Sen. Willie Preston

Appropriates $780,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Cook County Forest Preserve District for the administration and operation of Greencorps Chicago and the Forest Preserve Experience Program. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education may provide statewide guidance to school districts concerning a workforce development curriculum or programming or both that can be adopted at the school district, school, or classroom level and that provides best practices for teaching artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other types of rapidly growing technologies as deemed necessary, in a manner that prepares students for workforce, job, and career competencies in the future and informs students of new or growing job or career opportunities in these new fields. Provides that the State Board shall prepare a comprehensive review of any workforce development preparation curriculum and programming specifically designed around technology implemented or considered in other states through other state actions, policies, pilot programs, or school-based programs implemented or tested on a statewide or school-district basis. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may convene meetings with stakeholders from the public or private sector in preparing the guidance and may allow for the submission of public comments from individuals, organizations, or other entities prior to finalizing the prepared guidance.

Creates the Artificial Intelligence Design Requirements Act. Sets forth provisions concerning product liability actions brought against a developer of an artificial intelligence system for defective design, failure to contain adequate instructions or warnings, and failure to conform to an express warranty. Provides that a deployer of an artificial intelligence system shall be deemed to be liable as a developer for harm caused by a product if: (1) the deployer makes material and substantial change to the product or (2) the deployer intentionally misuses the product contrary to the express warranty and that use was the proximate cause of harm to the plaintiff. Sets forth provisions concerning applicability and enforcement.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Makes changes to the statement that must appear on a Firearm Owners Identification Card that qualifies for a photograph exemption. Provides that such a card shall have printed on it the following: "This card is valid for firearm purchases through a federally licensed firearms dealer when presented with photographic identification, such as a REAL ID compliant or standard State-issued driver's license, a REAL ID compliant or standard State-issued identification card, or a United States passport." Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that for dates of service beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased by $5.75 to $10.50 per diem. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, facilities located outside of Rate Areas 6, 7, and 8 shall have the Medicaid percent of occupied bed days to be at least 60% of all occupied bed days adjusted quarterly to qualify for the Medicaid Access Adjustment. Provides that the remaining facilities shall have their threshold remain at 70%.

Amends the Commission to End Hunger Act. Creates the SNAP Response Working Group. Provides that the co-chairs of the Commission to End Hunger shall convene and appoint the co-chairs of the Working Group. Provides that the Working Group shall review and analyze federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, and gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to make projections about the cost to the State to maintain SNAP in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Directs the Working Group to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027. Provides that the preliminary report shall outline the federal changes to SNAP and identify the number of State residents impacted by those changes. Further provides that the preliminary report shall include initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate any harm to State residents caused by the federal changes and shall project the cost to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Provides that, no later than April 1, 2027, the Working Group shall issue a full report to the General Assembly that includes an analysis on the impact of federal changes to SNAP on Illinois, final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from those changes, updated projections of the cost to maintain the program in federal Fiscal Year 2028, and any other cost projections relating to the Working Group's recommendations. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to provide any relevant additional updates to its recommendations or projections as appropriate. Specifies that all reports of the Working Group shall be published by the Department of Human Services on its website. Provides that the SNAP Working Group shall be dissolved on May 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet federal SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Creates the Property Justice Act. Provides that no interest shall be paid on any sale-in-error refund arising from an error or omission of a county assessor, county treasurer, sheriff, or other county office. Provides that, if interest on a sale-in-error refund is permitted, then the interest shall not exceed 6% annually. Provides that a tax purchaser may not receive more than $2,000,000 in cumulative sale-in-error refunds in a year. Provides that a tax purchaser shall be responsible for not less than 10% of the purchase amount in any sale-in-error arising from conditions discoverable upon ordinary due diligence at the time of sale. Provides that, before an annual tax sale or scavenger sale is conducted, specified officials must each execute a presale certification stating that the parcels are legally eligible for sale, that notices have been properly served, and that assessed and delinquent amounts are accurate. Creates the Community Revitalization Property Trust. Provides that the Trust shall acquire parcels that (1) receive no bids in a scavenger sale or (2) are located in a distressed municipality. Provides that the Trust shall (1) clear title on any property acquired by the Trust; (2) extinguish liens on any property acquired by the Trust; (3) package parcels acquired by the Trust for redevelopment; (4) convey parcels owned by the Trust for $1 to qualified local purchasers, including residents, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, or small developers; and (5) prioritize community-driven redevelopment. Provides that, if the State and local delinquent taxes on a parcel exceed 125% of the assessed market value of a parcel, then all amounts in excess of 125% are extinguished. Provides that the State Treasurer shall publish quarterly reports containing: (1) all sale-in-error refunds issued because of an error or omission by a county assessor, county treasurer, sheriff, or other county office; (2) the county office that caused the error or omission; and (3) the payments made because of the error or omission. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall not deny an application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card or revoke a Firearm Owner's Identification Card on the basis of: (1) any conviction, adjudication, or delinquency finding that has been vacated, reversed, or set aside by a court; or (2) any record that has been expunged, sealed, or otherwise ordered removed under the Criminal Identification Act or Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall eliminate from all internal databases any of these records within 45 days after receipt of the court order. Provides that use of any such record in connection with a Firearm Owner's Identification Card determination is prohibited. Provides that when a circuit court issues a final order directing the Illinois State Police to issue or reinstate a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person whose application for a card has been denied or whose card has been revoked, the Illinois State Police shall comply with the order and issue the card within 30 days after receipt of the order, unless the Illinois State Police files a petition for review in the Appellate Court within that 30-day period. Provides that if the Illinois State Police fails to comply with that provision, the person's application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall be automatically granted by the Illinois State Police by operation of law or the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall be automatically restored by operation of law on the 31st day after receipt of the order. Provides for the submission of certain quarterly reports by the Illinois State Police to the General Assembly and to the Governor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by a police officer or firefighter with a duty-related disability is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.