Sen. Chapin Rose

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Kenneth "Ken" Morton, a resident of Mahomet who passed away on April 5, 2026. The bill formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his surviving family, including his wife of 72 years, Carol, and their children and grandchildren. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to the Morton family as a gesture of sympathy. This measure is a commemorative action that does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Creates the Citizens Empowerment Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Defines terms. Provides that "insurer" means a company, firm, partnership, association, order, society, or system that is obligated to pay at least part of the cost of repairing the exterior of an insured's motor vehicle under an insurance policy issued by the company, firm, partnership, association, order, society, or system. Provides that an insurer may not direct a body shop to repair an insured's motor vehicle until the insurer or its agent has given the insured written notice that meets certain requirements. Sets forth requirements for the content of the written notice. Provides that an insurer or its agent shall give an insured an opportunity to indicate in writing the type of body parts that the insured approves for use in the repair of the insured's motor vehicle. Provides that an insurer who violates certain requirements commits an improper claims practice. Provides that the requirements of the amendatory provisions apply only for 5 years after the model year of the applicable motor vehicle. Provides that the requirements of the amendatory provisions may be fulfilled on behalf of an insurer by the body shop that is directed by the insurer to repair the applicable motor vehicle. Makes a conforming change.

Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2028 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that health care facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, as determined by the federal government, shall be exempt as provided but shall have a hiring preference for surgical technologists who graduated from nationally accredited surgical technology programs and are certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a person licensed in the State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed, including, but not limited to, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse performing surgery-related tasks within the scope of the nurse's license or registration; or a student or intern from performing surgical technology services under direct supervision, as defined in the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have initiated sexual activity with another individual without that individual's consent, a sexual assault, or an attempted sexual assault at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or an activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Provides that (i) a student initiates sexual activity with another individual without that individual's consent if the student uses force or a threat of force to make the other individual perform a nonconsensual sexual act; (ii) a student initiates a sexual assault if the student commits an act of sexual penetration and uses force or a threat of force; and (iii) a student initiates an attempted sexual assault if, with the intent to commit a sexual assault, the student commits an act that constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of a sexual assault. Allows the expulsion requirement to be modified by the superintendent of the school district and the superintendent's determination to be modified by the school board on a case-by-case basis. Provides that the expulsion shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and a student who is subject to expulsion may be eligible for a transfer to an alternative school program. Effective immediately.

Designates U.S. Highway 250 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Illinois Route 130 in Olney to 10 miles West of Olney on U.S. Highway 50 as the "Sgt. Levi Ridgley Memorial Highway".

Appropriates $20,000,000 to the University of Illinois for the purpose of increasing the extension service trust fund allocation for the University of Illinois Extension program. Effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 30 designates a specific section of highway in Illinois. It names the junction of Illinois Route 49 and Illinois Route 33 in Willow Hill as the "Jackie Wayne "Jack" Steinman Memorial Highway."

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 714 is a memorial resolution honoring Joseph Chaly Piland, Ed.D., who passed away on September 15, 2025. The bill formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and friends while acknowledging his life as a U.S. Air Force veteran, educator, and community leader. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to his family as a gesture of sympathy.

Congratulates Daniel and Constance Herriott on being named among the Top 10 national contenders in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award program. Commends them on this achievement and for all of their hard work.