Sen. Julie Morrison

Amends the Township Code. Provides that, in addition to all townships, all road district officers shall be subject to the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Provides that, in addition to all requirements of specified provisions of the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act and specified provisions of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, all townships shall adopt ordinances or resolutions that include the appointment or designation of an individual, commission, or committee to serve as the auditing entity that is responsible for receiving, hearing, investigating, adjudicating, and disposing of all complaints and allegations of improper governmental action, ethical misconduct, either under State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or policies by any official or employee of the township or any official or employee of a road district within the township. Provides that, if the township does not appoint an auditing entity, then the auditing entity shall be the State's Attorney of the county in which the unit of local government is located. Provides that the township's auditing entity shall have jurisdiction over any township assessor's or road district's offices, including all officials and employees of the township assessor's or road district's offices. Provides that, beginning in 2026, each officer, member, and employee of each township and road district must complete, at least annually, an ethics training program that equals or exceeds the minimum ethics training set forth in the model ethics training program developed by the Attorney General. Provides that, instead of enacting an ordinance, resolution, or policy, a township or road district, may, with the consent of the county board in which the township or road district is located, subject itself to the jurisdiction of that county's ethics officer or inspector general and all ethics laws applicable thereto, including all ethics policies, rules, regulations, and ordinances adopted by the county. Effective Immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that any person who was initially determined to be eligible for medical assistance and is receiving institutional services or home and community-based services as authorized under the Article shall be presumed eligible for a continuation of coverage for such services during any redetermination process. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue to make payments for such services unless the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility. Provides that if the person experiences a material change in financial circumstances that results in the loss of eligibility, the person, or the person's designated caregiver or responsible party, shall notify the Department. Provides that if the Department subsequently conducts a redetermination of eligibility, the Department must provide written notice to the person (i) before the commencement of the redetermination; and (ii) upon conclusion of the redetermination. Requires the Department to develop a process to facilitate the written notifications. Provides that no later than October 1, 2026, the Department shall seek federal authorization to exempt persons with disabilities who are eligible for medical assistance from annual redeterminations of eligibility, except that a full redetermination shall be conducted at least once every 5 years, regardless of whether a material change in financial circumstances has occurred. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that no person shall sell, attempt to sell, or offer to sell to a consumer in the State a non-externally vented natural gas appliance that is manufactured on or after January 1, 2027 unless a label on the gas appliance bears a specified warning message. Provides that the Attorney General may adopt rules setting forth additional requirements for the placement and formatting of the label. Provides that a person who violates the provision commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is used as a qualified residence by the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty at any time prior to the expiration of the application period in effect for the exemption for the taxable year for which the exemption is sought is exempt. Effective immediately.

Provides that, if and only if Senate Bill 642 of the 104th General Assembly becomes law in the form in which it passed both houses on October 31, 2025, then a provision in the Property Tax Code concerning the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is amended by (i) specifying that, for taxable years 2029 and thereafter, the term "maximum income limitation" means the maximum income limitation for the immediately preceding taxable year, multiplied by one plus the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index-U for the 12-month period ending in September of the calendar year immediately preceding the taxable year for which the limitation is calculated and (ii) adding a definition of the term "Consumer Price Index-u". Effective upon becoming law or on the date Senate Bill 642 of the 104th General Assembly takes effect, whichever is later.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when the person knowingly manufactures, sells, or offers to sell, purchases, receives, manufactures, imports, or transfers a convertible pistol. Establishes penalties. Provides exemptions. Provides that a machine gun also includes any convertible pistol equipped with a switch. Defines "convertible pistol", "switch", and "common household tool". Contains a severability provision.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that no executive branch constitutional officer, candidate for an executive branch constitutional office, member of the General Assembly, candidate for the General Assembly, any political caucus of the General Assembly, or any political committee on behalf of any of the foregoing may hold a political fundraising function on any day immediately after a day in which the legislature is in session. Further provides that this restriction does not apply to a political fundraising function scheduled at least 14 days in advance of a day the legislature is in special session or the day immediately prior to or after a day the legislature is in special session. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that, subject to federal approval, on and after January 1, 2027, rates for in-home services shall be increased to $33.92 to sustain a minimum wage of $20.75 per hour for direct service workers. Requires rates in subsequent State fiscal years to be no lower than the rates put into effect upon federal approval. Provides that in order for a provider of in-home services to be eligible to receive the $33.92 rate, the provider must pay a minimum wage of $20.75 per hour to all direct service workers employed by the provider. Requires providers of in-home services to certify to the Department on Aging that they remain in compliance with the mandated wage increase for direct service workers. Requires each provider of in-home services to submit cost reports to the Department consistent with a specified administrative rule in order to be eligible for the $33.92 rate for in-home services. Provides that fringe benefits shall not be reduced in relation to the described rate increases. Requires the Department, beginning January 1, 2027, to ensure that each in-home service provider spends a minimum of 79% of the total payments the provider receives for home care aide services it furnishes under the Community Care Program on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. Requires annual direct service worker cost reports from providers; and requires the Department to amend existing rules on financial reporting and minimum direct service worker costs to reflect the increase in the direct service worker spending requirement from 77% to 79%.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning primary election ballots, provides that the lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a withholding tax credit for employers that grant all of their employees the option of taking a paid leave of absence for the purpose of serving as an organ donor or bone marrow donor also applies to public employers. Effective immediately.