Sen. Neil Anderson

Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township may regulate commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy facilities, or both. Provides that a township may use any of its zoning powers in the regulation of commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities and may prohibit commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy facilities, or both. Provides that a township's regulations over commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities shall prevail over county regulations but not over municipal regulations. Defines terms. Amends the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Changes from 3 years to 5 years the added sentence for the knowing manufacture or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance when the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl. Provides that excluding violations of the Act when the controlled substance is fentanyl, for any person sentenced to a term of imprisonment with respect to violations of the knowing possession of a controlled substance, when the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl, 3 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court, and the maximum sentence for the offense shall be increased by 3 years.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates a provision that a licensee under the Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, or in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the prohibition against 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. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, eliminating the requirement for individuals to possess this specific identification card to own or acquire firearms. It also makes necessary adjustments to other related laws to ensure consistency with this change. The bill is effective immediately upon enactment.

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires a school board to allow a student who resides in the school district but attends a nonpublic school to participate in extracurricular athletic activities sponsored by the district without being required to enroll or complete coursework at a public school within the district if certain conditions are met. 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.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a full-time, sworn, compensated fire fighter is permitted to carry a pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm on his or her person in public or in a vehicle, if the fire fighter has a valid concealed carry license, is carrying on duty, and has been approved to carry on duty by the mayor, city council, village president, or village board of trustees.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes provisions that prohibit the possession or use of any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to make conforming changes.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions requiring election authorities to automatically register a voter, requires the election authority to act within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address database. Requires county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to complete verifications of voter registrations after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day of candidate circulation for candidate filing for the following primary election in an even-numbered year (rather than at least once in every 2 years). Requires the county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to certify to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed within 30 days of completion of the verification. Requires the State Board of Elections to establish training materials and guidelines for judges of elections to be incorporated into the training course established by an election authority. Requires an election authority with a public website to ensure that its vote by mail processing procedures are published on its public website and accessible to the public no less than 120 days before a general election, a general primary election, or a consolidated election. Provides that vote by mail ballots received after the election are subject to audit by the State Board of Elections and provides the auditing guidelines. Provides that the State central committee chair of each established political party shall be given prior written notice of the time and place of the random selection procedure and may be represented at the procedure. Provides that if tally sheets to be delivered to the office of the county clerk by judges of elections are delayed more than 5 hours after the closing of the polls, the designated judges from each of the 2 major political parties shall subscribe to a written affidavit explaining the delay. Requires the county clerk to keep any affidavits for one year and allows certified copies to be used as evidence in all courts, proceedings, and election contests. Requires the affidavits to also appear on an election authority's post on its website along with the number of uncounted votes.