Sen. Mike Halpin

Creates the Junk Fee Ban Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to: (1) offer, display, or advertise an amount a consumer may pay for merchandise without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; (2) fail, in any offer, display, or advertisement that contains an amount a consumer may pay, to display the total price more prominently than any other pricing information; (3) misrepresent the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; (4) fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously before the consumer consents to pay, the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay that is excluded from the total price, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; or (5) offer, display, or advertise, including through direct offerings, third-party distribution, or metasearch referrals, a total price for a place of short-term lodging that does not include all required fees. Requires total price disclosures for retail mercantile establishments and food service establishments; and the disclosure of delivery fees. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce violations of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Preempts home rule powers.

Appropriates $4,000,000 to the State Board of Education for the purpose of a grant to an organization that manages a statewide coordinated strategy. Effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 799 makes a minor technical correction to the short title of the Agency Energy Efficiency Act. This procedural change does not alter the act's substance, requirements, or who it affects. The bill solely updates the official name of the existing law without introducing new policy provisions. It has no direct impact on government operations or energy efficiency standards.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that 20% of the lesser of (rather than the lesser of): (i) the purchase price or (ii) the fair market value shall constitute the rate base associated with the water or sewer utility as acquired by and incorporated into the rate base of the district designated by the acquiring large public utility, subject to any adjustments that the Illinois Commerce Commission deems necessary to ensure such rate base reflects prudent and useful investments in the provision of public utility service. Provides that the difference between the rate base and the purchase price or fair market value shall be borne by the shareholders of the acquiring large public utility. In provisions concerning the acquisition of a water or sewer utility, provides that, at the next election following the public meeting and notice requirements, a referendum shall be placed on the ballot for all electors within the area the water or sewer utility operates. Provides that, if a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, then the acquisition may continue. Provides that, if less than a majority of the electors voting on the referendum within the service area of the water or sewer utility vote in favor of the referendum, the Commission shall not approve the large public utility's acquisition of the water or sewer utility. Removes a provision that provides that the Commission may authorize a water or sewer utility to file a surcharge which adjusts rates and charges to provide for recovery of costs associated with an investment in qualifying infrastructure plant, independent of any other matters related to the utility's revenue requirement. Makes other changes.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the Illinois Middle-Income Housing Grant Pilot Program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Algorithmic Pricing Transparency Act. Provides that any person or entity that sells or offers to sell goods or services through an online platform to consumers in this State shall provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure if the price displayed to a consumer is generated using surveillance pricing. Provides that a consumer may opt out of surveillance pricing and a covered entity shall provide the consumer with a non-personalized baseline price for the goods or services. Prohibits a covered entity from using specified personal information to generate algorithmic pricing. Provides that a violation of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. Effective one year after becoming law.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that specified notices of cancellation of insurance must be mailed at least 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation to the named insured if the effective date of cancellation is within the first 60 days of coverage. Provides that, after the coverage has been effective for 61 days or more, all notices must be mailed at least 60 days prior to the effective date of cancellation. Makes conforming changes. Creates the Climate Risk Disclosure Article. Provides that the Article applies to all companies licensed in Illinois under Classes 2 and 3 that write $100,000,000 or more annually in premiums. Allows the monetary threshold to be altered by rule. Requires all insurers subject to the Article to, upon direction from the Department of Insurance, participate in National Association of Insurance Commissioners issued climate surveys and Department issued climate surveys.

Declares March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day in the State of Illinois in recognition of the essential contributions and sacrifices of farmworkers past and present. Recognizes the multiracial, intergenerational coalition of workers, including men, women, and children, whose collective action transformed labor rights in this country. Honors the courage, resilience, and contributions of farmworkers in the State of Illinois and across the United States.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Combines harassment by telephone and harassment through electronic communications into one statute. Provides that a person also commits the offense by knowingly making any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal with the intent to harass another and that comment, request, suggestion, or proposal is not necessary to accomplish a purpose that is reasonable under the circumstances, that would cause a reasonable person emotional distress and does cause emotional distress to another.

Amends the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Provides that the annual report to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Student Loan Ombudsman shall include the total number and dollar amount (instead of the volume) of private education loans made annually by a private educational lender, the total number and dollar amount (instead of the volume) of private education loans made annually at institutions of higher education, the total number and dollar amount of private education loans made annually with a cosigner, and the default rate for the private education loans reported by the private educational lender pursuant to specified provisions for the previous reporting period. Effective immediately.