Sen. Elgie Sims

Appropriates $87,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services for operational expenses, awards, grant, permanent improvements, and pretrial services reimbursements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Makes other appropriations to the Office. Effective July 1, 2026.

Makes appropriations from various funds to the Office of the Secretary of State for its ordinary and contingent expenses in State fiscal year 2027. Effective July 1, 2026.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the State Universities Civil Service System for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $1,581,400.

Maddy summarySB 4085 is a funding bill that allocates specific sums from various state funds to the Illinois State Treasurer for fiscal year 2027 (ending June 30, 2027). It appropriates $18.68 million for the Treasurer’s operational costs, $1 million for tax refund interest, $28.05 million for pension fund operations, and $3.72 billion for bond payments covering projects like transportation, schools, and pollution control. The bill also funds specific programs, including $2.5 million for the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program and $1 million for arbitrage rebate payments. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and solely directs existing budget allocations without creating new policies.

Maddy summarySB 4080 appropriates $400,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Courts Commission for its ordinary and contingent operational expenses. This funding, effective July 1, 2026, supports the commission's day-to-day administrative costs and unforeseen expenses. The bill does not change laws or policies but provides necessary financial resources for the commission's existing functions. It directly affects the Courts Commission's budget operations without altering legal standards or public services.

Creates the Illinois Railway Safety Act of 2026. Requires a locomotive engineer to be present in the locomotive cab of every train operating on a line and to be capable of taking control of the operation of the train in the event of a safety issue occurring. Requires a locomotive engineer to take full control of the train when a safety issue occurs in order to mitigate the safety issue and any safety risks. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to work with each railroad company to ensure that wayside detector systems are installed and operating along railroad tracks on which the railroad operates and to ensure that specified standards are met. Sets forth investigation and reporting requirements for the Commission and the Department of Transportation if a railroad company refuses to work or otherwise cooperate with the Commission. Sets forth wayside detector system installation distance requirements, waivers, and exemptions. Provides that when a wayside detector system detects a defect, if the message regarding the defect is not immediately sent to the operator, the person that receives the message shall immediately notify the operator of the defect. Requires visual inspections not less than twice a week for all main track designated within the State for operation at class III carrier speeds or higher. Allows the Commission to enforce the Act, which may include civil penalties for a violation of the Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a driver is involved in a collision at a grade crossing resulting in the injury or fatality of a railway worker, that driver shall have the driver's driving privileges suspended for a period of not less than 6 months up to revocation. Prohibits a railroad from operating on any main line or any other line any train which exceeds 8,500 feet in length.

Amends the Clerks of the Courts Act. Increases the filing fee and appearance fee in civil actions. Requires $5 of those fees to be deposited into the Guardianship and Advocacy Fund. Provides that no fee may be charged for accounts filed for guardianships established for minors under the Minors Article of the Probate Act of 1975 or for disabled adults of the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that no fee may be charged for a commitment petition or petition for discharge under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Repeals the provisions imposing the guardianship and advocacy operations fee.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 595) is a formal memorial honoring Eddie Joseph Godwin, a Chicago bricklayer, union mason, and City of Chicago employee who retired from the Department of Transportation. It details his life, career, family, and nickname "Bedrock," and extends the Illinois Senate's condolences to his surviving family members, including his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and extended relatives. As a memorial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy; it solely serves to formally mourn his passing and express sympathy to his family. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Illinois Senate on February 4, 2026.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall ensure that a committed person and the committed person's correspondents are not charged any fee, surcharge, or cost for mail communication or mail scanning services that exceed the standard postage rate set by the United States Postal Service. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person or correspondent any fee, surcharge, or cost for any incoming mail addressed to and received by the committed person, including any material received through mail scanning services. Provides that the Department shall not charge the committed person any fee, surcharge, or cost for outgoing mail delivery or mail scanning services that exceeds the postage rate set by the United States Postal Service for any outgoing mail. Provides that the Department or any third-party vendor that the Department contracts with, shall not impose any fee, surcharge, or cost to the committed person above the United States Postal Service rate for mail communication, including the delivery or scanning of mail. Provides that the Department shall not use the provision of voice communication services, mail communication, mail scanning services, or any other communication services to supplant in-person contact visits. Provides that the Department shall not receive revenue, directly or indirectly, from the provision of voice communications, mail communication, mail scanning services, or other communication services to a person in custody in any institutions and facilities of the Department. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the Department shall annually report to the General Assembly on the status of any communication services contracts and plans to consolidate contracts to maximize purchasing power for voice communication services, mail communication services, and all other communication services. Provides that the Department shall post the report on its website. Effective immediately.

Recognizes the Council of State Governments (CSG) on the organization's return to the City of Chicago, its first home, for its 2025 CSG National Conference, being held from December 9 to December 13, 2025.