Sen. Mattie Hunter

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the required support regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) shall include providing time during the school day, not requiring a student to be excused from regularly scheduled class time, to complete or receive help with completion of a financial aid application. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates July 25 of each year as Emmett Till Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day in honor and remembrance of Emmett Till.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient enrolled in the medical assistance program to select an Illinois Medicaid certified and enrolled doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth, and during the patient's entire postpartum stay. Provides that the doula shall be considered part of the patient's care team and shall not be counted as a support person or against any guest quota. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to provide a written copy of their policies and procedures to maternity patients, the facilities' maternity health care providers, and any other person at the patient's request. Requires publication of the written policies on each facility's website. Contains provisions concerning hospital and birthing center liaisons and doulas certification acknowledgment requirements. Permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Public Health to establish standing recommendations to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements and ensure access to preventive services, including Medicaid-covered maternal and reproductive health supports and services.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning the renewable portfolio standard for the Planning and Procurement Bureau, provides that, to ensure the successful development of new renewable energy projects supported through competitive procurements, for certain procurements, the Agency shall propose a process for post-award renegotiation of contract terms through its long-term renewable resources plan. Provides that such proposal shall allow for bilateral negotiation between the Agency and a winning bidder regarding contract terms, other than strike price and terms that impact strike price, that are not required under the Act. Provides that post-award renegotiation of competitively bid renewable energy credit prices shall be allowed only in cases where it is necessary to ensure the successful development of the underlying new renewable energy project based on circumstances that were unforeseeable at the time of the procurement event. Provides that, if, following the processes in the long-term renewable resources plan, the Agency and the winning bidder reach an agreement on amended terms or the winning bidder is entitled to a change in price, then, upon petition by the winning bidder or current seller, the Commission shall issue an order directing the utility counterparty to execute a form amendment drafted by the Agency with the revised terms or the new strike price. Provides that the Agency shall provide the amendment to the utility within 15 business days after the Commission's order and the utility buyer shall execute the amendment no more than 7 calendar days after delivery by the Agency. Provides that the Agency shall develop the form amendment following comments by interested parties. Effective immediately.

Creates the Advancing Federally Regulated Illinois Transmission Projects Act. Provides that the Department of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may identify one or more Projects for potential application of the PJM State Agreement Approach that the Director determines may improve the resilience, reliability, and access to clean energy of the ratepayers of a public utility with more than 3,000,000 customers in this State. Sets forth eligibility criteria for the projects. Sets forth provisions concerning applications. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Act. Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the moneys in the Fund, upon appropriation by the General Assembly, shall be used for the purposes of the program, which include grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, technical assistance grants, technical assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture, and administrative costs incurred by the Department in administering the program. Provides that moneys may be deposited into the Fund from federal grants and gifts and donations that are designated and required by the donor to be used exclusively for the purposes of the program. Provides that not more than 10% of available funds under the Act may be used for technical assistance purposes and administration. Provides that not less than 90% of funds available for grants under the Act shall be expended for the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall also be available for the following purposes: (1) to provide technical assistance grants to qualified entities in support of socially disadvantaged farmers who are seeking access to farmland; and (2) to provide grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements to qualified easement holders. Provides that moneys from the Fund shall be available in each fiscal year to any qualified easement holder having made an application that has been reviewed by the Department. Provides that subject to appropriation and in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, the Department shall establish the Farm Conservation Corps to provide residents between the ages of 18 and 29 from socially disadvantaged groups the academic, vocational, and social skills necessary to pursue long-term and productive careers in agriculture. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of the Act, including the adoption of rules that establish a process for submitting and processing of applications for grants no later than December 31, 2026. Provides that rules shall align with existing federal and local programs to maximize potential for matching funds. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Best Customer Price Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education or a State agency may require best customer pricing for any goods it procures. Provides that, if goods are to be purchased by the State from a supplier or reseller, the supplier or reseller shall attest that the price is the best customer price. Provides that the supplier or reseller shall include a provision in the letter of supply from the manufacturer that the supplier or reseller can secure the supply and quantity of goods to be purchased, and that the manufacturer has extended the same best customer pricing from the manufacturer to each of the suppliers or resellers registered with the State for the goods to be purchased. Provides that, if a public institution of higher education or a State agency requires best customer pricing for the goods but does not believe the price is competitive, the public institution of higher education or the State agency may decline to award the bid. Effective immediately.

Creates the Small Business Economic Incentive Act. Provides that at least 50% of the dollar value of all economic incentives awarded to businesses by the State or by any State agency on or after January 1, 2026 shall be awarded to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Effective January 1, 2026.

Creates the Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act. Defines terms. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may deny, restrict, prohibit, condition, or otherwise interfere with, either directly or indirectly, the acquisition of a 340B drug by, or delivery of a 340B drug to, a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy authorized to receive 340B drugs on behalf of the 340B covered entity unless such receipt is prohibited by federal law. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may impose any restriction on the ability of a 340B covered entity to contract with or designate a 340B contract pharmacy including restrictions relating to the number, location, ownership, or type of 340B contract pharmacy. Provides that no person, including a pharmaceutical manufacturer, may require or compel a 340B covered entity or 340B contract pharmacy to submit or otherwise provide ingredient cost or pricing data pertinent to 340B drugs unless required by State or federal law; institute requirements in any way relating to how a 340B covered entity manages its inventory of 340B drugs that are not required by a State or federal agency, including requirements relating to the frequency or scope of audits of inventory management systems of a 340B covered entity or a 340B contract pharmacy; or submit data or information that is not required by State or federal law as a condition for a 340B covered entity, its 340B contract pharmacy, or a location otherwise authorized by a 340B covered entity to receive 340B drugs. Sets forth provisions concerning enforcement of this Act; preemption of this Act; and severability of this Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 705 makes a technical amendment to the Illinois Banking Act. Specifically, it updates a section related to the short title of the Act.