Sen. Mike Porfirio

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical update to the law governing the occupation tax for cigarette machine operators. Specifically, it amends the official short title of the existing Cigarette Machine Operators' Occupation Tax Act. The legislation does not change tax rates, add new fees, or alter the rules for who must pay the tax. It was signed into law and became effective on July 1, 2024, primarily to correct the name of the statute.

Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a veteran with a disability or the veteran's caregiver shall not be charged any building permit fee for improvements to the residence of the veteran with a disability if the improvements are required to accommodate a disability of the veteran. Provides that the applications, forms, and other paperwork required to obtain a building permit must still be submitted. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2025.

Creates the Business Improvement District Law. Allows a municipality to create a business improvement district by ordinance. Sets forth requirements for an ordinance creating a business improvement district. Provides that a business improvement district may impose district charges on property owners whose real properties are located within the business improvement district. Provides that the board of directors of a business improvement district shall administer or implement activities and improvements specified in the district plan unless the board contracts with a district management association to do so. Contains provisions relating to district plans; formation of a district; district boundaries; terms and renewal of districts; amendment to district plans; governance of the district; reports of the board of directors of a business improvement district; contesting the validity of a business improvement district, district plan, or district charge; dissolution; and legislative purpose. Provides that the Act applies only to municipalities having a population exceeding 500,000. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Removes references to the State-Wide One-Call Notice System and replaces it with JULIE, Inc. Sets forth additional definitions. Provides that owners or operators of underground utility facilities are required to be members of JULIE. Sets forth requirements for excavators engaging in nonemergency excavation or demolition. Sets forth notice requirements prior to engaging in the excavation or demolition. Provides that underground utility facility owners or operators may request to be present when excavation occurs when there is a critical facility within a proposed excavation area and excavators shall comply with a request to be present during excavation. Creates the positive response system to be implemented by January 1, 2026. Provides that excavators and facility owners or operators shall use the positive response system to send and respond to required notices. Sets forth required response times in various circumstances. Provides that facility owners or operators shall respond to a valid planning design request and the requirements for the response. Provides for joint meet notifications and sets forth responsibilities of excavators and facility owners or operators for a joint meet. Provides that any county or the State that has shared geographic information system data with any other not-for-profit or agency shall share the information with JULIE. Sets forth requirements for emergency excavation or demolition circumstances. Sets forth liability for damage or dislocation of a facility. Makes other changes. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989. Removes the 5-year cap an applicant has to successfully complete all examinations required by rule of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Amends the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. Provides that the Secretary of State shall include data fields on its annual report form that allows a corporation to report, at its discretion, the aggregated demographic information of its directors and officers, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Provides that, within 30 days after filing its annual AG990-IL Charitable Organization Annual Report, a corporation that reports grants of $1,000,000 or more to other charitable organizations shall post on its publicly available website, if one exists, the aggregated demographic information of the corporation's directors and officers, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Provides that the aggregated demographic information shall be accessible on the corporation's publicly available website for at least 5 years after it is posted. Provides that the Department of Human Rights shall work with community partners to prepare and publish a standardized list of demographic classifications to be used by the Secretary of State and corporations for the reporting of the aggregated demographic information. Provides that, in collecting the aggregated demographic information, a corporation shall allow for an individual to decline to disclose any or all personal demographic information to the corporation. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the mandatory competitive bid threshold for the District may not be less than $100,000 (rather than less than $10,000 or more than $40,000). Provides that the District's executive director shall authorize in writing specified officials or employees who may purchase in the open market without filing a requisition or estimate to purchase and without advertisement any supplies, materials, equipment or services for immediate delivery to meet bona fide operating emergencies where the amount is not in excess of $100,000 (rather than $50,000).

Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the College Savings Pool, provides that an account may be rolled over into a Roth IRA account, to the extent permitted by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. In provisions concerning the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, provides that the definition of "eligible child" includes a child born or adopted after December 31, 2022, to a parent who is a resident of Illinois at the time of the birth or adoption, as evidenced by documentation received by the Treasurer from a parent or legal guardian of the child. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act. Defines the term "transportation protection agreement". Provides that the Illinois Insurance Code does not apply to any transportation protection agreement sold by any seller. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be deemed to apply to (1) merchandise that is delivered within 30 days of purchase, (2) a transportation protection agreement, or (3) pre-need cemetery sales (currently only pre-need cemetery sales) under the Illinois Pre-Need Cemetery Sales Act. Makes a change to a provision concerning payments under pre-need contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Utilities Act to rename it the Wetlands Protection Act and establish a comprehensive state framework for protecting Illinois' wetlands and small streams. It defines various types of wetlands, such as bogs and bottomland hardwoods, and creates a permit system managed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or approved local districts to regulate activities that could harm these areas. The legislation aims to restore protections for water bodies that may no longer be covered by federal laws following recent Supreme Court rulings, ensuring continued benefits like flood control, water filtration, and habitat preservation.