Sen. Rob Martwick

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 151) is a formal memorial honoring Dr. Richard J. Martwick IV, a former Cook County Regional Superintendent of Education and longtime educator, following his death in November 2024. The Illinois Senate expresses condolences to his family and community, recognizing his 24-year tenure in education leadership and contributions to school systems. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies or individuals.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately.

Creates the Fiduciary Oversight Agency Act. Establishes the Fiduciary Oversight Agency within the Department of Insurance. Provides that the Agency shall be responsible for monitoring the operations of all public sector retirement plans in Illinois, including pensions and supplemental retirement plans, to ensure compliance with State laws and fiduciary standards. Grants the Agency the authority to enforce compliance with fiduciary standards and Illinois laws relating to public sector retirement plans through administrative sanctions, penalties, and corrective orders; conduct audits, investigations, and reviews of retirement plans, plan administrators, and other fiduciaries to ensure compliance with State laws and fiduciary standards; and initiate civil or administrative proceedings to address violations of fiduciary standards and enforce corrective actions or penalties as appropriate. Establishes reporting requirements for the Agency.

Recognizes the moral responsibility of all employers to ensure their valued employees have a path to secure retirement. Urges employers across the State to provide quality retirement savings options for their employees in recognition of the importance of securing financial independence in retirement and the positive impact that it will have on the well-being of both individual employees and the State's economy as a whole.

Amends the University Employees Custodial Accounts Act. Provides that the governing board of any public institution of higher education shall require that the defined contribution plan recordkeeper agree that, in performing services with respect to the defined contribution plan, the recordkeeper: (i) will not use information received as a result of providing services with respect to the defined contribution plan or the participants in the defined contribution plan to solicit the participants in the defined contribution plan for the purpose of cross-selling nonplan products and services, unless in response to a request by a participant in the defined contribution plan or a request by the governing board of the public institution of higher education or its authorized delegate (rather than a request by a participant); and (ii) will not promote, recommend, endorse, or solicit participants in the defined contribution plan to purchase any financial products or services outside of the defined contribution plan, except that links to parts of the recordkeeper's or the recordkeeper's affiliate's (rather than the recordkeeper's) website that are generally available to the public, are about commercial products, and may be encountered by a participant in the regular course of navigating the recordkeeper's or the recordkeeper's affiliate's (rather than the recordkeeper's) website will not constitute a violation. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning the determination of the final rate of earnings for Tier 2 members, provides that, for an employee who is paid on an hourly basis or who receives an annual salary in installments during 12 months of each academic year, the average annual earnings is obtained by dividing by 8 the total earnings of the employee during the 96 consecutive months in which the total earnings were the highest within the last 120 months prior to termination or the average annual earnings during the 8 consecutive academic years of service within the 10 years of service prior to termination in which the employee's earnings were the highest, whichever is greater (instead of only the average annual earnings obtained by dividing by 8 the total earnings of the employee during the 96 consecutive months in which the total earnings were the highest within the last 120 months prior to termination). Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are corrections and clarifications of existing law and are intended to be retroactive to January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-1490). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Creates the State-Funded Retirement Systems Council to appoint and oversee the Pension Funding Trustee and to monitor and verify State funding to the State-Funded Retirement Systems. Creates the Office of Pension Trustee. Sets forth duties of the Council and Trustee. Provides that the State pledges that the State will not limit or alter certain rights of the Council, the State-Funded Retirement Systems, the Pension Funding Trustee, or the Auditor General under the amendatory Act; alter the method of calculating the minimum required contribution by the State to any State-Funded Retirement System in such a manner as results in a diminution in the contribution amount to a State-Funded Retirement System before the total assets of that System are equal to 100% of the total actuarial liabilities of that System; or use the proceeds of certain income tax surcharges for anything other than certain purposes. Waives sovereign immunity for purposes of the State-Funded Retirement Systems Council. Beginning State Fiscal Year 2026, sets forth a minimum contribution formula for the State-funded retirement systems equal to the sum of the Base Contribution plus the Benefit Change Contribution Amount. Makes conforming and other changes. Provides for transfers from the Budget Stabilization Act from the proceeds of the income tax surcharge under the amendatory Act. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Establishes a surcharge for taxable years 2026 through 2034 for all individuals, trusts, and estates equal to 0.5% of the taxpayer's net income and 0.7% of the net income of all corporations. Makes conforming changes in the Court of Claims Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a copy of the complaint shall also be served on each taxing district in which the property is located at least 90 days prior to the board of review hearing on the complaint. Effective immediately.

Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning Tier 2 benefits, provides that the initial survivor's or widow's benefit (instead of the initial benefit) shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. Provides that a child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount and using the formula prescribed under the applicable Article of the Code, and such formula shall be used for calculation of the child's annuity only. Provides that, if a benefit is paid to both a widow or survivor and a child or multiple children, the widow's portion shall be calculated in the amount of 66 2/3% and reduced by the pro rata portion of any child or children's portion as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Article of the Code that is applicable to the pension fund or retirement system that is providing the benefit using the method prescribed in the applicable Article of the Code. Adds child's annuities to provisions concerning automatic annual increases. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, beginning in 2026, the limit on salary for all purposes under the Code for Tier 2 firemen shall annually be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% or (ii) the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.