Sen. Elgie Sims

Appropriates $8,620,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Auditor General for its Fiscal Year 2027 ordinary and contingent expenses. Appropriates $37,401,560 from the Audit Expense Fund to the Office of the Auditor General for administrative and operations expenses and for audits, studies, investigations, and expenses related to actuarial services. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, within 30 days after July 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practical, specified sums shall be transferred from various named funds into the Audit Expense Fund. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $36,365,100 to the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor for its ordinary and contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the offense of methamphetamine trafficking may be tried in any county. Permits the Attorney General to authorize certain eavesdropping requests from law enforcement. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Permits the Attorney General or an Assistant Attorney General authorized by the Attorney General to authorize an application to a circuit judge or an associate judge assigned by the Chief Judge of the circuit for, and such judge may grant in conformity with the Judicial Supervision of the Use of Eavesdropping Devices Article of the Code, an order authorizing or approving the use of an eavesdropping device by a law enforcement officer or agency having the responsibility for the investigation of any felony under Illinois law where any one party to a conversation to be monitored, or previously monitored in the case of an emergency situation, has consented to such monitoring. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Provides that a Statewide Grand Jury may investigate, indict, and prosecute theft, retail theft, Internet offenses, continuing financial crimes enterprise, vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, vehicular invasion, burglary, residential burglary, and home invasion if the offense involves acts occurring in more than one county of the State.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a county opting out of the special assessment programs to reduce the assessed value of certain residential real property shall not disqualify or shorten the maximum eligibility periods for any property approved to receive a reduced valuation prior to the county opting out. Requires that the special assessment programs be available to all qualifying residential real property regardless of whether or not the property has or is currently receiving any other public financing or subsidies or subject to any regulatory agreements with any public entity, or both. If an owner is approved for the reduced valuation prior to December 31, 2037 and the provisions are not subsequently extended, this shall not disqualify or shorten the maximum eligibility periods for any property approved to receive a reduced valuation. Provides that, if the chief county assessment officer has not created application forms, the chief county assessment officer shall make publicly available and accept applications forms that shall be available to local governments from the Illinois Department of Revenue. If a county Internet website exists, the application materials, as well as any other program requirements used by the county (such as application deadlines, fees, and other procedures required by the application) must be published on that website, otherwise it must be available to the public upon request at the office of the chief county assessment officer. On an annual basis, requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to calculate and make available on its website the minimum per square foot expenditure requirements to be applicable statewide to be eligible for the reduced valuation, which shall include the historical annual expenditure requirements starting with calendar year 2021. Changes reference to improvements to existing residential real property to substantially rehabilitated residential real property. Makes other changes.

Maddy summaryHB 762 makes a technical amendment to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Specifically, it modifies a section related to the short title of the Act, which is a minor, non-substantive change.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide resources to persons under the 18 years of age who have been adjudicated delinquent for a nonviolent crime. Provides that a nonviolent crime does not include the use or threat of force toward a person. Provides that the resources shall include: (1) mentoring; (2) access to educational resources in collaboration with the State Board of Education; (3) employment training opportunities; (4) behavioral health services, including trauma informed services; (5) parent supports; and (6) any other resources that the Department deems helpful to youth convicted of nonviolent crimes. Provides that the Department may provide services through existing or new service contracts with community agencies. Provides that the circuit courts and probation departments may refer youth to this program. Provides that the Department shall not provide any supervision of court-ordered conditions under the program. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the Department shall publicize on its website the program and the process for referring eligible youth. Provides that the Department shall include the number of youth and families served and a summary of the types of services provided through this program in its annual report.

Creates the One Health Framework Task Force Act. Establishes the One Health Framework Task Force in the Department of Public Health for the purpose of developing a strategic plan to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and other scientific professionals and State agencies, with the goal of promoting the health and well-being of the State's residents, animals, and environment. Declares goals and responsibilities of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall partner with or consult with certain entities in the State. Lists the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall convene and meet at the call of the chairperson. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide support to the Task Force. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a final report to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2027. Defines terms.

Encourages the State Court of Claims to pause on Certificate of Innocence payouts if requested by the Certificate of Innocence awards and their attorney(s) until the legislature works through the nuances of the Certificate of Innocence statutory language by June 30, 2026.