Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for any seller of accident insurance or health insurance to solicit individuals who are residents of a nursing home or long-term care facility or individuals who are over the age of 65, unless the seller: (1) does not require a purchasing decision in the first communication to the potential enrollee; (2) advises the potential enrollee of the benefit of examining the potential enrollee's current insurance plan and discussing any changes with a family member, friend, or other advisor before making any decisions; (3) provides a phone number that may be called if the potential enrollee or the potential enrollee's family members, friends, or other advisors have any questions; and (4) allows the potential enrollee to opt out of any future communications with the seller. Provides that it is also an unlawful practice for any seller or provider of accident insurance or health insurance to enter into or amend an insurance policy with a person who: (1) is over the age of 65 and who has executed a power of attorney to give another person authority over medical decisions; or (2) has a medical condition, such as dementia, that would reduce the person's capacity to make informed decisions independently. Provides that the provision does not apply to a new insurance policy or an amendment to an insurance policy that is agreed to by a person with a lawfully executed power of attorney relating to the enrollee or potential enrollee's health or financial matters.

Amends the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University shall have the power and duty to borrow money for any lawful purpose from the WIU Foundation or any financial institution, as long as such money is repaid within 5 years from the time the money is borrowed. Provides that the amount outstanding from time to time may not exceed $2,000,000. Requires the chairperson, comptroller, or treasurer of the Board to execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing.

Amends the Out-of-State Person Subject to Involuntary Admission on an Inpatient Basis Mental Health Treatment Act. Extends the repeal date of the Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.

Amends the Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act. Provides that a unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer may, in the course of its regulatory or enforcement duties, monitor and enforce compliance with the Act. Provides that, upon the discovery of a violation of the Act, the unit of local government or law enforcement agency shall provide the employer with a reasonable notice of noncompliance that informs the employer that if the employer does not cure the violation within 30 days after notice the employer is subject to a civil penalty. Provides that, if the unit of local government regulating an employer or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an employer verifies that the violation was not corrected within the cure period, the Attorney General or State's Attorney may bring a civil action against that employer. Provides that an employer that violates the Act is guilty of a business offense and may be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for medically necessary general anesthesia, regardless of the duration, for any procedure covered by the policy, and that medical necessity shall be determined by the attending anesthesiologist or licensed anesthesia provider. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance is prohibited from denying payment or reimbursement for anesthesia services solely because the duration of care exceeded a preset time limit. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes changes to administrative fees paid to the Department of Labor. Makes changes in provisions concerning the collection of unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, and fees. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Provides that the accounts established under the Secure Choice Savings Program shall be IRAs, into which enrollees contribute funds that are invested in investment options established by the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board. Provides that a separate account shall be established for each enrollee and the accounts shall be owned by the enrollee. Provides that the savings accounts established under the Program shall be portable and allow for an enrollee to make contributions from multiple employers into a single account. Provides that an enrollee in the Program may have both a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA through the Program. Provides that the Board shall have the duty to assess the feasibility of agreements with other governmental entities, including other states and their agencies and instrumentalities, to achieve greater economies of scale through shared resources and to enter into those agreements if determined to be beneficial. Provides that an employer who fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided and fails to remit their contributions (rather than fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided) shall be subject to a penalty. Makes changes in provisions concerning employer and employee information packets. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Trust Code. Requires a trustee to maintain, for a minimum of 7 years after the termination of the trust, a copy of the governing trust instrument under which the trustee was authorized to act at the time the trust terminated. Amends the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that property held in an account or plan, including a health savings account, that qualifies for tax deferral under the United States income tax law, is presumed abandoned 20 years after the account was opened. Requires State agencies to report final compensation due a State employee to the Treasurer's Office as unclaimed property if the employee dies while employed. Requires a holder who holds property presumed abandoned to hold the property in trust for the benefit of the State Treasurer on behalf of the owner from and after the date the property is presumed abandoned. Requires that the State Treasurer provide written notice to a State agency and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget of property presumed to be abandoned and allegedly owned by the State agency before it can be escheated to the State's General Revenue Fund if the property remains unclaimed after one year. Creates authority for the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to order a regulated person under the Act to immediately report and remit property subject to the Act if the Secretary determines that the action is necessary to protect the interest of an owner. Establishes a procedure regulating agreements between an owner or apparent owner and a finder to locate or recover property held by the State Treasurer. Requires a finder to be licensed by the State Treasurer and creates qualifications to be so licensed. Makes definitions. Makes other changes. The Treasurer is authorized to adopt rules as necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Auction License Act. Adds definitions for "estate sale", "estate sale service", and "online auction". Provides that "Internet auction listing service" does not include an online auction. Adds an online auction, an estate sale, and providing an estate service to events that are unlawful for any person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity to conduct in the State of Illinois without a licensed issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Adds online auctions and estate sales with certain conditions to exemptions to the license requirement. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to apply to a sale conducted by an individual of his or her own property if such an individual is not engaged in the business of selling such property or if the individual did not acquire such goods for resale. Provides that nothing in provisions regarding the license requirement shall be construed to apply to any person as a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, guardian, administrator, or executor or any such person acting under order of any court, nor shall the provisions regarding the license requirement apply to a trustee acting under a trust agreement, deed of trust, or will, or sales at auction conducted by or under the direction of any public authority or pursuant to any judicial order or decree. Effective January 1, 2026.