 years are exempt from the eligibility requirement but must demonstrate competitive performance by achieving a 0.500 or above record in at least 2 out of the team's first 5 seasons before applying for additional public financing. Provides that the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority shall issue a public report confirming the team's eligibility before any consideration of public financing by the State or a unit of local government. Provides that, prior to any public hearing on a proposal for public financing, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority shall publish a report detailing: (1) the team's performance record over the last 5 seasons; (2) the total amount of public financing requested; and (3) the projected economic impact of the proposed financing on the local community. Requires the report to be made publicly available on the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority website at least 30 days prior to the public hearing. Provides that any team found to have intentionally misrepresented its performance record or eligibility criteria shall be subject to: (1) a fine of up to $500,000; and (2) a ban on applying for public financing for a period of 5 years. Allows the Attorney General to pursue legal action to enforce the penalties. Includes a severability clause. Effective immediately.

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that one of the criteria that the Board of Nursing shall take into consideration when reviewing a registered professional nurse education program is whether the program satisfies specified criteria in provisions regarding program effectiveness (rather than satisfies the measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers). Provides that, in order for a program to obtain initial Department of Financial and Professional Regulation approval and to maintain Department approval, the passage rates of the program's graduating classes on the State-approved licensure exam must meet one of the measurements of program effectiveness (rather than be deemed satisfactory by the Department). Provides that a registered professional nurse education program meeting one of the measurements of program effectiveness shall be deemed in good standing. Provides that the Department may, without hearing, rescind the license of any person who obtained a license or other authorization to practice under the Act based on educational credits received from a registered professional nurse education program that did not meet a set of requirements during the time period when the person obtained the credits. Sets forth requirements for program effectiveness. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body that is a licensing board authorized by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may conduct a public meeting through an interactive video or telephone system without any members being present at any physical meeting location, provided that a quorum of members is participating and the public body provides public notice and public access consistent with the requirements of the Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that no more than 2 members of the board of review may be affiliated with the same political party (currently, 2 members of the board shall be affiliated with the political party polling the highest vote for any county office in the county). Effective immediately.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that certain taxpayers that are primarily engaged in the recycling and melting of steel products and in the manufacturing of new steel wire and rod products may elect to claim the credit under the Act against their withholding tax liability instead of their income tax liability. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any county in which there is a city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners may establish that municipal board of election commissioners as a county board of election commissioners if approved by a referendum of the electors of the county. Provides that any county with a population of less than 300,000 persons (rather than less than 200,000 but more than 175,000 persons) as of the 2020 (rather than 2010) federal decennial census in which a city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners is located may establish a county board of election commissioners by vote of the electors of the county. Provides that a county board of election commissioners may not be dissolved unless the dissolution is approved by a referendum of the electors of the county.