Rep. Norine Hammond

Maddy summaryHJR 21 is a procedural resolution setting the Illinois House of Representatives' estimate of available general funds for fiscal year 2026. It adopts specific revenue projections from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, totaling $54.2 billion ($49.9 billion from state sources and $4.3 billion from federal sources), while excluding any revenue proposals from the Governor. This resolution establishes the constitutional basis for future appropriations but does not create new laws or directly affect citizens or businesses. It serves as a budget framework for the General Assembly's spending decisions.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons and related offenses may be commenced at any time (rather than within 25 years of the victim attaining the age of 18 years).

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that tracking wounded wild birds or wounded wild mammals by use of unmanned aircraft is permissible under certain conditions, including that: (1) the wild bird or wild mammal is wounded when a properly licensed hunter has struck the animal with a projectile fired from a legal hunting device during the open season; (2) any person operating the unmanned aircraft has obtained permission from the public or private landowner, or the landowner's authorized representative, before launching or landing the unmanned aircraft from or on the landowner's property; (3) the person operating the unmanned aircraft does not possess or control a firearm, bow, or other implement whereby wildlife could be killed or taken while afield, whether acting singly or as a group of persons while the unmanned aircraft is in flight, except this prohibition does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealed firearm under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is not used to take wildlife; and (4) the unmanned aircraft is operated in a manner that does not harass any wildlife. Exempts an operator of an unmanned aircraft that meets these conditions from hunting permit requirements if the operator is not the taker of the wounded animal. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that, upon motion, a court may order that a court file, pleadings, or portions of the court file that are filed under the Act be placed under seal if the court finds that the action or portions of the court file are sufficiently without a basis in fact or law. Provides that this may include, but not be limited to, a lack of jurisdiction or that placing the court file or portions of it under seal is in the interests of justice, and that those interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in the court file. Provides that nothing in the Act allows for the sealing of the court file or any portion of the court file pertaining to whether any order of protection has previously been entered in the proceeding or any other proceeding in which any party, or a child of any party, or both, if relevant, has been designated as either a petitioner, respondent, or protected person. Provides that nothing in the Act allows for or may interfere with the payment of child support, income withholding for support, or the reporting of an entry of an order for support.

Amends the Gas Use Tax Law. Exempts certain business enterprises from taxation under the Act. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act. Provides that the definition of "gross receipts" does not include consideration received from certain business enterprises. Amends the Electricity Excise Tax Law. Provides that the tax under the Act is not imposed with respect to any use by the purchaser in the process of manufacturing or assembling tangible personal property for wholesale or for retail sale or lease. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a zoning ordinance or other zoning regulation may not prohibit or restrict the erection of an industrialized residential structure or a manufactured home on real property if: (1) the industrialized residential structure or manufactured home is compatible with the character of the respective area; (2) an ordinance or regulation imposes the same aesthetic compatibility requirements on the industrialized residential structure or manufactured home as those that are applicable to all other residential structures in the respective area; and (3) the industrialized residential structure or manufactured home meets applicable standards for the exterior design of buildings and structures. Prohibits restrictions based upon the age of a manufactured home. Provides that a person who is the owner of real property or who has a right to the use of real property may install and occupy a pre-owned manufactured home on the property if the pre-owned manufactured home complies with specified provisions and is on property that is zoned for residential use. Provides that a county, township, or municipality may establish health and safety standards for pre-owned manufactured homes that are relocated from one location to another location and an inspection program for those pre-owned manufactured homes. Provides that the county, township, or municipality and the individual performing an inspection are not liable for any injuries to a person resulting from any defects or conditions in the pre-owned manufactured home. Specifies that the provisions of the amendatory Act are not intended to limit the powers of a home rule unit. Defines "pre-owned manufactured home".

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, for a person who is a resident in a facility licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act, the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, or the MC/DD Act for whom payments are made under the Article throughout a month and who is determined to be eligible for medical assistance, the State shall pay an amount in addition to the minimum monthly personal needs allowance authorized under the Social Security Act so that the person's total monthly personal needs allowance from both State and federal sources equals $90. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, the personal needs allowance described in the amendatory Act shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, except for a special plate that recognizes the applicant's military service or receipt of a military medal or award, the Secretary of State shall not issue a series of special plates, or Universal special plates associated with an organization authorized to issue decals for Universal special plates, unless applications, as prescribed by the Secretary and including applications in process, have been received for 250 (rather than 2,000) plates of that series.

Amends the Fire Protection District Act and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that municipalities and fire protection districts may fix, charge, and collect reasonable fees from independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, nursing home facilities, or other similar congregate care facilities for all lift-assist services rendered by a fire department, firefighter, emergency response unit, public safety employee of a municipal department, or fire protection district in connection with providing lift-assist services to a patient or other individual. Provides that the fees may not exceed the actual personnel and equipment costs for all services rendered by the municipality or fire protection district in connection with providing lift-assist services to a patient or other individual. Provides that the municipality or fire protection district may require a facility to enter into a written agreement to reimburse the municipality or fire protection district for the costs of injuries suffered at the facility by municipal or district personnel when providing lift-assist services, including, but not limited to, costs of medical treatment, payments required under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act, disability payments, and pension payments for injured personnel, but provides that any such agreement does not relieve the municipality or fire protection district of a statutory or contractual obligation it may have to its employees for an injury suffered relating to lift-assist services rendered. Contains provisions relating to third-party claims and intervention in a suit relating to claims made by a municipal or fire protection district employee for an injury suffered relating to lift-assist services rendered.

Amends the Limitations Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that no product liability action based on the doctrine of strict liability in tort shall be commenced except within the applicable limitations period and within 15 years from the date of first installation of any medical joint replacement product that is claimed to have injured or damaged the plaintiff, unless the defendant expressly has warranted or promised the product for a longer period and the action is brought within that period. If personal injury, death, or property damage occurs in relation to a medical joint replacement within 12 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession by a seller, within 10 years from the date of first sale, lease, or delivery of possession to its initial user, consumer, or other non-seller, or within 10 years from the date of alteration, modification, or change, allows a plaintiff to bring an action within 4 years after the date on which the claimant knew, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have known, of the existence of the personal injury, death, or property damages, but in no event more than 8 years after the date on which such personal injury, death, or property damage occurred.