Sen. Laura Ellman

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Large Event Recycling and Composting Law. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2025, an owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,000 persons and that receives funding from the State of Illinois shall participate in the recycling program established by the county in which the event facility is located and shall send recyclable materials to a recycling center. Defines "event facility".

Creates the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, hotels with 50 rooms or more and, beginning January 1, 2026, hotels with less than 50 rooms may not provide small single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products to either (i) a customer of the establishment who is staying in a sleeping room accommodation or any space within the sleeping room accommodation or (ii) a customer of the establishment who is using a bathroom shared by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Defines terms.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State Global Scholar Certification, provides that 6 units of credit shall be required to achieve State Global Scholar Certification (instead of not specifying how many units of credit are required). Provides for global collaboration or (instead of and) dialogue. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to provide students attending schools that do not currently offer State Global Scholar Certification the opportunity to earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Sets forth what those rules shall include and other requirements. Provides that a student enrolled in a school district or nonpublic school that awarded State Global Scholar Certification prior to the 2026-2027 school year and offered a course to complete the capstone project requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year may not earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may establish or authorize a program for dispensing and distributing fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may acquire fentanyl test strips, train individuals in the use of fentanyl test strips, and distribute fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may award grants for the purchasing and distributing of fentanyl test strips. Requires every law enforcement agency and fire department that responds to emergency medical calls to possess fentanyl test strips and to distribute fentanyl test strips to the public at no charge. Permits law enforcement agencies and relevant fire departments to apply to the Department for grants to fund acquisition of fentanyl test strips and related training programs. Requires every health care facility to possess fentanyl test strips and to make available fentanyl test strips to the public. Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Adds fentanyl test strips to the needle and hypodermic syringe access program.

Amends the Subsidized Housing Joint Occupancy Act. Provides that an elderly parent with an adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex shall not be required to occupy subsidized housing with only one bedroom. Provides that exceptions to the largest permissible unit size for subsidized housing shall be made when the elderly parent and adult child with disabilities of the opposite sex otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements.

Creates the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act. Provides that the provisions supersede the Transmitters of Money Act. Provides that a person may not engage in the business of money transmission or advertise, solicit, or hold oneself out as providing money transmission unless the person is licensed under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the purpose of the Act; definitions; money transmission licenses; license application; license renewal; acquisition of control and change of key individuals; reporting and records; authorized delegates of a licensee; timely transmission, refunds, and disclosures; confidentiality of records; required reports; prudential standards; and enforcement. Makes conforming changes in the Freedom of Information Act and the State Finance Act. Provides that the Transmitters of Money Act is repealed on January 1, 2026. Makes other changes. Effective immediately, except that the changes to the Transmitters of Money Act take effect January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. In provisions concerning the educational requirements for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant, requires, in addition to being of good moral character, that one of the required options is a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders from a regionally or nationally accredited institution approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must meet specified requirements with evidence of completion of at least 100 hours of documented field work supervised by a nationally certified and licensed (rather than by a licensed) speech-language pathologist that is comparable to field work completed in a speech-language pathology assistant program in this State. Provides that, in again to the bachelor's degree requirements, the person must complete requirements for national certification as a speech-language pathology assistant. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Deletes a provision that requires a Clean Air Act Permit Program (CAAPP) permit to contain a provision which creates an emergency-related affirmative defense if certain requirements are met.

Creates the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Includes legislative findings. Defines terms. Provides that all new, renovated, or retrofitted luminaires purchased with State funds after the effective date of the Act or installed after the effective date of the Act on a structure or land that is owned, supported, funded, leased, or managed by the State must follow specified outdoor lighting control requirements. Includes various exceptions to compliance. Allows the Attorney General, a municipality, or a county to enforce the Act by filing an action for injunctive relief in a circuit court. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall make available a resource guide for the public to add lighting to homes and businesses consistent with the requirements for luminaires on a structure or land that is owned, supported, funded, leased, or managed by the State under the Act, and provides that the guide must include references to publicly accessible websites of advocacy groups approved by the State that provide education, guidance, and specifications relating to the implementation of responsible lighting principles. Provides that, if the Act conflicts with any other federal law, State law, or local ordinance controlling lighting, outdoor luminaries, signage, outdoor advertising, displays, or devices that is more stringent than the Act, then the federal law, State law, or local ordinance controls to the extent it is more stringent than the Act. Effective 60 days after becoming law.

Creates the Strengthening Community Media Act. Provides that a State agency shall direct at least 50% of its total spending on advertising to local news organization publications. Sets forth exceptions and reporting requirements. Provides that a local news organization shall not be sold to an out-of-state company without giving written notice 120 days before the sales occurs to specified individuals and organizations. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer that is an eligible news journalist employer shall be allowed a credit against the Personal Property Tax Replacement Income Tax for each qualified journalist hired by the eligible news journalist employer during the taxable year. Provides that an eligible news journalist employer is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to 50% of the wages paid for up to 150 qualified journalists. Provides that an eligible small business is entitled to a credit against taxes in an amount equal to the amount paid by the eligible small business to local newspapers or broadcasters for advertising in the State. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the Journalism Student Scholarship Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award scholarships to students who will work at a local news organization in the State for a period of not less than 2 years.