Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Requires an applicant for a retail license to provide the applicant's primary and supplementary email address to which all license-related notices may be served. Provides that certain licenses shall not be revoked or suspended except after a hearing by the State commission with reasonable notice to the licensee served by electronic or other reasonable means (instead of by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested) at least 10 days prior to the hearings at the last known place of business of the licensee or to the licensee's primary or supplemental email address and after an opportunity to appear and defend.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. In the definition of "cannabis", provides that "cannabis" does not include hemp, industrial hemp, or Illinois hemp for human consumption as defined and authorized under the Industrial Hemp Act, but includes intoxicating hemp as defined under the Industrial Hemp Act. Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Revises definitions to conform to federal law. Adds definitions of "Illinois hemp for human consumption", "intoxicating hemp", and "synthetic hemp product". Directs the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to conform to federal law. Directs the Department to also adopt rules regarding hemp products intended for human consumption that (1) require testing, (2) establish labeling requirements, (3) require child-resistant packaging, and (4) prohibit branding attractive to children. Prohibits the sale, offer for sale, delivery, or furnishment of a hemp product intended for human consumption to a person who is under 21 years of age. Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, sale, offer for sale, delivery, or furnishment of synthetic hemp products. Provides for civil penalties for violations to be deposited into the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Fund. Provides that the exception in the Cannabis Control Act for the Industrial Hemp Act does not apply to synthetic hemp products. Amends the Cannabis Control Act. Changes the definition of "cannabis".

Amends the Industrial Hemp Act and the Cannabis Control Act. Makes changes to conform with changes in federal law. Directs the Department of Agriculture, within 12 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act, to adopt rules consistent with the changes in federal law with respect to hemp and industrial hemp reflected in the federal Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall develop an educational document explaining, at a minimum, the values of good indoor air quality and shall supply the document to school districts. Provides that, subject to funding from the State Board, a school district shall ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor.

Creates the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Juvenile Justice Reentry Program Act. Creates a data partnership among the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to annually gather the following information on the population of youth served by the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center: (1) the total number of youth served during the reporting period; (2) the recidivism rate among those youth within 6 and 12 months post-release; (3) the age range and gender breakdown of those youth, with a focus on males between 13 and 20 years of age; (4) the demographic and geographic data (race, ethnicity, and home zip codes) of those youth; and (5) the primary re-offense categories and conditions of release for those youth. Provides that the Program shall equip families with the skills, resources, and mindset to support their child's reentry. Provides that the Program shall include: (1) social worker-led home readiness assessments; (2) at-home care specialists assigned to each youth or family for 90 to 180 days; and (3) trauma-informed parenting workshops and culturally competent counseling. Provides that the Program shall provides youth released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center with: (1) stable, affirming housing options and near-peer support; (2) partnered transitional housing units (non-carceral); (3) resident advisor mentors between 21 to 30 years of age, with an emphasis on persons who were primarily involved in the justice system; and (4) nightly check-ins, group circles, and restorative justice practices. Provides that the Program shall equip families with the skills, resources, and mindset to support their children's reentry. Provides that the Program shall be voluntary and shall have the participation of 15 to 20 male youth between 14 to 18 years of age released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center within a 90-day period. Provides metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of the Program. Provides that reentry and aftercare grant funding shall be provided by the Department of Human Services.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.

Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Board Act. Establishes the Health Care Availability and Access Board to protect State residents, State and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the State, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. Contains provisions concerning Board membership and terms; staff for the Board; Board meetings; circumstances under which Board members must recuse themselves; and other matters. Provides that the Board shall perform the following actions in open session: (i) deliberations on whether to subject a prescription drug product to a cost review; and (ii) any vote on whether to impose an upper payment limit on purchases, payments, and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products in the State. Permits the Board to adopt rules to implement the Act and to enter into a contract with a qualified, independent third party for any service necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Board. Creates the Health Care Availability and Access Stakeholder Council to provide stakeholder input to assist the Board in making decisions as required by the Act. Contains provisions concerning Council membership, member terms, and other matters. Provides that the Board shall adopt the federal Medicare Maximum Fair Price as the upper payment limit for a prescription drug product intended for use by individuals in the State. Prohibits the Board from creating an upper payment limit that is different from the Medicare Maximum Fair Price for the prescription drug product that has a Medicare Maximum Fair Price. Requires the Board to implement an upper payment limit that is the same as the Medicare Maximum Fair Price no sooner than the Medicare implementation date. Provides that Medicare Part C and D plans are not required to reimburse at the upper payment limit. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act and may pursue any available remedy under State law when enforcing the Act. Effective 180 days after becoming law.

Creates the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act. Provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against the taxes imposed by the Illinois Income Tax Act or taxes, penalties, fees, charges, and payments imposed by the Illinois Insurance Code. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Illinois Insurance Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall develop an educational document explaining, at a minimum, the values of good indoor air quality and shall supply the document to school districts within one year after an appropriation is made for this purpose. Provides that a school district shall supply all active classroom instructors, school staff, school administrators, and district leadership with the educational document developed by the State Board. Provides that, subject to funding, a school district shall ensure that all active classrooms that are not mechanically ventilated have at least 2 properly functioning windows, or one window in situations where only one is present, that can open and can safely stay open. Provides that a school district must be in compliance within 2 years after funding is made available for this purpose. Provides that, subject to funding, a school district shall ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor or sensor and an in-room air cleaner that is installed and operating. Provides that each school shall record all incidents in which the recommended parts-per-million level was breached in a classroom and maintain those records for at least 5 years. Provides that an air quality monitor or sensor and an in-room air cleaner may not be shared between active classrooms. Sets forth further provisions concerning in-room air cleaners and air quality monitors or sensors. Provides that, subject to funding, a regional office of education, an intermediate service center, or the State Board (with respect to the Chicago school district) shall undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in a school district. Provides that the ventilation verification assessment shall verify whether the existing mechanical ventilation system is operating in accordance with design parameters and meets the requirements of any applicable building codes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. It establishes a new statewide surcharge for 9-1-1 emergency services. Beginning January 1, 2026, this surcharge will be set at $2.50 per telephone connection. This change directly affects individuals and entities paying for telephone connections, as it modifies the fee collected to fund emergency telephone systems.