Sen. Mike Hastings

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections and the various election authorities and local election officials with whom petitions for nomination are filed shall: (i) create a form for a prospective candidate to request a petition for nomination; (ii) provide a prospective candidate with a petition for nomination within 24 hours after receiving a completed request form; (iii) timestamp when a completed petition for nomination is filed; and (iv) make publicly available a list of filed petitions for nomination that shall be preserved for a period of not less than 6 months.

Creates the Public Official Conflict of Interest and Natural Resource Misuse Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any public official, for personal gain, to offer, propose, or allow the use or allocation of a city's natural resource as a condition for settlement or compensation for damage caused to a resident's personal property, with a Class 3 felony that includes a fine not to exceed $250,000 and restitution to the resident, as well as removal from office in the case the public official is an elected official. Provides for powers of investigation and enforcement for the Attorney General, as well as for local law enforcement agencies in consultation with the Executive Ethics Commission. Provides for protection for whistleblowers. Declares a purpose. Defines terms.

Creates the Tax Increment Financing and Zoning Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits certain political contributions from those who receive a benefit from a TIF district or a benefit from a zoning variance. Requires corporate disclosure of directors, employees, investors, and family who receive a benefit from a TIF district or a benefit from a zoning variance. Establishes penalties for violations. Exempts certain unrelated persons and unrelated contributions. Defines terms. Effective September 1, 2025.

Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that victims shall be provided access to all discovery materials, including, but not limited to, police reports, relevant cellular communication data, and communications between parties, upon request, in accordance with the Crime Victims' Rights provision of the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution and the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to aid in their protection against future harm and preparation for civil litigation. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that crime victims shall have the right to discovery information, upon request, for protection and civil litigation preparation. Provides that victims of crimes shall have the right to request and receive, upon request, discovery information that is directly relevant to the criminal case and pertinent to the victim's involvement in the case. Establishes procedures for the victim to obtain discovery information. Provides that the disclosure of discovery materials must be done in a manner that safeguards the victim's personal safety and privacy, especially in cases in which there is a known risk of further harm or retaliation by the defendant or others involved in the case. Provides that discovery materials disclosed may only be used for the purpose of understanding the criminal case and preparing for potential civil litigation. Provides that the information may not be disclosed to third parties or used for any purpose unrelated to the criminal proceedings or related civil litigation. Provides that failure of law enforcement or the office of the prosecuting attorney to comply with the disclosure of discovery materials within the required time frame may result in a civil penalty of up to $50,000, or disciplinary action, or both, as determined by the appropriate oversight body. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a "disruption event" includes any planned or unplanned work on or damage to a fire hydrant. Changes the term "health care facility list" to "disruption notification list". Requires a public water distribution entity to also notify all affected fire departments and all affected dispatch centers on the public water supply's disruption notification list not less than 14 days before any known, planned, or anticipated disruption event or that are served by the public water supply and affected by any unplanned disruption event in the public water supply's water distribution system. Requires a fire department and a dispatch center to designate an email address to receive electronic notifications from the public water distribution entity concerning planned or unplanned disruption events.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Strengthening Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Act. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, or any third-party administrator administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer, shall cover all out-of-network medically necessary mental health and substance use benefits and services (inpatient and outpatient) as if they were in-network for purposes of cost sharing for the insured. Provides that the insured has the right to select the provider or facility of their choice and the modality, whether the care is provided via in-person visit or telehealth, for medically necessary care. Sets forth minimum reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health benefits. Sets forth provisions concerning responsibility for compliance with parity requirements; coverage and payment for multiple covered mental health and substance use services, mental health or substance use services provided under the supervision of a licensed mental health or substance treatment provider, and 60-minute individual psychotherapy; timely credentialing of mental health and substance use providers; Department of Insurance enforcement and rulemaking; civil penalties; and other matters. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor technical correction to the official short title of a section within the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. It does not create new laws, change existing policies, or directly affect any individuals or organizations. The change was approved by both the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for final approval.

Congratulates Barbara Bryne Osuch on her retirement from the Park Forest Public Library.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Brigadier General (Ret.) Walter James Whitfield, a retired Illinois Army National Guard officer and electrical engineer from Phoenix, Arizona. The bill formally mourns his death on August 16, 2024, and recognizes his distinguished 41-year military career, during which he became the first Black brigadier general in the Illinois National Guard. It also acknowledges his significant contributions as an engineer, his long-standing service to various community organizations, and his dedication to his faith. Finally, the resolution directs that a copy of the document be presented to Whitfield's family as an expression of the Senate's sympathy.