Sen. Elgie Sims

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a petitioner for post-conviction relief who was convicted of a felony offense committed when that person was under 21 years of age who seeks leave to file a successive post-conviction petition claiming that his or her sentence violates the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution does not have to demonstrate cause. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 315 amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act by making technical corrections to the section that states the law's short title. It does not change any lending regulations, borrower protections, or enforcement rules. The bill only updates the formal name of the law within its own text and has no impact on consumers, lenders, or existing policy. The "BUSINESS-TECH" title in the bill number is unrelated to its actual content, which is purely administrative. This is a procedural update with no real-world policy effect.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 concerning abused, neglected, and dependent minors. Provides that when the minor is placed in the custody of a suitable relative or other person as legal custodian or guardian or placed in subsidized guardianship of a suitable relative or other person as legal guardian, custody or guardianship continues until the court otherwise directs, but not after the minor reaches the age of 18 years. Provides that when a minor is placed in the guardianship of a probation officer, committed to an agency for care or placement, or committed to the Department of Children and Family Services for care and service, custody or guardianship granted continues until the court otherwise directs, but not after the minor reaches the age of 21 years. Makes other changes. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that if the minor is a youth in care under the guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 when the petition for the appointment of a guardian of a minor is filed, the court's determinations and findings shall be made consistent with the court review provisions of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that any motion to modify or vacate the appointment of a guardian of a minor who was a youth in care immediately preceding the filing of a petition for the appointment of a minor guardian shall be filed and reviewed pursuant to the supplemental provisions to reinstate wardship of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that if custody and guardianship is to be restored to a parent or guardian who was a respondent in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 case, the court's determinations and findings shall be made consistent with the court review provisions of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Defines "youth in care". Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 2512 appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board. This funding is designated for the Board's ordinary and contingent expenses for Fiscal Year 2026.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to, on or before January 1, 2027, submit a report to the General Assembly regarding the status and availability of agricultural education programs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the maximum amount of notes or bonds that may be issued by the Illinois Finance Authority for any one agricultural real estate borrower may be increased by a higher amount than currently allowed if a higher amount is permitted by statute or regulation. In provisions concerning agricultural assistance loans, removes provisions providing that no proceeds from any bonds issued by the Illinois Finance Authority shall be loaned for the purchase of new depreciable agricultural property to any natural person who has a net worth in excess of $500,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that the Prescription Monitoring Program does not apply to testosterone, mifepristone, misoprostol, GnRH analogues, or estrogen. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall purge from the records of the Prescription Monitoring Program all existing information concerning the prescribing or dispensing of testosterone, including any such information contained in the central repository or database, on or before January 1, 2027, and shall ensure that no further records concerning the prescribing and dispensing of testosterone are created or maintained by the Prescription Monitoring Program. Provides that the Department shall update and adopt rules consistent with the provision no later than January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Parks Designation Act. Provides that the railroad trestle bridge that is part of the Kickapoo Rail Trail and that is located at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County shall be known as the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge. Further provides that, subject to appropriation, appropriate plaques may be erected by the Department of Natural Resources in recognition of the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to design, implement, and maintain a statewide program to provide voluntary short-term universal newborn home visiting services to all Illinois families with newborn infants for the purpose of promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of newborn infants and their parents or caregivers. Requires the Department to: (i) consider recommendations from the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant report when adopting rules to implement the universal newborn home visiting program; and (ii) consult, coordinate, and collaborate with specified stakeholders when designing the universal newborn home visiting program. Contains provisions concerning grant awards for the establishment or expansion of local universal newborn home visiting programs; criteria for the selection of eligible service models; program requirements; program data collection and reporting; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2027.

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.