Sen. John Curran

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the tax credit for residential real property taxes from 5% of the real property taxes paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on the principal residence of the taxpayer to 10% of the real property taxes paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on the principal residence of the taxpayer. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates the Welcome Home Illinois tax credit. Provides that each taxpayer who is a first-time homebuyer of a principal residence in the State during the taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to $500. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2027 and thereafter, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption in all counties shall be the maximum reduction for the immediately preceding taxable year, increased by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the immediately preceding taxable year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act. Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031 to eligible students for engineering-related study at a public university who agree to work as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years. Allows the Commission to award scholarships to pay the tuition and fees of a student enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment. Provides for an additional stipend in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Establishes the total amount of scholarship assistance, the application process, eligibility requirements, and payments and repayments. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to require the Board of Higher Education to establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032.

Maddy summarySB 315 amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act by making technical corrections to the section that states the law's short title. It does not change any lending regulations, borrower protections, or enforcement rules. The bill only updates the formal name of the law within its own text and has no impact on consumers, lenders, or existing policy. The "BUSINESS-TECH" title in the bill number is unrelated to its actual content, which is purely administrative. This is a procedural update with no real-world policy effect.

Encourages the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, acting through the Illinois Judicial College, to develop, approve, and offer a continuing legal education program for GALs serving in family law and juvenile matters that includes, at a minimum, instruction regarding chronic medical conditions affecting children, training addressing the distinction between medical advocacy and parental conflict, guidance on appropriate consultation with treating medical professionals, education concerning treatment adherence and risk assessment, and instruction regarding the ethical limits of a GAL's medical opinions. Encourages the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to promote participation in such training to GALs statewide and to communicate this recommendation to the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit for consideration in appointment and continued service determinations.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Creates the Fairness in Property Tax Foreclosure Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study and make recommendations concerning issues associated with property foreclosure for failure to pay property taxes. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Transportation for a grant to the Alexander-Cairo Port District for all costs associated with non-bondable development expenses of the Cairo Port. Effective July 1, 2026.

Expresses support for and encourages all residents to support the Tribute to Valor Foundation and its mission to inspire the youth of America and all people to ask themselves the question "Who Am I?" and to answer by reflecting on the six core values of the Medal of Honor. Encourages and expresses support for activities and educational programs that invite veterans, first responders, and other role models to share how the six core values of the Medal of Honor have helped them commit to a life of service and assisted them in times of adversity.

Appropriates $700,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to The Night's Shield Children's Shelter. Effective immediately.