Sen. Jil Tracy

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Patrick Walker Brannan, a Jacksonville resident who passed away in July 2024 after serving in the U.S. Army and working for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The document formally expresses the Senate's condolences to his surviving family, including his wife, children, and parents, and acknowledges his military service and community involvement. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be given to the family as a gesture of sympathy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Daniel J. Nuessen, a Quincy resident who passed away in September 2024. The bill formally expresses the state legislature's condolences to his family and friends while acknowledging his contributions as a business leader and community volunteer. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to his family as a gesture of sympathy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of John W. Sheppard, a resident of Pittsfield who passed away in October 2024. The document formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and friends while acknowledging his extensive community service, which included farming, public office, and leadership in local organizations. It specifically recognizes his long tenure on the Bay Creek Watershed Board and his role as a former Pike County Board member. The resolution concludes by directing that a copy of the document be presented to Sheppard's family as a gesture of sympathy.

Amends the Illinois State Auditing Act. Provides that, in calendar years 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045, the Auditor General shall conduct a performance audit of (i) the programs and procurement activities administered by the Illinois Power Agency to implement the Renewable Portfolio Standard and (ii) the Adjustable Block program established under the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the performance audits shall address several questions related to renewable energy, solar vendors, and other issues. Provides that performance audits shall each include physical inspections of 3 random solar sites funded through the Adjustable Block program. Provides that the Auditor General shall consult with energy experts in the audit process and may employ an energy consulting firm. Provides for the Auditor General to report findings and recommendations. Repeals the provisions added by this amendatory Act on July 1, 2046. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after the effective date or for transfers made on or after the effective date. Effective immediately.

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a day care center may operate for 24 hours or longer and may provide care for a child for a period of up to 12 hours if the parent or guardian of the child is employed in a position that requires regularly scheduled shifts and a 10-hour period elapses between day care visits. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the provisions. Makes a conforming change.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes certain changes concerning estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir" to provide that a decedent's brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin is also included.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a technical correction to the Environmental Protection Act by updating the official short title of a specific section. The change does not alter any existing rules or create new requirements for businesses or individuals. Instead, it simply clarifies the name used to refer to the section that lists prohibited actions regarding air pollution. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and does not change how environmental regulations are currently enforced.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all reports involving railroad fatalities and all communications between police officers and train crew members involved in those occurrences shall not be public reports and shall be maintained by the police departments in a manner that ensures their confidentiality. Provides that these reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times upon written request to the host railroad, to the employing railroad, by court order, and to others specifically authorized by court order to obtain the information if the access is necessary in the performance of their duties. Provides that all such reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times, upon written or electronic mail request, to law enforcement officers, State's Attorneys, or Assistant State's Attorneys. Provides that communications between police officers and railroad employees of the incidents may be shared with these persons if the access is necessary in the performance of their duties.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the allocation to road districts shall be made in the same manner and be subject to the same conditions and qualifications as are provided by Section 8 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Law with respect to the allocation to road districts of the amount allotted from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund for apportionment to counties for the use of road districts, but no allocation shall be made to any road district that has not levied taxes for road and bridge purposes in such a manner that is eligible for allotment of Motor Fuel Tax funding pursuant to the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that any funds allocated to a county that are not obligated within 48 months shall be considered lapsed funds and reappropriated in the same fund. Provides that the lapsed funds shall be used to provide additional monetary assistance to townships and road districts that have insufficient funding for construction of bridges that are 20 feet or more in length under the Code. Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules to implement the provisions.