Rep. Harry Benton

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure any studies, drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda, and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record is not exempt if the record has remained in draft form for more than a 12-month period and public dollars were spent by a unit of local government to conduct such a study.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that certain taxpayers that are primarily engaged in the business of pharmacy, health, and wellness may elect to claim the Credit under the Act against their obligation to pay over withholding taxes under the Illinois Income Tax Act.

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Creates the right of each patient to request access to and be provided with an electronic record of the patient's health information free of charge. Provides that, if a request pursuant to this right is made by a patient or the patient's representative and the records are readily producible in an electronic format, the health care provider shall provide the patient or the patient's representative with access to the requested records in an electronic format.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall furnish the record of all specified proceedings to an interested party at $3 per page (instead of 70 cents) for each original transcript and 75 cents per page (instead of 25 cents) for each certified copy. Provides that the charge for any part of the transcript ordered and paid for previous to the writing of the original record shall be 75 cents (instead of 25 cents) per page.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each individual who (i) serves as a first responder for at least 10 months during the taxable year and (ii) incurs unreimbursed qualified wellness expenses during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the unreimbursed qualified wellness expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, up to a maximum of $250 per eligible taxpayer. Sets forth limitations on the aggregate amount of credits that may be awarded under the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the maximum amount for the credit for instructional materials and supplies shall be $500 for each semester in the taxable year for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 (currently, $500 per taxable year). Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in counties with a population of more than 700,000 residents and fewer than 725,000 residents, upon motion of any party and provided that other parties to the appeal do not object, hearings upon appeal to the Property Tax Appeal Board shall be heard online with parties to the appeal participating in the hearing remotely. Requires the Property Tax Appeal Board to amend its rules of practice and procedure within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to accommodate the remote hearings. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Authorizes the Property Tax Appeal Board to adopt emergency rules to implement the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to implement, not later than July 1, 2026, a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting disparate emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between local and State law enforcement and first responder agencies. Provides that the system shall be known as "Alyssa's Alert" and shall integrate with local, public-safety, answering-point infrastructure to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations. Allows a school board to implement additional strategies or systems to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies in the event of a school security emergency. Provides that a school board is not required to procure or implement new or additional capabilities if, as of July 1, 2025, the school board has already implemented a mobile panic alert system with capabilities that meet system requirements. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct market research not later than December 1, 2025 to identify whether an existing competitively procured source of supply is available for a mobile panic alert system from multiple vendors for use by school districts. Provides that if no existing source of supply exists, then the State Board shall issue a competitive solicitation for such source of supply no later than January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.