Sen. Laura Ellman

Creates the Dependency Determinations for Unaccompanied Children Act. Creates a process for an unaccompanied child in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement housed in Illinois who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both parents to file a petition seeking a finding of dependency under the Act. Provides that a child declared dependent is eligible for oversight and services as ordered by the court and may be referred for psychological, educational, medical, or social services deemed necessary as a result of parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect or for protection against trafficking or domestic violence. Defines terms. Makes legislative findings. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 643 makes a technical correction to the short title of a section within the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act. This change updates the section's name in the law's text without altering any existing legal requirements, procedures, or responsibilities. It is a routine administrative update to ensure the law's wording remains accurate and consistent. The bill does not affect local governments, conservation districts, or public policy implementation.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall authorize the examination of applicants as pharmacists at such times and places as it may determine (rather than not less than 3 times per year). Provides that the Department and the Board of Pharmacy shall regularly monitor the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination or its successor to ensure that the examination of applicants is of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists for the calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027 shall be required to pass only the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. Provides that the results from the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination for such applicants shall be disregarded and shall not prohibit an applicant who has successfully passed the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination from engaging in the practice of pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (rather than the designated testing service), a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Provides that the Department shall notify applicants taking the examination of their results no later than 2 weeks after (rather than within 7 weeks of) the examination date. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Zoning Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Removes a provision giving the corporate authorities in each municipality the power to classify, to regulate, and to restrict the use of property on the basis of family relationship. Provides that the powers enumerated in provisions relating to zoning powers of a municipality may not be used in any way that violates or otherwise contradicts any other applicable State or federal law, including the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prohibits a municipality from adopting zoning regulations that prohibit 2 or more individuals who are not related by blood from living together in the same residence. Provides that a municipality may not adopt zoning regulations that prohibit the creation of a community-integrated living arrangement or housing for a community-integrated living arrangement. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Water Commission Act of 1985. Deletes a provision which specifies that no commissioner who is a member of the governing board or an officer or employee of the county or any unit of local government within the county may receive any compensation for serving as a commissioner on the county water commission. Allows a county water commission to use alternate project delivery methods, establish goals or requirements for the procurement of goods and services and for construction contracts, and accept assignment of municipal waterworks system contracts or other public improvement contracts. Gives commissions the authority to enter into design-build contracts and use a design-build delivery system. Includes requirements pertaining to the design-build delivery system. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county water commission may construct water transmission and distribution lines within a radius of 50 miles (rather than 25 miles) outside the corporate limits of member municipalities for the purpose of furnishing water to any additional entities that contract with the commission for a supply of water.

Declares June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month in the State of Illinois. Urges the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to issue updated guidance to all Illinois-licensed pediatricians and school health professionals emphasizing the clinical necessity of scoliometer use and spinal checks during all mandated sixth and ninth-grade physicals.

Creates the Farmer Tax Benefit Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2027, landowners may apply to the Department for an income tax credit in an amount equal to either (i) 100% of the fair market value of a qualified donation of a land protection agreement or (ii) 50% of the fair market value of the qualified donation of a fee simple interest or a remainder interest in qualified real property. Specifies that the total aggregate amount of tax credits issued under the Act in any State fiscal year shall not exceed $7,500,000. Further provides that the amount of the credit that may be claimed by a landowner for any single qualified donation shall not exceed $500,000. Contains additional provisions concerning allocation of the credit by the Department of Natural Resources and other powers of the Department of Natural Resources, allowable credit use, the Illinois Land Protection Tax Credit, legislative findings, and other related matters. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Artificial Intelligence Companion Model Safety Act. Provides that an operator shall not operate or provide an artificial intelligence companion to a user unless the artificial intelligence companion contains a protocol to take reasonable efforts to detect and address suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm by a user to the artificial intelligence companion. Provides that an operator shall provide a clear and conspicuous notification to a user that states, either verbally or in text, that the user is not communicating with a human, at specified times. Provides for civil penalties. Provides that all moneys collected under the Act shall be deposited into the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2027.

Creates the River Access Modernization Act. Affirms the public's right to use navigable and recreationally suitable waters for canoeing, boating, kayaking, and angling, subject to protection of private property rights and environmental values. Provides that the public right of use does not include crossing private uplands or exiting onto private land without permission. Establishes landowner liability protections. Prohibits littering and alteration of flora and fauna. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Natural Resources to designate public access points, resolve conflicts, promote safety and conservation education, and maintain a listing of navigable waterways. Defines "navigable water" and "public recreational use".

Amends the Sustainable Agriculture Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources shall conduct a joint study to evaluate the corrective actions that may be adopted within the agricultural sector to mitigate dust storm occurrences and the severity of dust storms. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources may consult with and seek assistance from similar state agencies in other states and federal agencies, to the extent that such coordination aids in furthering the purposes of this study. Requires the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources to coordinate with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security to evaluate and publish findings on the short-term and long-term threats of dust storms and the protocol that should be developed to protect the public from current and future threats posed by dust storms. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources shall publish the joint study on an agreed upon publicly available website and shall provide suitable copies to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than December 1, 2027.