Creates the State Public Defender Act. Creates the Office of State Public Defender as an agency of State government. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be an independent agency within the judicial branch of government and the Office's records shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be under the supervision and direction of the State Public Defender. Sets forth the powers and duties of the State Public Defender, including the duties of the initial State Public Defender. Provides that the initial State Public Defender shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. Sets forth specified duties and responsibilities of the initial State Public Defender. Creates the State Public Defender Commission. Sets forth membership and duties of the Commission. Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Provides that any 2 or more counties of this State that are within the same judicial circuit may by joint resolution of the several county boards involved create a common Office of public defender for the counties so joined or allow representation in one county by the public defender appointed in the collaborating county (rather than 2 or more adjoining counties within the same judicial circuit may create a common Office of public defender). Provides that, when a vacancy occurs in the position of public defender, the State Public Defender shall nominate and the State Public Defender Commission shall appoint a properly qualified public defender using the application and selection process developed under the State Public Defender Act. Removes certain differences based upon county populations. Removes provisions relating to the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that a public defender may be removed only for good cause or dereliction of duty after notice and a hearing before the State Public Defender Commission (rather than by the president of the county board after a notice and hearing of the county board). Modifies how a public defender is compensated and how moneys in the Public Defender Fund may be used. Makes other changes. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 460 makes a technical adjustment to the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. The bill specifically amends a section that concerns the short title of the act.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a female student in any of grades 6 through 12 who is participating in an educational program in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board to have one school-day-long, excused absence per school year to participate in an externship or volunteer opportunity with an Illinois organization in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Provides that the school board may require that the student provide reasonable advance notice of the intended absence to the appropriate school administrator and require that the student provide documentation of the participation in an externship or volunteer opportunity to the appropriate school administrator.
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Allows the Department of Public Health to develop and publish on its website a nonopioid alternatives pamphlet, with certain requirements. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that coverage shall not be denied for a nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug. Requires that nonopioid drugs preferred on a specific list for the treatment or management of pain shall not be disadvantaged or discouraged with respect to coverage relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Effective July 1, 2027.
Amends the Workplace Transparency Act. Provides that no contract, agreement, clause, covenant, waiver, or other document shall prohibit, prevent, or otherwise restrict an employee, prospective employee, or former employee from engaging in concerted activities to address work-related issues. Provides that any agreement, clause, covenant, or waiver that is a mutual condition of employment or continued employment may include provisions that would otherwise be against public policy if it acknowledges the right of the employee or prospective employee to engage in concerted activities to address work-related issues. Provides that an employee, prospective employee, or former employee and an employer may enter into a valid and enforceable settlement or termination agreement that includes promises of confidentiality related to alleged unlawful employment practices if the confidentiality provision expires no later than 5 years after the alleged unlawful employment practices occurred. Provides for the recovery of consequential damages incurred in challenging a contract for violation of the Act. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an insurer or producer authorized to issue policies of insurance in the State may not make a distinction or otherwise discriminate between persons, reject an applicant, cancel a policy, or demand or require a higher rate of premium for reasons based solely upon the basis that an applicant or insured has been convicted of a felony.
Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a pensioner, annuitant, applicant for a refund, disability beneficiary, or other beneficiary does not have the right to transfer or assign his or her pension, annuity, refund, or disability benefit, or any part thereof, by mortgage or otherwise; except that an annuitant or disability beneficiary may direct, in writing, that a monthly payment be made to an association or organization with which the annuitant or disability beneficiary or the annuitant's or disability beneficiary's surviving spouse may be affiliated by virtue of his or her fire service or for hospitalization insurance purposes.
Amends the School Code and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act. In provisions concerning the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents scholarship and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant program, provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall determine, by rule, the eligibility of the persons who apply for the scholarship or grant (rather than the Department shall determine the eligibility of the persons who apply For the scholarship or grant).
Amends the Forest Products Transportation Act. Changes the title of the Act to the Tree Transportation Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person may haul or transport any tree (instead of forest product) on the highways of the State without proof of ownership as required by the Department of Natural Resources by administrative rule (instead of the written consent of the timber grower or subsequent seller). Provides that any person hauling or transporting a tree or trees (instead of 2 or more trees and forest products), on any highway in this State shall be required to show proof of ownership as defined in the Act. Provides that the information required for proof of ownership shall be set by the Department by administrative rule, including information required for a person that is transporting or hauling a tree or trees that the person owns. Provides that the Department or any law enforcement agency may inspect any vehicle or conveyance hauling or transporting a tree or trees on any road or highway in the State to determine if the transportation of the tree or trees complies with the Act. Provides that, if an officer of the Department or law enforcement agency discovers any violation of the Act, he or she may issue a summons to the person operating the vehicle that is hauling or transporting the tree or trees that requires that the person appears before the circuit court for the county within which the offense was committed. Sets forth criteria for a violation of the amendatory provisions. Changes the level of misdemeanor that resisting or obstructing any officer, employee, or agent of the Department in the discharge of his or her duties under the provisions of the Act from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor. Makes conforming changes. Repeals provisions concerning the definition of certain terms. Makes conforming changes in the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act.