Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no company may impose renewal premium increases of more than 10% for specified lines of business unless the company mails or delivers by electronic means to the named insured and by electronic means to the Department of Insurance notice of the increase in renewal premium at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date. Provides that the rates and premium charges for every policy of automobile liability insurance shall include appropriate reductions as determined by the insurer for any insured over age 55 upon successful completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a motor vehicle crash prevention course, including an eLearning course, that is found by the Secretary of State to meet or exceed the standards of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course's 4-hour (rather than 8-hour) classroom safety instruction program or eLearning course. Creates the Rates for Automobile Insurance Article. Provides that rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Provides that a rate is reasonable and not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory if it is an actuarially sound estimate of the expected value of all future costs associated with an individual risk transfer. Prohibits insurance providers from using an insured's zip code; credit score, credit-based insurance score, or any insurance score that uses or relies upon an insured's credit score; or age, if the insured is over 65 years of age, in any manner that increases an insured's premium, results in a nonrenewal of an insurance policy, or leads to the cancellation of an insurance policy. Requires credible State-specific loss experience to be used in the development of rates whenever such data is available and statistically reliable, and, to meet actuarial standards of credibility, insurers may supplement State-specific loss experience with countrywide or regional loss experience. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Smoke Detector Act. Bans, beginning December 31, 2027, the selling, offering for sale, or giving as a gift a smoke detector that is not designed to receive primary power from the building wiring or does not meet certain battery requirements set forth in the Act. Specifies that this does not prohibit manufacturing within the State and distributing, selling, offering for sale, or giving as a gift outside the State any smoke detector. Specifies that a person who violates this requirement is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine. Defines "person" within certain provisions of the Act.

Creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act. Provides that a firefighter shall receive 6 weeks of paid family leave that may be used: (1) for the birth of a child in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age, a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age, or a newly adopted or placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; and (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that an employer shall compensate a firefighter granted leave under the Act at the firefighter's regular rate of pay, paid at the same interval the firefighter was paid while working, for those regular work hours during which the firefighter is absent from work. Sets forth provisions concerning employment protection and maintenance of benefits; prohibited acts, limitations of the Act; waiver of leave under the Act; and collective bargaining agreements. Limits home rule. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning the Young Farmer Loan Guarantee Program, provides that State Guarantees under the program shall not exceed $1,000,000 (currently $500,000) per young farmer. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority is authorized to issue State Guarantees to lenders for loans to finance or refinance tuition debt incurred by or on behalf of an eligible farmer for post-secondary education in an agriculture field. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority may use moneys under the Working Capital Loan Guarantee Program to finance rental payments for land leased to the farmer. Provides that State Guarantees provided under the Working Capital Loan Guarantee Program may not exceed $500,000 per borrower. Effective immediately

Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercity passenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequencies into the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or other cooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to provide for shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performance measures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include a recurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the State to: (1) recognize the target intercity and long-distance passenger rail frequencies; (2) identify relevant rail corridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regional transportation investments can support achievement of those frequency targets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider progress toward the target passenger rail frequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodal investments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that 3 members of the township board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Provides that the affirmative vote of 3 members of the township board is necessary to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance, unless a greater number is otherwise required by State law.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a redevelopment project area and any amendment adding an additional area to any existing redevelopment project areas created under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Municipal Code may include areas within the Big Island River Conservancy District created under the River Conservancy Districts Act only if the municipality receives unanimous consent from both (1) the board of trustees of the Big Island River Conservancy District and (2) the joint review board created to review the proposed redevelopment project area and any proposed amendment of any existing redevelopment area. Amends the River Conservancy Districts Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 939 amends the School Code by making a technical correction to the short title of a specific section. It does not change any substantive educational policies or programs. This procedural adjustment solely affects the formal naming of a section within the School Code. No new requirements, funding, or direct impacts on students, schools, or educators are created by this bill.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, the term "public works" also includes all private projects that are located in a tax increment financing district and paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, unless the total cost of the project is less than $25,000 or the project is performed in a designated historic district requiring specialty contractors because of that designation.

Maddy summarySB 314 amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. This bill makes a technical change to a specific section of the act that concerns its short title.