Sen. Steve Stadelman

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, April 20, 2023, the House of Representatives stands adjourned until Tuesday, April 25, 2023, or the the call of the Speaker; and the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, April 25, 2023, or to the call of the President.

Creates the Digital Forgeries Act. Provides that an individual depicted in a digital forgery has a cause of action against any person who, without the consent of the depicted individual, knowingly distributes a digital forgery, creates a digital forgery with intent to distribute, or solicits the creation of a digital forgery with the intent to distribute: (1) in order to harass, extort, threaten, or cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; (2) with reckless disregard for whether such a creation, distribution, reproduction, or manipulation will cause physical, emotional, reputational, or economic harm to an individual falsely depicted; or (3) in order to incite violence or interfere with an official proceeding. Allows a prevailing plaintiff to be awarded damages, costs, and additional relief. Allows the court to grant injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym.

Creates the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program Act. Establishes the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program within the Department of Human Services to help expand the availability of nutritious, locally grown, raised, or processed foods for Illinois' emergency food system. Provides that the program shall (1) acquire and distribute agricultural products from Illinois agricultural entities or aggregators to Illinois' emergency food system, and (2) provide grants to improve capacity of the emergency food system to allow for the proper transportation, storage, or distribution of agricultural products to underserved areas. Provides that the program shall target fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy, and eggs produced in Illinois. Provides that foods shall be surplus, seconds, or market-grade quality levels and must be safe for consumption. Provides that the program is subject to appropriation and shall dedicate no less than 75% of available funds to acquisition and distribution of food. Requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to engage a not-for-profit entity from Illinois' emergency food system to administer the program. Requires the administering entity to have statewide reach and represent multiple food banks that source and distribute food to Illinois food pantries and soup kitchens under the same authorities and standards as the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department. Contains provisions concerning the duties of the administering entity. Creates the Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council to provide support to the program through facilitating relationship-building and partnerships between the Illinois agricultural sector and the emergency food system and other matters. Provides that the program may distribute food to those food banks with the infrastructure to accept, store, and distribute foods through the emergency food system and with the capacity to serve significant geographic areas within Illinois. Provides that the program shall distribute capacity-building grants for facility upgrades, equipment, or other investments necessary to support the objectives of the program. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Modifies procedures relating to forfeited properties, including that the procedures relate to forfeiture of tax liens and certificates, rather than forfeiture of property, and that the tax liens and certificates are forfeited to the county rather than the State. Modifies when a court must declare a sale to be a sale in error and how refunds of costs and taxes are to be refunded (removing interest on costs and taxes paid). Provides that, if a sale is declared to be a sale in error, the tax certificate shall be forfeited to the county as trustee. Provides that vacant nonfarm property and property containing a residential structure with at least 7 units sold under the Code may be redeemed at any time before the expiration of one year (rather than 6 months) from the date of the sale (removing restrictions on the delinquency or forfeiture status of the property). Modifies other provisions relating to the redemption of property, including the extension of the period of redemption. Modifies a provision relating to special assessments withdrawn (removing forfeiture language) and repeals other provisions about special assessments withdrawn or forfeited. Modifies provisions relating to notice of sale and redemption rights. Modifies various provisions concerning tax deeds. Repeals a provision concerning the denial of deeds. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that when a certified copy of a ticket issued by a local authority based on evidence recorded by an automated traffic control system is filed with the municipal court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil action, the court shall require the local authority to provide an advance deposit for the filing of the civil action. Requires the advance deposit to consist of all applicable court costs and fees for the civil action. Establishes that a court shall retain the advance deposit regardless of which party prevails in the civil action and shall not charge to the registered owner or designated party any court costs and fees for the civil action. Provides that when a ticket is issued based on evidence of an automated traffic control system located within a school zone, the court shall charge the applicable court costs and fees for the civil action to the party that does not prevail in the action. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that fines imposed by automated railroad crossing enforcement systems, automated speed enforcement systems, and automated traffic law enforcement systems may be no higher than 50% of the fine for the violation if the driver of the motor vehicle received a Uniform Traffic Citation from a police officer at the time of the violation. Effective immediately.

Creates the Revitalizing Downtowns Tax Credit Act. Creates an income tax credit in an aggregate amount equal to 25% of the qualified expenditures incurred by a qualified taxpayer undertaking a plan to substantially convert an office building from office use to residential, retail, or other commercial use. Provides that the total amount of such expenditures must equal $15,000 or more. Provides that, if the conversion is to residential use, then 20% or more of the residential housing units must be both rent-restricted and occupied by individuals whose income is 80% or less of the municipality's median gross income and the property must be subject to a written binding State or local agreement with respect to the provision of financing of affordable housing. Provides that the credit applies for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and ending on or before December 31, 2026. Amends the Illinois Income Tax to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Act. Extends the sunset of the credit to December 31, 2028 (currently, December 31, 2023). Provides that, in each calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and ending on or before December 31, 2028, the State Historic Preservation Office in the Department of Natural Resources is authorized to allocate $75,000,000 (currently, $15,000,000) in tax credits under the Act. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person commits a Class A misdemeanor if the person, with intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election, creates a deep fake video (a video created with the intent to deceive that appears to depict a real person performing an action that did not occur in reality) and causes the deep fake video to be published or distributed within 30 days of an election.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a voucher program to promote the use of electric vehicles by offering, subject to appropriation, a voucher in specified amounts per electric vehicle purchased or leased. Requires vouchers to be (1) made available for electric vehicles that are registered in Illinois or recognized under the International Registration Plan, (2) issued only to applicants who have a primary residence in Illinois, and (3) made available for direct purchases, purchases through third-party bulk orders, and leasing of electric vehicles. Provides that an applicant shall submit a proof of purchase, lease, or other binding contract regarding the electric vehicle in order to be awarded the voucher. Contains other requirements. Defines "electric vehicle". Contains other provisions.