Sen. Willie Preston

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary prescribed vitamins. Amends the State Employee Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority shall establish the CTA Transit Police Department composed solely of sworn law-enforcement officers. Provides that all security functions shall be performed exclusively by officers of the CTA Transit Police Department. Provides that the CTA Transit Police Department shall deploy 3-officer safety teams moving continuously through trains, stations, and buses, with priority given to high-crime locations. Provides that the Authority shall implement a pilot program deploying AI-based weapon-detection scanners in at least 5 and not more than 10 high-crime stations and major bus hubs. Provides that the Authority shall implement a limited facial recognition pilot program restricted to identifying individuals (i) with active violent-felony warrants or (ii) who the Authority has prohibited from accessing services provided by the Authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Provides that driver education course instruction shall demonstrate the proper actions to be taken during a law enforcement traffic stop by drivers and passengers (instead of just the proper actions to be taken during a law enforcement traffic stop). Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the traffic stop instruction shall include the constitutional rights of drivers and passengers during a traffic stop, including, but not limited to, the right to remain silent, the right to refuse consent to a vehicle search unless law enforcement has lawful cause, the right to respectfully ask if one is free to leave, and the right to refuse to answer questions regarding immigration status, citizenship, or national origin, which instruction may be offered in a culturally responsive manner that reflects and affirms the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs of students in order to enhance understanding and support safe, informed interactions during traffic stops.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Creates emergency rulemaking procedures for the student teaching stipend program. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the student teaching stipend program. Defines terms. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of Higher Education of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program. Creates requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating teacher who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report in collaboration with the State Board of Education evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis Illinois Senate resolution (SR 618) honors the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader and activist who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and negotiated international hostage releases. It commemorates his life and legacy, citing his role in the 1965 Selma voting rights march, advocacy for corporate diversity, and efforts to register Black voters. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Illinois Senate on February 19, 2026, following his passing, expressing condolences to his family and recognizing his contributions. As a commemorative measure, it does not enact any policy changes or affect specific groups.

Appropriates $30,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for grants to the City of Harvey to pay for operational expenses. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Sets forth measures to be taken when an offense of bullying occurs and is reported to a public school, including a charter school, depending on the severity of the bullying offense, including hearing requirements, compulsory, school-based, restorative-justice requirements, community service requirements, and counseling requirements for minor offenders; hearing requirements, administrative fee requirements, and education session requirements for parents or guardians of minor offenders; and victim support. Requires the State Board of Education to annually report to the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics any incidents of bullying, the number of hearings relating to incidents of bullying, restorative-justice program outcomes, disciplinary actions, and follow-up metrics by demographics. Requires the State Board to conduct an annual audit of schools that participate in the restorative measures to determine anti-bullying metrics for the report. Makes other changes.

Creates the Alexander/Pulaski Medical District Act. Creates the Alexander/Pulaski Medical District covering specified areas from the City of Cairo to north of the City of Pulaski in Alexander County and Pulaski County. Creates the Commission of the District with 9 appointed commissioners and 3 ex officio commissioners. Contains provisions related to the operation of the District; rights and powers of the District and Commission; acquisition, management, and disposition of property; and other provisions. Amends the Eminent Domain Act and State Finance Act. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Replaces a reference to a dissolved medical district commission with the Alexander/Pulaski Medical District Commission and the other existing medical district commissions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Construction Bond Act. Provides that the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall require every contractor for public works to furnish, supply, and deliver a bond if the public works contract will cost more than $10,000,000 (currently, $500,000). Provides that local governmental units shall require a bond for public works projects costing over $5,000,000 (currently, $150,000) and may require a bond for public works projects valued at $5,000,000 or less (currently, $150,000 or less). Provides that certain bonding requirements apply until January 1, 2034 (currently, January 1, 2029).

Creates the Community Revitalization Zone Act. Provides that a county or municipality may designate an area within its jurisdiction as a community redevelopment zone, subject to the certification of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Sets forth the criteria for designation as a community redevelopment zone. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, with respect to tangible personal property that is purchased from a retailer located in a community revitalization zone, the taxes under those Acts are imposed at the rate of 3.25%. Effective immediately.