Sen. John Curran

Creates the Department of Natural Resources Sahara Woods State Recreation Area Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to enter into a public-private agreement to develop, construct, finance, lease, manage, and operate campground facilities at Sahara Woods State Recreation Area. Authorizes the Director of Natural Resources to enter into discussions with interested persons prior to soliciting requests for proposals. Directs the Department to comply with specified provisions of the Illinois Procurement Code. Describes the request-for-proposal process that is to be employed. Contains provisions concerning the payment of prevailing wages and the use of project labor agreements. Specifies that the term of any public-private agreement entered into under the Act shall be no less than 25 years and no more than 99 years. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Lowers the minimum age at which a person who is not an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the Illinois National Guard may apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without parental or legal guardian consent from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. Provides that an applicant who is 18 (rather than 21) years of age or older seeking a religious exemption to the photograph requirement must furnish with the application an approved copy of United States Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form 4029.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that short-term approval of a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall be given to an individual who meets the requirements in the Illinois Administrative Code. Provides that the short-term approval expires on June 30 immediately following 5 full fiscal years after the approval was given. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a firefighter who previously participated in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) for service as a member of the fire department of a municipality and was transferred to that municipality's firefighters' pension fund upon its creation, as required under the Downstate Firefighter Article as a result of the federal decennial census of 2010, shall, for the purposes of determining the applicable tier of benefits, be deemed to have become a firefighter and member of that municipality's firefighters' pension fund on the date that he or she first participated in IMRF as a member of the fire department of that municipality, notwithstanding whether that start date was before January 1, 2011. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that, if the Illinois State Police fails to renew a Firearm Owner's Identification Card within 60 business days, provided the applicant submitted his or her renewal application prior to the expiration of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card, the renewal application for the Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall be granted unless subject to revocation or suspension. Provides that failure of the Illinois State Police to approve or deny an application or renew an application within the time frames under these provisions shall constitute a civil violation and, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, may incur a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $500 for each violation and, in the case of a continuing violation, every day the violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation. Provides that penalties shall be collected by the State Treasurer, who shall deposit the money into the General Revenue Fund.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Tamms Minimum Security Unit Task Force. Provides for membership on the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the subject of a practical, efficient, and beneficial repurposing of the Tamms Minimum Security Unit and its property for the benefit of the public, including the possibility of providing mental health services, health services, public safety, law enforcement training purposes, fire services, medical training and any other option for repurposing that the Task Force deems appropriate. Provides that each member of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall meet 2 times per year or at the call of the Chairperson. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide administrative support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2027 with its recommendations and is dissolved on January 1, 2028. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2029. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of the surviving spouse of a police officer or firefighter who is killed in the line of duty. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act. Amends the Gun Trafficking Information Act, the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Procurement Code, and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a nonresident may carry a concealed firearm if the nonresident is 21 years or older, has in his or her immediate possession a valid license or permit that is issued by a state whose license or permit is recognized by the Illinois State Police, and is a legal resident of the United States. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall recognize a concealed carry permit or license issued to a person age 21 years of age or older: (i) by a state whose requirements to obtain a permit or license are substantially similar to the training requirements under the Act or (ii) by any contiguous state with which Illinois has entered into a reciprocal agreement. Provides that a nonresident is subject to the same laws and restrictions as a license holder under the Act. Provides that, if a resident of another state who is permitted to carry under this provision establishes legal residence in this State, the license or permit from the other state shall be valid in this State for 90 days following the date on which the holder of the license or permit establishes legal residence in this State. Provides that a resident of another state may establish Illinois residency by registering to vote, obtaining an Illinois driver's license or State Identification Card, or by filing for a homestead tax exemption on property in Illinois. Effective immediately

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the prohibition against a licensee carrying a firearm into any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government does not apply to any rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation or to buildings located in rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm in any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district. Effective immediately.