Sen. Laura Ellman

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public high school shall require a unit of instruction addressing climate change in either a required science class or a required social studies class. Sets forth what the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee, shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public high school shall include instruction on climate change and the impacts and causes of climate change in grades 9 through 12 in specified courses. Provides that the State Board of Education shall convene a working group of students, educators, and experts in the area of climate change. Sets forth the membership of the working group. Sets forth tasks for the working group concerning State learning standards. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Human Remains Protection Act. Provides that if remains that are over 100 years old are identified as veteran's remains, the Department of Natural Resources shall permit a veterans' organization to place a marker to designate that grave, if not already designated, as the grave of a veteran. Provides that if the grave is damaged or destroyed, the veterans' organization may fix, add, install, or refurbish the grave or replace a broken or damaged headstone. Before the veterans' organization may repair, refurbish, place a marker, or otherwise repair a broken headstone on the grave, the veterans' organization must make a good faith effort to contact the next of kin of the person whose grave has been identified and receive no response from the next of kin within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Department, by rule. Provides that the Department shall, by rule, determine what relationship to a person whose grave has been identified as a veteran's grave must be contacted by the veterans' organization.

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to issue non-mandatory guidance to employers on: (1) acquiring and maintaining opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) training employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication. Provides that, not later than 270 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor shall direct the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to adopt rules to require each State agency to: (1) acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication; and (2) train employees on an annual basis on the usage of such medication.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that, if a unit of local government has adopted and implemented a road improvement impact fee by ordinance or resolution and repeals the ordinance or resolution, the collected fees, along with any accrued interest, in the existing impact fee accounts may be transferred to a transportation account to be used for capacity-related improvements. Valid impact fee refunds shall be processed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the repealed ordinance or resolution.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws to create a new fund and establish a process for handling long-vacant, unsellable surplus real property owned by the state. It directs the State Property Administrator to assess these properties, which have been vacant for over five years, and produce a detailed report on their condition, costs, and potential actions. Once approved by the legislature, the state can use money from the newly created Sustainable Ownership and Surplus Property Environmental Cleanup Fund to demolish structures and clean up environmental hazards at these sites. The bill also requires the Administrator to submit annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly by February of each even-numbered year.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a technical correction to the State Revenue Sharing Act by changing a specific time period from three years to ten years. The amendment directly affects the short title section of the law regarding revenue sharing. This change does not alter the underlying financial rules or how funds are distributed, but it updates the text to reflect a longer duration. The legislation was approved by the Governor and will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force Act, and creates the Increasing Representation of Women in Technology Task Force. Includes provisions concerning Task Force membership, meetings, and duties. Provides that the State of Illinois Office of Equity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2030. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Defines terms. Provides that a group policy of accident and health insurance that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis and that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage, without imposing any cost-sharing requirement, for clinical genetic testing for an inherited gene mutation for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer that is recommended by a health care professional; and evidence-based cancer imaging for individuals with an increased risk of cancer as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines. Provides that the requirements do not apply to coverage of genetic testing or evidence-based cancer imaging to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

Creates the Water Plan Task Force Act. Establishes the State Water Plan Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be chaired by the Director of the Office of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources and composed of the directors, or their designee, from various other State entities. Requires the Task Force to identify critical water issues, to develop and implement recommendations that address the critical water issues, and to reevaluate critical water issues and needs. Requires the Task Force to publish a State Water Plan not less than every 10 years. Provides that the Task Force shall develop and maintain a publicly available website or portal that summarizes projects of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to meet not less than once per quarter each calendar year. Enumerates the authority granted to the Task Force.

Creates the Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant plan for the preservation and enhancement of forests, prairies, and wetlands in Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to the comprehensive plan and subject to appropriation, shall establish and administer a Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program to restore degraded forest lands and native prairies, and to promote the growth of native vegetation that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to mitigate the impact of climate change. Provides that units of local government are eligible to submit a grant proposal in a format and at a time prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that grants may be used by units of local government to fund: (1) local projects restoring or expanding forests, wetlands, prairies, or other natural landscapes demonstrated to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; (2) education and marketing regarding local projects or steps community members may take to promote the growth of native vegetation that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; and (3) any other purpose approved by the Department of Natural Resources that advances the State goal that there be no overall net loss of the State's existing forest, prairie, or wetland acres or their functional value due to State-supported activities. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.