Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Election Code. Requires the State Board of Elections, in conjunction with election authorities, to implement a secure, free access system available to voters by January 1, 2026. Provides that the system shall allow a voter to track receipt of the voter's vote by mail ballot and check the ballot's status with the election authority. Requires the election authority to make the system available to vote by mail voters from the first day that vote by mail ballots are accepted until 30 days after completion of the official canvass. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that an employer shall not knowingly offer employment, compensation, or fees for services to a person if that person is prohibited by the Act's revolving door prohibitions from accepting employment, compensation, or fees for services from that employer. Grants the Executive Ethics Commission and the Legislative Ethics Commission jurisdiction over employers who make offers of employment, compensation, or fees for services in violation of this prohibition. Authorizes an ethics commission to impose a penalty of up to 3 times the total annual compensation that was offered in violation of this prohibition.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that bribery and legislative misconduct include the receipt of property or personal advantage after the improper act has been performed (rather than just the intent to influence the improper act). Provides that the provisions do not apply to the promise, tender, acceptance, or receipt of any campaign contributions that are permissible under the Election Code.

Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local (REAL) Housing Act. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Middle Housing Incentive Program. Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Authorizes the Department to establish workforce development initiatives. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Extends the Veteran Property Tax Relief Reimbursement Pilot Program to July 1, 2030 (rather than July 1, 2028). Describes administrative responsibilities of the Department. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Veterans Property Tax Relief Reimbursement Pilot Program Fund and the Middle Housing Incentive Program Fund as special funds in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Counties Code. Provides that a county or municipality may opt in, by resolution, to participate in the receipt of Local Government Distributive Fund revenues exceeding 8% of State income tax collections. Authorizes by-right overlay districts for middle housing and other housing-related innovations. Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act. Makes changes to the definition of "redevelopment costs." Amends the Use Tax Act, the Services Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Changes the rate of tax on qualified residential development building materials to 1.25% (rather than 6.25%). Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys collected from the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Modifies the definition of "public works". Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Establishes grant-making and reporting requirements for the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Limits commissions charged in residential real estate transactions. Amends the Security Deposit Return Act, the Security Deposit Interest Act, and the Landlord and Tenant Act. Makes changes regarding screening reports of prospective tenants and upfront rental costs of residential units. Makes conforming changes in the Condominium Property Act and the Common Interest Community Association Act regarding middle housing. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2028.

Declares May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month and urges all Americans to join in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.

Creates the Healing Through History Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide prospective adoptive families, no less than 30 days prior to adoption finalization, with a complete, unredacted copy of the child's full case record, including, but not limited to: (i) all placement histories and foster home records; (ii) all caseworker notes and observations; (iii) all educational, psychological, and behavioral reports; (iv) all therapy or counseling notes, subject to certain federal requirements; and (v) all medical records in full, including historical records. Provides that former foster youth aged 18 or older are entitled to receive the same information and records at no cost in both physical and digital form. Contains provisions concerning ongoing record access post-adoption or post-emancipation; the development of Department protocols and infrastructure necessary to collect, preserve, and transmit full child records; exemption and confidentiality protections; federal disclosure requirements; and other matters. Effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 939 amends the School Code by making a technical correction to the short title of a specific section. It does not change any substantive educational policies or programs. This procedural adjustment solely affects the formal naming of a section within the School Code. No new requirements, funding, or direct impacts on students, schools, or educators are created by this bill.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, if a valid election has been made under the Internal Revenue Code allowing a person to take into account a federal deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for the purposes of calculating the person's federal estate tax, then the person's Illinois exclusion amount shall include the Illinois deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for the deceased spouse with respect to whom the federal election was made. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the $15 tax imposed on the privilege of using any motor vehicle acquired by gift, transfer, or purchase also applies to stepparents, grandparents, stepgrandparents, stepsiblings, stepchildren, and stepgrandchildren.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the State tax credit shall be calculated as though the decedent's federal taxable estate did not include the decedent's business interest in a manufacturing business located in this State. Defines "manufacturing business". Effective immediately.