Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may expend funds for the maintenance and restoration of the existing part of the National Road located in southeastern Illinois. Provides that the Department may make grants to contractors for the maintenance and restoration of the existing part of the National Road located in southeastern Illinois. Provides that the grants shall be made from State appropriations and to the extent permitted by federal law from federal funds for this purpose. Provides that moneys for this purpose may be received from local units of government or appropriate and allowable not-for-profit or private organizations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial memorial resolution (SR 608), not a policy bill. It formally honors James Dean "Jim" Bolin of Casey, Illinois, who died on January 27, 2026, by expressing the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and community. The resolution details his life as a Casey resident, businessman (vice president of Bolin Enterprises), community leader who created local attractions like the "World's Largest Wind Chime," and devoted family man. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on laws or constituents - its sole purpose is to memorialize his life and legacy.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that it is a factor that shall be accorded weight in favor of imposing a term of imprisonment or may be considered by the court as reasons to impose a more severe sentence that the defendant committed an act of sexual conduct or sexual penetration with a student at a school and the defendant was employed as school personnel and the act of sexual conduct or sexual penetration occurred, regardless of the place of occurrence of the act of sexual conduct or sexual penetration, at the time the defendant was employed as school personnel. Defines "school personnel" and "student".

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Removes a provision concerning energy storage projects. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning legislative findings. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall develop new energy procurement plans only through the method of least-cost procurement, regardless of the power source of the procurement, and only with the most reliable procurements possible. Defines "least-cost procurement" as the procurement of electric service in a manner that is cost-effective, reliable, and prudent. In provisions concerning the Planning and Procurement Bureau, provides that the total of renewable energy resources procured shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009 (removes provisions concerning an inflation adjustment). In provisions concerning the Energy Transition Assistance Fund, provides that the energy transition assistance charge shall not exceed 1.3% (instead of 1.45%) of the amount paid per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the year ending May 31, 2009. Removes provisions concerning an adjustment in the energy transition assistance charge for inflation. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, no commercial wind energy facility, commercial solar energy facility, or energy storage system shall be built in the State without the construction of such facility first being approved by the applicable unit of local government if the facility is within 1.5 miles of that unit of local government. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to prepare for introduction in the 2027 spring session of the General Assembly a bill effecting such changes in the statutes as may be necessary to conform the statutes to the changes in law made by the amendatory Act. Removes references to energy storage projects, energy storage resources, and energy storage systems. Amends the Property Tax Code and the Counties Code. Removes provisions concerning energy storage systems. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions concerning the valuation of commercial solar energy systems and wind energy devices apply only through taxable year 2026. Repeals those provisions on January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Supersedes part of Executive Order 15-9 regarding supplemental statements of economic interests. Requires each executive branch State employee who files a statement of economic interests to disclose: (i) certain real property interests involving the State; (ii) any nongovernmental positions held and related compensation; and (iii) any litigation involving the State in which the employee has a financial interest. Directs the Secretary of State to prepare and provide forms, receive filings, and make disclosures publicly available. Requires employees to report material changes promptly.

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a Tier 2 member who has at least 20 years of service in this system as a police officer or firefighter is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application on or after the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) if a specified rule is applicable to the participant. Provides that the changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2011. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase".

Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Provides, in Articles concerning Downstate Public Transportation Assistance and Nonurbanized Area Public Transportation Assistance, that the term "operating deficits" does not include revenue from advertising.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of concealment of homicidal death when he or she knowingly permits the concealment or disposal of a body on property under the person's control with knowledge that the other person has died by homicidal means. Increases the penalty for concealment of homicidal death from a Class 3 felony to a Class 2 felony. Provides that a person commits the offense of concealment of death when he or she knowingly permits the concealment or disposal of a body on property under the person's control with the intent of concealing information regarding the place or manner of death of that person, or the identity of any person with information regarding the death of that person. Increases the penalty for concealment of death from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony. Effective immediately.

Creates the Job Creation Zone Pilot Program Act. Sets forth the boundaries of the job creation zone. Provides that applicants that pledge to hire at least 5 new employees at a designated location within the job creation zone are eligible for credits against their obligation to pay over withholding taxes under the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes an applicant to request a credit award under the Act by making a formal written request or application with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Specifies that the amount of the credit may not exceed (i) 50% of the incremental income tax attributable to each new employee during the calendar year in which the new employee is hired and for the first 2 calendar years after the new employee is hired and (ii) 25% of the incremental income tax attributable to each new employee during the third and fourth calendar years after the new employee is hired. Grants the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity rulemaking powers to implement and enforce the Act. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.