Sen. Willie Preston

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In the provisions requiring the State Board of Education to develop and make available training opportunities for educators, provides that the training may include the creation of an online portal to train educators in teaching Black English language learners and Black English as a second language. Provides that the portal shall aid educators in teaching students accustomed to using the African American English vernacular, teach about the history and development of African American English vernacular, and include evidence-based methods in teaching literacy to these students accustomed to African American English vernacular. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a food, food ingredient, dietary supplement, cosmetic, or other consumer product shall not be considered adulterated solely because it contains hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, including, but not limited to, Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Delta-8 THC, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), or any hemp product, provided that the hemp used in the product complies with the definition of "hemp" as specified in federal law. Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Conforms several provisions in the Act to federal regulations under the Domestic Hemp Production Program, including (i) definitions, (ii) requirements for the application for a license to cultivate hemp, and (iii) rulemaking requirements for the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall adopt rules for the distribution and retail sale of hemp products under conditions in specified provisions of the Act. Provides that hemp products that contain cannabinoids, that are intended for human consumption, and that are designated for retail sale within Illinois (i) must meet specified requirements, including federal requirements and rules adopted by the Department of Public Health, and (ii) must be distributed or sold in a container that includes specified information. Provides that hemp products that are intended for inhalation or ingestion and contain detectable amounts of hemp cannabinoids may not be sold in this State to a person who is under 21 years of age. Provides that hemp products distributed or sold in violation of specified provisions in the Act shall be considered adulterated or misbranded pursuant to the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and all other applicable State laws. Defines terms. Makes technical changes.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Rafael Wordlaw Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that "machine gun" includes any firearm that is modified or equipped with a forced reset trigger, including an auto-switch or binary switch. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when the person knowingly sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses or carries any firearm that is modified or equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Provides that aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon while carrying or possessing a weapon that has been modified or equipped with a forced reset trigger, including an auto-switch or binary switch, or high-capacity magazine, is a Class X felony. Provides that a person who knowingly sells, offers to sell, or transfers an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver or unserialized firearm is guilty of a Class 2 (rather than a Class 4) felony for a first violation and is guilty of a Class 1 (rather than a Class 2) felony for a second or subsequent violation. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Permits the court to sentence a defendant to an extended term sentence for specified firearms violations. Provides that if a firearm used to commit the offense was outfitted with parts designed or intended for use in converting any weapon into a machine gun or a high-capacity magazine, 5 consecutive years shall be added on to the 15, 20, or 25 years to life added to the sentence. Defines terms.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. In provisions concerning an charges permitted, provides that the annual percentage rate shall be calculated using the system for calculating the annual percentage rate under the federal Truth in Lending Act (rather than a military annual percentage rate). Provides that a licensee shall not charge, impose, or receive any penalty for the prepayment of a loan. Provides that, before disbursing loan proceeds to a borrower, a licensee shall offer the borrower a credit education program or seminar provided by the licensee or a third party provider. Sets forth criteria for credit education programs or seminars. Makes changes in provision concerning the disclosure of Terms of contract and maximum loan terms and amount. Amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. In provisions concerning an annual percentage rate cap, provides that the annual percentage rate shall be calculated using the system for calculating the annual percentage rate under the federal Truth in Lending Act (rather than a military annual percentage rate). Makes changes in provisions concerning the purpose and construction of the Act. Effective immediately.

Creates the Property Tax Relief Act. Provides that any individual whose household is liable for payment of property taxes accrued or has paid rent constituting property taxes accrued and is domiciled in this State at the time he or she files his or her claim is entitled to claim a grant under the Act to be administered by the Department of Revenue. Provides that for 2025 claim year applications submitted during calendar year 2026, a household must have an annual household income of less than the State median adjusted gross income. Provides that for taxable years 2025 and thereafter, an eligible residence must have an assessed market value of less than $350,000. Provides that except as otherwise provided under the Act, the maximum grant amount which a claimant is entitled to claim not to exceed $5,000. Sets forth the grant amount for eligible households that receive cash assistance from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the Department of Human Services. Contains provisions concerning the effect joint ownership of a single residence or ownership of multiple residences has on the calculation of the grant amount. Sets forth the procedure to file a grant claim. Contains provisions concerning supporting documents the Department of Revenue may require claimants to submit to verify eligibility for a grant; the payment and denial of claims; claimants' records; rules of confidentiality; penalties for filing a fraudulent claim; and Department rules.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall permit every committed person to receive the original, physical copy of any mail addressed to the committed person that the committed person is entitled and allowed to receive. Provides that any exceptions to the requirements of this provision must be based on evidence that complying with the requirements of this provision present a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the correctional employees or committed persons in the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the evidence must include evidence of contraband being sent through the mail, data on the number of mail items containing contraband, test results of mail tested due to suspicion of mail containing drugs, data on where inside a correctional institution or facility contraband has been found, and the method of entry of contraband into the correctional institution or facility. Provides that the data and evidence must be made publicly available monthly on the Department's website but no later than 60 days after the use of the exception to the requirements. Provides that no committed person shall be denied, or have communications limited, with an outside support person, whether by phone, mail, video, or in person visitation, as a result of a change in the committed person's grade level or housing status or as a disciplinary sanction. Provides that committed persons may contact outside supports via phone, mail, or electronic message free of charge. Defines "original, physical copy".

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that the tax collected under the Act from terminal income generated in municipalities with a population greater than or equal to 2,000,000 shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund and into the Local Government with Greater than 2,000,000 Residents Video Gaming Distributive Fund (rather than deposited into the Capital Projects Fund and into the Local Government Video Gaming Distributive Fund). Makes conforming changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Government with Greater than 2,000,000 Residents Video Gaming Distributive Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act. Provides that the State Board shall require each health care facility to submit an annual report of all capital expenditures (previously all capital expenditures in excess of 200,000). Provides that, if a hospital reports zero capital expenditures, there still must be included in the report a section detailing the hospital's total purchasing budget that encompasses all goods and services purchased by the hospital in the preceding fiscal year.

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the Senate adjourns on Wednesday, February 05, 2025, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 18, 2025 or until the call of the President; and when the House of Representatives adjourns on Thursday, February 06, 2025, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 18, 2025 or until the call of the Speaker.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Chicago Firefighter Article, but only with respect to a person who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, is entitled under the Chicago Firefighter Article to begin receiving a retirement annuity or survivor's annuity and who elects to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.