Sen. Graciela Guzmán

Amends the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the General Assembly finds it necessary to take measures to increase the amount of cash assistance provided to qualifying Illinoisans under the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program to reach a standard compatible with health and well-being. Provides that the amount of AABD aid granted to a person shall be determined by the Department of Human Services in such a manner as to produce assistance payments that bring the person's total monthly income from countable sources, as determined by the Department, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, if applicable, and AABD aid to an amount that is: (i) no less than 85% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2025; (ii) no less than 90% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2026; (iii) no less than 95% of the federal poverty level for the month aid is paid, beginning July 1, 2027; and (iv) no less than 100% of the federal poverty level in effect for the month aid is paid, beginning on and after July 1, 2028. Provides that the amendatory Act shall not result in any reduction in the amount of aid payable to a person determined eligible for aid prior to July 1, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Inclusive History Act. Establishes the Inclusive History Commission to (i) address the deficiencies and inadequacies in both perspective and content in traditional history course material and instruction and (ii) develop multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive standards that a school may use as a guide in replacing or developing its curricula for history education. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Contains provisions concerning meetings, duties, and reporting. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2026. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires schools to suspend all instruction in history education, with exceptions. Not later than June 30, 2026, requires the State Superintendent of Education to provide to schools instructional guidelines and standards based on the recommendations of the Commission so that schools may develop alternative curricula to replace traditional course material and instruction to ensure that students obtain a multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive understanding about history. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, schools shall resume instruction in history, which shall require the use of age-appropriate discussion, textbooks, and other course material that reframe the study of history by presenting to students an examination of history through the inclusion of diverse perspectives, contrary interpretations, and the viewpoints of various groups of people whose voices have traditionally been excluded from the conventional teaching of history. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision prohibiting prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for FDA-approved prescription drugs that treat mental illness, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and managed care organizations to report quarterly on compliance with the specified prohibitions beginning with dates of service on and after July 1, 2025. Requires the Department to post on its website a report on fee-for-service prescriptions and the reports from each managed care organization. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the quarterly reports, including, but not limited to: (i) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those covered prescriptions summarized by each of the allowed categories specified in the Code; (ii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by each of the non-allowed categories specified in the Code; and (iii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated gross cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by any other reason not specified in the Code. Requires the Department to sanction those managed care organizations that do not file the required reports. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act. Provides that funds in the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund may be used for housing counseling. Defines "housing counseling" to mean services provided by an organization approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to be a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency.

Amends the Film Production Services Tax Credit Act of 2008. Provides that accredited productions shall be considered Category 1 productions or Category 2 productions. Provides that a Category 1 production is an accredited production that meets the following criteria: (1) at least 75% of all principal filming or taping days of the accredited production that occur at any soundstage facility within or without Illinois occur at a qualified production facility; and (2) at least 20% of the total expenditures for the accredited production are for (i) tangible property that will be used at a qualified production facility or for the use of the qualified production facility; (ii) the performance of services at a qualified production facility; or (iii) any combination of (i) and (ii). Makes changes concerning the amount of the credit. Makes changes concerning the number of nonresident employees whose wages may be considered Illinois labor expenditures. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified production facility". Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make changes concerning withholdings for loan out company employees. Effective immediately.

Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Act. Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the moneys in the Fund, upon appropriation by the General Assembly, shall be used for the purposes of the program, which include grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, technical assistance grants, technical assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture, and administrative costs incurred by the Department in administering the program. Provides that moneys may be deposited into the Fund from federal grants and gifts and donations that are designated and required by the donor to be used exclusively for the purposes of the program. Provides that not more than 10% of available funds under the Act may be used for technical assistance purposes and administration. Provides that not less than 90% of funds available for grants under the Act shall be expended for the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall also be available for the following purposes: (1) to provide technical assistance grants to qualified entities in support of socially disadvantaged farmers who are seeking access to farmland; and (2) to provide grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements to qualified easement holders. Provides that moneys from the Fund shall be available in each fiscal year to any qualified easement holder having made an application that has been reviewed by the Department. Provides that subject to appropriation and in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, the Department shall establish the Farm Conservation Corps to provide residents between the ages of 18 and 29 from socially disadvantaged groups the academic, vocational, and social skills necessary to pursue long-term and productive careers in agriculture. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of the Act, including the adoption of rules that establish a process for submitting and processing of applications for grants no later than December 31, 2026. Provides that rules shall align with existing federal and local programs to maximize potential for matching funds. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Illinois Guaranteed Income Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall administer the Fund and provide grants to eligible entities for the purpose of operating pilot programs and programs, or "projects", that provide a guaranteed income to participants. Requires the Department to prioritize funding for projects that serve Illinois residents who: (1) are pregnant individuals or have become new parents in the last 3 years; (2) are facing homelessness or seeking shelter or transitioning to housing after a period of homelessness; (3) are formerly incarcerated and returning to the community, or supporting a formerly incarcerated family member who was released within a year of application; or (4) are enrolled in educational or vocational programs. Contains provisions on the methodology and manner of distributing grants; benefits counseling for individuals who receive guaranteed income payments; Department reviews and evaluations on the economic impact of the guaranteed income programs and projects; reporting requirements and the public posting of such reports; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act. Establishes the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division and the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Regional Transportation Authority are consolidated into the Metropolitan Mobility Authority and the Service Boards are abolished. Creates the Suburban Bus Operating Division, Commuter Rail Operating Division, and the Chicago Transit Operating Division. Reinserts, reorganizes, and changes some provisions from the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act into the new Act. Includes provisions concerning the operation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Repeals the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Amends various Acts, Laws, and Codes to make conforming changes. Creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act. Establishes the Office of Equitable Transit-Oriented Development and the Transit-Supportive Development Fund. Provides that the Office and the Fund are to aid transit-supportive development near high-quality transit by providing specified funding to municipalities that have adopted the standards in the transit support overlay district for that area or that have adopted zoning and other changes that the Office determines have benefits greater than or equal to such a District, including transit support overlay districts. Includes provisions relating to Office standards, procedures, and reports. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Requires the Department to establish, staff, and support an Office of Public Transportation Support for the purpose of optimizing the operation of public transportation vehicles and the delivery of public transportation services on highways under the Department's jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Mobility Authority's metropolitan region. Describes the duties and operations of the Office. Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Chair of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority is a nonvoting member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services is authorized to implement and administer the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system in compliance with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted to administer the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. Amends the State Finance Act. In provisions concerning the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund, provides that the Fund is administered by the Department of Human Services. Defines "statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system". Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act. Increases the rate of tax on interstate and intrastate telecommunications from 7% to 8.65%. Provides that the 1.65% increase in the rate shall be designated as the "statewide 9-8-8 surcharge" and is established to support and enhance the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in compliance with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. Sets forth the distribution of proceeds from the tax imposed under the Act. Effective immediately.