Sen. Natalie Toro

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits intimidation when, with intent to cause another person to perform or to omit the performance of any act, including, but not limited to, the transfer of money, goods, services, or other things of value to the person or another person directed by the person, he or she communicates to the other person, directly or indirectly by any means, a threat to report the other person's immigration or suspected immigration status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, another federal agency involved in immigration enforcement, or any other person without consent of the person whose immigration status the person wishes to disclose.

Creates the Community Land Trust Home Ownership Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority's homeownership programs, including loan products, grants, and other types of assistance, shall be made available to home buyers and owners seeking to purchase or maintain housing where a leasehold interest in real property is held by a community land trust or other 501(c)(3) organization for the purposes of promoting long-term affordability, preservation of affordable housing, or community revitalization efforts. Provides that any other type of seller, including for-profit or private sellers of homes, through leasehold agreements, such as installment contracts, contract for deeds, or any other type of purchase or ownership structure, shall not be eligible under the amendatory Act. Requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority, within 90 days after the effective date of the Act, to propose new or amended administrative rules that will make the Authority's homeownership programs consistent with the purposes of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois State Police Act and the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that a person may not be selected or appointed as a State Police officer or certified as a law enforcement officer unless the person has performed satisfactorily on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) or another preemployment personality test prescribed and administered by the Illinois State Police or the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. The test shall be taken by all applicants in the final selection process for a State Police officer or law enforcement position. Includes provisions relating to interpretation and evaluation of the preemployment personality test and testing dates. Provides that the Illinois State Police or law enforcement agency shall screen all officers at least once annually to evaluate the overall mental health of the officer, including whether the officer has negative impact of lateral trauma, signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, or other negative outcomes related to the officer's career.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, and continuing as long as funds are available, a person may apply for a rebate in specified amounts following the purchase of an electric bicycle in Illinois. Prohibits the rebate amount from exceeding the purchase price of the electric bicycle. Contains eligibility requirements. Requires a person who is awarded a rebate to retain ownership of the electric bicycle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Provides that a person may apply for and receive a rebate only once in a 10-year period and that only one rebate may be awarded per person per electric bicycle. Contains other provisions.

Creates the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Restricts State money from being used to install or replace permanent outdoor lighting units unless certain conditions are met. Provides that specified lighting units that were installed prior to the effective date of the Act and that produce light pollution need not be replaced until the end of the life of the lamp. Provides that these requirements apply to all lighting on or in all newly constructed, renovated, and retrofitted State-owned, State-supported, State-funded, or State-related rights-of-way, roadways and sidewalks, spaces, facilities, properties, nonhabitable structures, monuments, and flagpoles. Sets forth exemptions. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act, the Conveyances Act, the Joint Tenancy Act, and the Rights of Married Persons Act. Inserts gender neutral descriptions showing marital status.

Mourns the death of Firefighter Andrew Benjamin Price of the Chicago Fire Department, who passed away due to injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that for all schools operating a school breakfast program, the State Board of Education shall collect information about whether the school is operating a breakfast after the bell program and, if so, what breakfast after the bell model the school operates, including breakfast in the classroom, second chance breakfast, and grab and go breakfast. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make this data publicly available annually. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $7,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible schools, school districts, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

Urges the United States Congress to take immediate action to clarify and amend the U.S. tax code to prevent the misuse of Puerto Rican tax incentives. Urges any amendments to the tax code to preserve the original intent of promoting economic growth in Puerto Rico while preventing potential misuse and addressing the negative economic impacts on the local population. Encourages collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as with Puerto Rican authorities, to ensure that tax policies are fair, transparent, and effective. Recommends the implementation of educational campaigns to inform the public about the proper use of tax incentives and the potential consequences of misuse in Puerto Rico.

Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.