Creates the Reducing Barriers to Start Act. Beginning January 1, 2026, this State shall encourage the elimination of all first-year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home-based businesses, whose principal place of business is in this State.
Maddy summarySB 2926 would exempt Illinois from the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, which requires states to observe daylight saving time by changing clocks twice yearly. This would keep Illinois on Central Standard Time year-round, eliminating the need to adjust clocks in March (spring forward) and November (fall back). The bill affects all state government operations, public schools, businesses, and contracts operating under Illinois time laws by removing the requirement for biannual clock changes. The exemption would take effect on January 1 of the first year following when Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin also opt out of daylight saving time.
Amends the Time Standardization Act. Provides that daylight saving time shall be the year-round standard time of the entire State. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
Urges the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education to conduct a formal review of the Local School Wellness Policy provision prohibiting pork products. Urges such a review to include identification and disclosure of the original rationale and supporting documentation for the prohibition, consultation with nutrition experts and food service professionals, and consideration of stakeholder input. Encourages the CPS Board of Education to evaluate whether limited menu testing or pilot programs allowing pork products would better align with current nutrition science, cultural inclusion, fiscal stewardship, and full utilization of available USDA foods.
Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution honoring Thomas "Tom" Friye of Quincy, Illinois, who died on January 31, 2026. The Illinois Senate passed SR 612 to express condolences to his family, including his wife of 59 years, three sons, seven grandchildren, and extended relatives. The resolution commemorates his life, career in landscaping (including co-owning Bergman Nurseries for 28 years), and community service on boards like the Quincy Tree Commission. As a procedural memorial, it has no policy impact or effect on legislation.
Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution (SR 613) honoring Ned P. Broemmel of Quincy, Illinois, who died on January 22, 2026. The resolution expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and community, detailing his life as a Quincy resident, educator, insurance professional, restaurant co-owner, and active community volunteer. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is a ceremonial expression of sympathy for a deceased constituent. The Senate formally adopted the resolution on February 19, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 3140 increases penalties for violating court-issued orders of protection by upgrading the offense to a Class 3 felony (from Class 4) for individuals with prior convictions for domestic battery, violation of protection orders, or related offenses like stalking or aggravated battery against family members. This change directly affects repeat offenders who disregard court orders designed to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill mandates a minimum 24-hour jail term for second or subsequent violations, in addition to potential fines or restitution. It applies to violations occurring after the offender was served notice of the order or gained actual knowledge of its terms.
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that notwithstanding the pretrial release and denial of pretrial release provisions of the Code, if the defendant is charged with any of the following offenses, then the burden is on the defendant to show by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's pretrial release does not pose a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case: (1) a violation of an order of protection issued under the Code or the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, a stalking no contact order under the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or of a civil no contact order under the Civil No Contact Order Act; or (2) domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery under the Criminal Code of 2012.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended for contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative committees, or any committee or organization working to influence referendum petitions or elections or contributions to a trade association, chamber of commerce, or public charity, including, but not limited to, a charity managed by the public utility or an affiliated interest. Makes changes in provisions definitions; donations made by a public utility for energy assistance; consideration of attorney and expert compensation as an expense; and the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund.
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of natural life imprisonment for first degree murder if the defendant, at the time of the commission of the murder, had attained the age of 18, and is found guilty of the first degree murder of a child under the age of 5 who is determined by the court, upon testimony of a physician, to have died from abusive head trauma caused by the defendant. Provides that "abusive head trauma" includes shaken baby syndrome. Defines "abusive head trauma" and "shaken baby syndrome".
