Sen. Laura Murphy

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election, the State Board of Elections may furnish electronic voter registration records at a reasonable cost to any person who makes a sworn affidavit. Sets forth restrictions on the information that may be disclosed. Provides that voter registration records or data shall be limited to bona fide election purposes and shall not be used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, the intimidation, threat, or deception of any person or the advertising, solicitation, sale, or marketing of products or services. Sets forth penalties for violations of these provisions. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, if a voter with a print disability's application for permanent vote by mail status is accepted by the election authority and the voter with a print disability requested an accessible vote by mail ballot, the voter with a print disability shall receive an accessible vote by mail ballot for every election the voter with a print disability remains on the permanent vote by mail list. Provides that, for all elections subsequent to the 2024 general election, the State Board of Elections shall provide a certified remote accessible vote by mail system through which an election authority can deliver a vote by mail ballot through electronic transmission to voters with a print through electronic transmission to voters with a print disability and through which voters with a print disability can mark, verify, and return a vote by mail ballot to the election authority electronically. Provides that all electronic documents and web pages that must be used as part of the certified remote accessible vote by mail system provided by the State Board of Elections or election authorities shall be compliant with specified web content guidelines. Provides that the certified remote accessible vote by mail system shall comply with specified requirements. Changes the definition of "certified remote accessible vote by mail system". Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Creates a special instant scratch-off game for the benefit of the Lyme Disease Innovation Program, which helps to further education and awareness of Lyme disease in Illinois. Provides that the game shall commence on January 1, 2025 or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practical. Provides that funds raised from the purchase of the instant scratch-off game shall be deposited into the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund. Provides that the marketing of any other instant scratch-off game shall not be unreasonably diminished during the promotion and sale of the Lyme disease instant scratch-off. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that “automated license plate reader" or "ALPR" means a camera or system of cameras using computer algorithms to convert images of license plates into automated computer-recognized searchable alphanumeric data (rather than an electronic device), that is mounted on a law enforcement vehicle or positioned in a stationary location and that is capable of recording data on or taking a photograph of a vehicle or its license plate and comparing the collected data and photographs to existing law enforcement databases for investigative purposes. Permits a State law enforcement agency to retain ALPR system detections for 5 years after the date of the creation of the record. Provides the detection shall be archived 90 days after the creation of the record unless the information is relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial and shall be accessed only for use in a felony criminal investigation or an investigation into police misconduct. Provides that any records of detections that are older than 90 days shall be accessed only with the written approval of the law enforcement agency head or his or her designee. Prohibits all records of detections archived after 90 days from being searchable by out-of-state agencies. Requires all records of detections must be destroyed 5 years after the record was created unless the information is relevant to an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall retain ALPR detections for a period of time that is consistent with the provisions of the Expressway Camera Act and the State Records Act. Contains a severability clause.

Appropriates $2,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a political committee that receives a contribution from a vendor providing automated traffic systems shall dispose of the contribution by returning the contribution or an amount equal to the contribution to the contributor or by donating the contribution or an amount equal to the contribution to a charity. Provides that a contribution received in violation of the provision that is not disposed of within 30 days after the State Board of Elections sends notification to the political committee of the excess contribution by certified mail shall escheat to the General Revenue Fund, and the political committee shall be deemed in violation and shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed 150% of the total amount of the contribution. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that provisions concerning automated traffic law enforcement system apply to townships (in addition to municipalities and townships).

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Internet-based system for determining the validity of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall include a written notice, in both English and Spanish, of a firearm owner's obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that within one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police shall create an electronic portal into which law enforcement and prosecutors shall report individuals who have failed to report the loss or theft of a firearm. Provides that upon the issuance and each renewal of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the Illinois State Police shall advise the applicant or holder in writing, in both English and Spanish, of his or her obligation to report to local law enforcement any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours after he or she first discovers the loss or theft. Provides that the Illinois State Police has authority to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act if a card holder fails to report a loss or theft of a firearm within 48 hours of the discovery of such loss or theft to local law enforcement. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that if a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and who possesses or acquires a firearm thereafter loses the firearm, or if the firearm is stolen from the person, the person must report the loss or theft of any such firearm to the local law enforcement agency within 48 (rather than 72) hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft. Increases the penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm to the local law enforcement agency from a petty offense to a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Changes the elements of the offenses of firearms trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm, and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may lease land on property of which the Department has jurisdiction for the purpose of creating, operating, or maintaining a commercial solar energy system or a clean energy project. Provides that the lease shall be for a period not longer than 25 years. Provides that, if practical, the Department shall require that any land or property over which the Department has jurisdiction and that is used for the purpose of creating, operating, or maintaining a commercial solar energy system shall have implemented on it and maintained management practices that would qualify the land or property as a beneficial habitat under the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act. Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Defines "clean energy". Provides that the Department may provide for at least one electric vehicle charging station, as defined in the Electric Vehicle Act, at any State park or other real property that is owned by the Department where electrical service will reasonably permit. Provides that the Department is authorized to charge user fees for the use of an electric vehicle charging station. Amends the State Parks Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Exempts certain expenditures by the Department of Natural Resources from the Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws governing public libraries in Illinois to prohibit limiting access to or purchasing books based on their depiction of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or human rights activism. It directly affects public library boards, staff, and library systems by establishing new rules that prevent censorship of specific subject matters while allowing restrictions for public safety or age-appropriateness. The legislation ensures that library collections remain inclusive by explicitly forbidding bans on biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs that cover these topics.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Early Childhood Education Act to establish a framework for early childhood education in Illinois. A specific provision within the legislation ensures that the rights, benefits, and employment status of state employees and their agencies remain unchanged by the new act. It explicitly states that the law does not affect existing personnel codes, labor relations, collective bargaining agreements, or pension plans. The bill was signed into law and became effective on June 25, 2024, with some provisions taking effect on July 1, 2026.