Sen. Elgie Sims

Creates the Straw Purchaser Accountability Act. Provides that whenever any person engages in gun trafficking or intentionally or negligently delivers or causes to be delivered a firearm, firearm ammunition, or a laser sight accessory, firearm silencer, or muffler to: (1) any person who is not legally authorized to possess that item; (2) a person who is purchasing the item on behalf of another person; or (3) any other person the deliverer knows or has reason to know will use the item unlawfully; the deliverer shall thereafter be civilly liable for the commission of any subsequent tortious conduct that directly or indirectly involves the use, attempted use, or threatened use of the item by any person. Provides that a prevailing plaintiff shall be entitled to all relief that would make him or her whole. Provides that persons subject to liability under the Act are jointly and severally liable. Provides that any person who recovers damages under the Act may not recover the same costs or damages under any other Act. Provides that a person who recovers damages under any other Act may not recover for the same costs or damages under the Straw Purchaser Accountability Act.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the Elections Special Projects Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that any federal grant reimbursements paid to the State Board of Elections shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used for purposes consistent with specified provisions of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, beginning June 30, 2026, and the last day of each fiscal year thereafter, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer any moneys in excess of $1,000,000 from the Elections Special Projects Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Creates the Interstate Massage Compact. Provides that the State of Illinois enters into the Interstate Massage Compact. Provides that the purpose of the Compact is to reduce the burdens on State governments and to facilitate the interstate practice and regulation of massage therapy with the goal of improving public access to, and the safety of, massage therapy services. Sets out provisions concerning member state requirements; multistate license requirements; the authority of the Interstate Massage Compact Commission and member state licensing authorities; adverse actions; active duty military members and the spouses of active duty military members; establishment and operation of the Interstate Massage Compact Commission; data systems; rulemaking; oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement; the effective date of, withdrawal from, and amending the Compact; construction and severability; and conflicts with member state laws.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Court of Claims for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that if the minor has multiple delinquency petitions filed against him or her, remaining petitions pending against the minor respondent shall be adjudicated within 120 (rather than 160) days from the date on which a finding relative to the first petition prosecuted is rendered. Restructures the provisions concerning alleged delinquent minors and pretrial detention of alleged delinquent minors. Provides that if the court determines that the State, without success, has exercised due diligence to timely obtain the results of DNA testing that is material to the case, and that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the results may be obtained at a later date, the court may extend the period of detention of the minor to not more than 70 days, only for any matter for which the minor may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Provides that nothing in the trial and pretrial detention provisions of the Act prevents the minor from exercising the minor's rights to waive the time limits set forth in these provisions. Deletes provision that time needed to prepare a defense to a State motion such as an extended juvenile jurisdiction petition or a transfer petition shall not be considered a delay occasioned by the minor. Makes technical changes in the trial and pretrial detention provisions of the Act.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2027 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Attornery General for ordinary and contingent expenses and operational porgrams of the Workplace Rights Bureau. Effective July 1, 2025.

Appropriates $38,275,200 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the State Appellate Defender for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Innovation Development and Economy Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of any political subdivision that (i) is not a home-rule unit and (ii) has established a STAR bond district under the Act may, by ordinance or resolution, impose a tourism tax upon all admission and amusement charges from transactions at places of business located within the STAR bond district, at a rate not to exceed 9% of the gross receipts derived from any admission and amusement charge within the STAR bond district, to be imposed only in 0.25% increments. Provides that the tax imposed under the provisions and all civil penalties that may be assessed as an incident of the tax under the provisions shall be collected and enforced by the Department of Revenue. Provides that, for any STAR bond district created on or after January 1, 2025, the Director of Revenue may only approve a STAR bond district if the Director finds that: (i) the proposed STAR bond district is an eligible area; (ii) the STAR bond district plan includes a projected capital investment of at least $500,000,000; (iii) the STAR bond district plan is reasonably projected to produce at least $100,000,000 of annual gross sales revenues, 1,500 new jobs, and 5,000 construction jobs; (iv) the STAR bond district plan includes a statement of how the jobs and taxes will contribute significantly to the economic development of the State and region; (v) the STAR bond district plan shows visitation expectations in excess of 1,000,000 visitors annually; (vi) the STAR bond district plan includes potential destination users and a potential entertainment user; (vii) the creation of the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan are in accordance with the purpose of the Act and the public interest; and (viii) the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan meet any other requirement the Director deems appropriate. Provides that, for the purposes of the Act, "local sales tax increment" includes, with respect to local sales taxes administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, all of the local sales tax paid by, among others, amusement park users. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if a taxpayer is awarded a credit by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in connection with a qualifying Illinois data center located in a qualified area or a data center developed by a minority-owned business, a women-owned business, or a business owned a person with a disability, then the taxpayer is entitled to an additional income tax credit in an amount equal to 5% of the taxpayer's investment in qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of that data center. Effective immediately.