Sen. Steve Stadelman

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 585 is a memorial resolution by the Illinois Senate mourning the death of George H. Scott Jr., a Rockford community leader and president of the Rockford NAACP branch. It honors his 35-year career at Stellantis, his leadership in racial justice initiatives (including organizing Black history events and establishing a credit union), and his community efforts like planting gardens and advancing food access. The resolution expresses condolences to his family and recognizes his lifelong commitment to equity and community empowerment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.

Creates the Tariff Transparency Act. Provides that a retail establishment shall disclose the percentage or dollar amount of the retail price of a retail product that is attributable to tariffs. Sets forth requirements for the disclosure. Requires retail establishments and wholesale trade firms to maintain specified records. Provides that all retail establishments subject to the Act shall be subject to periodic audits. Provides that a violation of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Sets forth provisions concerning exemptions; rulemaking; public notice; and a compliance schedule. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective 90 days after becoming law.

Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Defines "cold spa" and provides that it is lawful for a licensee to operate a cold spa in a manner that complies with the provisions of the Act and the rules adopted under the Act.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 481 is a commemorative resolution that officially mourns the passing of Michael "Shawn" Way. It serves to acknowledge and honor his memory.

Reaffirms a dedication to supporting the efforts of small and midsize manufacturers across Illinois. Urges the small and the midsize manufacturing industries and other relevant stakeholders to form a task force to develop meaningful recommendations for addressing the needs of small and midsize manufacturers in Illinois. Reaffirms a commitment to championing initiatives that ensure the success of small and midsize manufacturers in Illinois.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity to be located within the State until the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste.

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Prohibits a school from threatening to disclose the actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status of an employee, a student, or a person associated with an employee or student to an external party; knowingly disclosing, without consent, anything related to the perceived citizenship or immigration status of an employee, a student, or a person associated with an employee or student to an external party if the school does not have direct knowledge of the employee's, student's, or associated person's actual citizenship or immigration status; knowingly disclosing, without consent, anything related to the actual citizenship or immigration status of an employee, a student, or a person associated with an employee or student to any other person or nongovernmental entity if the school has direct knowledge of the employee's, student's, or associated person's actual citizenship or immigration status; or designating immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, nationality, or national origin as directory information. Requires a school to develop procedures for reviewing and authorizing requests from law enforcement agents attempting to enter a school's campus by January 1, 2026. Requires a school to provide information on its website about who employees and students should contact if a law enforcement agent seeks to enter the school campus, enters the school campus, or engages in nonconsensual interactions with members of the school community by January 1, 2026. Prohibits a school from impeding students or employees from offering, attending, or participating in training on constitutional rights and immigration-related guidance. Allows aggrieved parties to bring a civil lawsuit. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Applies the Act to a civil cause of action, including an action in federal court under its supplemental or diversity jurisdiction, against a person based on the person's: (i) communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (ii) communication on an issue under consideration or review in any of these proceedings; or (iii) exercise of a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution on a matter of public concern. Provides that the Act does not apply to a cause of action asserted: (i) against a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting or purporting to act in an official capacity; (ii) by a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (iii) against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the person's sale or lease of the goods or services. Creates a procedure for a special motion for expedited relief for a party being sued for issues covered by the Act to dismiss or strike the action in whole or in part within 60 days of being sued. Requires the court to rule on a special motion for expedited relief within 60 days after a hearing, and the court must conduct a hearing not later than 60 days after the filing of such a motion unless it continues it for discovery under the Act or for other good cause. Makes other changes. Makes a conforming change in the Citizen Participation Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act to make a change concerning school maintenance project grants. Amends the Soybean Ink Act to make a change concerning school districts. Amends the School Code. Removes outdated provisions regarding social science learning standards and provisions regarding meeting minimum higher education preparation and admission requirements. Removes language providing that students who do not take the State's final accountability assessment or its approved alternate assessment may not receive a regular high school diploma unless the student is exempted from taking the State assessments. Prohibits a school board from discriminating against, punishing, or penalizing a student because the student's parents or guardians are unable to pay any required fees or fines for the loss of school property. Removes the requirement that all paper purchased by a board of education, public schools, and attendance centers for publication of student newspapers be recycled newsprint. Increases the age for when an individualized education program must include transition services. Removes the minimum hour requirements for training on concussions and on issues related to domestic and sexual violence. Removes the requirement that a police training academy job training program be open to all students and that participation be tracked. Creates the School Code Mandate Reduction Council. Makes changes concerning commemorative holidays. Renumbers and reorganizes the Course of Study Article and other provisions. Makes conforming and other changes in various Acts. Repeals various Sections of the School Code, the Voting by Minors Act, and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Effective immediately.