Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow for an alternative rural staffing model for vehicle service providers that serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer inhabitants and exclusively use volunteers, paid-on-call, or part-time employees, or a combination thereof (now, the use of part-time employees is not an option). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the payment of nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers, makes changes to defined term, removes jurisdictional provisions, and provides that, for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned and operated by (instead of subject to) a unit of local government, a rate shall be paid that is equal to the rate established or approved by the governing body of the unit of local government providing the ground ambulance service. Establishes a rate of pay for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers that are not owned and operated by (instead of subject to the jurisdiction of) a unit of local government. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Replaces provisions concerning coverage for emergency transportation by ambulance with provisions concerning coverage for ground ambulance service.

Amends the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act. Requires that the Department of Transportation post a notice as required under the Act in all public restrooms of each roadside rest area.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Sets forth certain protections that must be provided to the parent or guardian of a child at the center of an abuse or neglect investigation whenever the Department of Children and Family Services refers a child to a medical professional. Defines "medical professional". Provides that the medical professional must explain to the parent or guardian of the child, whenever the medical professional has direct contact with the child or the family of the child, that the medical professional is involved for the purpose of providing an opinion to the Department regarding whether the child's injury or condition is suspicious for child maltreatment. Provides that, in any investigation where a medical professional is providing a medical opinion to the Department, the Department shall inform the parent or guardian of the child at the center of an investigation: (i) of the right to request and receive a copy of the medical professional's opinion, including the basis for the opinion, and a copy of any written report the medical professional has provided to the Department; (ii) of the right to obtain, at the parent's or guardian's own expense, and submit to the Department a second medical opinion for consideration in the investigation at any time prior to the conclusion of the investigation; (iii) that any second medical opinion submitted to the Department prior to the Department rendering a final determination in the investigation will be considered as inculpatory or exculpatory evidence; and (iv) of the Department's time frames for the investigative process. Requires the Department to annually prepare and make available on the Department's Reports and Statistics webpage a report on the number of children or families referred by the Department to a medical professional as part of an investigation of abuse or neglect by the Department. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the annual reports. Provides that the first report must be posted within 9 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall maintain a website that details any charges, either required by law or approved by the Commission, that are charged by an electric utility, other than delivery or supply charges. Provides that the website shall include certain information for amounts collected from a charge that are remitted to the State and for amounts collected from a charge that are retained by the electric utility.

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 Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Prohibits an evaluator from using an artificial intelligence tool to assign a numerical score or qualitative rating for any component of a teacher's evaluation or any evaluation task that requires professional judgment. However, allows an artificial intelligence tool to be used to support the evaluator in administrative tasks.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the assessed value of residential property in any general assessment year shall not exceed the assessed value of the property in the last general assessment year multiplied by one plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year immediately preceding the general assessment year for which the reassessment is conducted. Provides that the limitation does not apply if the increase in assessment is attributable to an addition, improvement, or modification to the property. Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, use and occupation taxes on motor fuel and gasohol are imposed at the rate of 1.25%. Makes corresponding changes concerning the distribution of proceeds. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 8 designates a specific section of Interstate 74 as the "Trooper Corey S. Thompsen Memorial Highway." Specifically, it assigns this commemorative name to Mile 91 of Interstate 74.