Sen. Sally Turner

Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre shall be paid by the buyer or lessee of a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose of developing an industrial park, a commercial area, a single-family or multi-family dwelling or for being put to any other use that removes the agricultural land from production. Provides that the fee shall be collected by the Department of Agricultural. Provides for the creation of the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all Farmland Conversion Fees collected by the Department of Agriculture shall be contributed to the Fund. Further provides that moneys in the Fund may be exclusively used for the following purposes: (i) supporting education and programs that support healthy soil clean water, and climate-smart agricultural practices; (ii) supporting operations funding for soil and water conservation districts; (iii) covering costs associated with administering the Act; (iv) any other purposes that the Department of Agriculture determines are consistent with the purposes of the Act. Provides that, before expending moneys for any other purposes, the Department of Agriculture shall, subject to the availability of moneys in the Fund, ensure that during each State fiscal year, $10,000,000 is distributed to soil and water conservation districts, for the purpose of supporting their operations funding. Provides that $500,000 shall be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of collecting fees and administering the program created under the Act. Provides for penalties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the exercise of eminent domain powers by a public utility, provides that an owner or operator of a pipeline designed, constructed, and operated to transport carbon dioxide to which the Illinois Commerce Commission has granted a certificate under the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act shall not seek or exercise eminent domain authority from the Commission. Amends the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act. Provides that a certificate of authority does not grant an owner or operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline the authority to take and acquire an easement in any property or interest in property for the construction, maintenance, or operation of a carbon dioxide pipeline through the exercise of eminent domain power. Removes corresponding provisions concerning eminent domain.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act . Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security shall conduct a comprehensive study of weather radar in the State. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security shall prepare a written report summarizing the findings of the study. Requires the report to include recommendations, if any, for legislative or administrative action to improve or expand weather radar coverage in the State. Requires the Agency to submit the report to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than one year after the effective date of the Act.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any purchase by a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants, or an elected official in a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants, including an elected official with control of the internal operations of the office, of services, materials, equipment, or supplies in excess of $60,000 (rather than $30,000), other than professional services, shall be contracted (1) by a contract let to the lowest responsible bidder after advertising for bids in a newspaper published within the county or, if no newspaper is published within the county, then a newspaper having general circulation within the county; (2) by a contract let without advertising for bids in the case of an emergency if authorized by the county board; or (3) by a contract let without advertising for bids in the case of the expedited replacement of a disabled, inoperable, or damaged patrol vehicle of the sheriff's department if authorized by the county board.

Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, if a person who is licensed as a retailer of alcoholic liquor has had the renewal of his or her certificate of registration denied or has had his or her certificate of registration revoked, then the Department of Revenue shall file a notice with the Liquor Control Commission that includes a certification, signed by the Director of Revenue or his or her designee, attesting that the person's certificate of registration renewal has been denied or revoked after notice and an opportunity to be heard. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the Liquor Control Commission shall inactivate the license of any licensee authorized to sell alcoholic liquor at retail if that person's certificate of registration renewal has been denied by the Department of Revenue or that person's certificate of registration has been revoked by the Department of Revenue. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that for dates of service beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased by $5.75 to $10.50 per diem. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, facilities located outside of Rate Areas 6, 7, and 8 shall have the Medicaid percent of occupied bed days to be at least 60% of all occupied bed days adjusted quarterly to qualify for the Medicaid Access Adjustment. Provides that the remaining facilities shall have their threshold remain at 70%.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, elected and appointed supervisors of assessments who began a term of office on or after December 1, 2026, beginning December 1, 2029 shall be paid a salary in an amount equal to 80% of the amount paid to the State's Attorney of the county that employs the elected or appointed supervisor of assessments. Amends the Counties Code and the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that, beginning December 1, 2026, the compensation of a coroner, a county treasurer, a county clerk, a recorder, an auditor, or a clerk of a circuit court shall be equal to 80% of the amount paid to the State's Attorney of the coroner's, county treasurer's, county clerk's, recorder's, or auditor' s county. Provides that, the State must pay 66 2/3% of each officer's annual salary. Provides that, beginning with fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027, the county clerk, recorder, auditor, coroner, and treasurer of each county, and the chief clerk of each county board of election commissioners, shall receive a stipend in the amount of $12,800, adjusted annually.

Creates the Adult Content Age Verification Act. Provides that a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors shall be subject to civil penalties if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material. Provides that the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations and initiate a civil action for an injunction and to assess civil penalties. Provides that the civil penalties shall be deposited into the Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund, which shall be expended for the investigation of cybercrimes involving the exploitation of children. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a candidate seeking election to an office for which candidates of political parties are nominated by caucus who is a participant in the caucus and who has participated in the caucus of another established political party or a new political party or who has signed a petition of another established political party, a new political party, or an independent candidate is ineligible to be listed on the ballot at that general or consolidated election as a candidate of the political party holding the caucus. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Township Code. Provides that a person shall not be able to participate or vote at any township or multi-township caucus if the person participated in the caucus of another established political party or a new political party or signed a petition for a candidate of another established political party, a new political party, or an independent candidate at anytime during the 12 months before the caucus.

Creates the Social Media Age Restriction Act. Provides that an operator of a social media platform shall take reasonable steps, including the implementation of an age assurance system, to prevent a child from creating or maintaining an account on the social media platform. Provides that an operator may enter into an agreement with application distribution services or device manufacturers to allow for user information to be shared for age assurance purposes. Provides that the provision does not apply to a parent or guardian who allows a child to use an account held by the parent or guardian. Sets forth provisions concerning a 30-day cure period and civil penalties. Provides that an operator shall have 180 days after the effective date of the Act to comply with the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.