Sen. Paul Faraci

Maddy summarySB 1419 appropriates $67 million to the State Board of Education. These funds are designated to cover costs associated with the Healthy School Meals for All Program. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Amends the Electric Supplier Act. In provisions concerning rights granted to electric cooperative broadband grant recipients, provides that, outside of the grant service area, a broadband provider may access and use (i) any existing electric easement held or controlled by the broadband provider or (ii) any other existing electric easement contingent upon an agreement with the easement holder or controller for the delivery of broadband service by the broadband provider. Provides that, if the proper permits are acquired by State and local authorities, no property owner of property located outside the grant service area shall forbid or prevent a proposed broadband provider from entering upon the property for purposes of and in connection with the deployment of broadband infrastructure, nor shall any such property owner forbid or prohibit the broadband provider from deploying upon, beneath, or over that property broadband infrastructure utilized by the broadband provider for such broadband service. Provides that the property owner may be entitled to the payment of just compensation by that broadband provider and the broadband provider shall indemnify the property owner for any physical damage caused by the deployment of the broadband infrastructure and service. Changes references in the Electrical Service Broadband Deployment and Access Law to include broadband providers.

Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Provides that a public swimming facility may allow dogs to enter and use a swimming pool if the specified conditions are met.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Mahomet Aquifer Advisory Study Commission shall study and review any reports submitted to the Commission regarding the depletion or exhaustion of the Mahomet Aquifer resource due to expanding industrial withdrawals of water.

Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that a physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of authority by a physician. Provides that a physician assistant may practice without a written collaborative agreement. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement to practice. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; physician assistant title; collaboration requirements; written collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, and physician assistants in hospitals, hospital affiliates, or ambulatory surgical treatment centers; inactive status; limitations; and grounds for disciplinary action. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to make corresponding changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that companies that issue medical liability insurance must evaluate premium rates based on the specific scope of practice of each insured physician who specializes in obstetric and gynecologic services (OB-GYN), considering whether the OB-GYN provides obstetric services, including childbirth, or limits the OB-GYN's practice to gynecologic services only. Requires companies that issue medical liability insurance to classify OB-GYNs who do not provide obstetric services as lower-risk providers for the purposes of determining premium rates. Requires the Department of Insurance to establish guidelines for companies that issue medical liability insurance to classify and adjust premiums based on the risk profiles of OB-GYNs.

Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides for a temporary permit, which is a 3-year, non-renewable authorization to practice in this State, for active duty military members, military spouses, and veterans. Provides eligibility and application requirements for a temporary permit. Provides that temporary permits are valid for 3 years from the date of issuance and shall not be renewed. Provides that a temporary permitholder may practice within the scope of the permitholder's out-of-state license if the permitholder complies with all State laws, rules, regulations, and standards of practice applicable to the permitholder's profession. Provides that a temporary permit shall not be issued for a profession requiring emergency or public safety certifications unless the issuance of the temporary permit is authorized by the licensing board of the profession. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions; permanent licensure; and rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2026.

Appropriates $10,000,000 to the Board of Higher Education for the administration and distribution of grants to public universities for the implementation of the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, an amount equal to 10 cents of every fee collected for the sale of new or used tires at retail shall be allocated to the Department of Public Health for a grant to the Illinois Lyme Association's Tick Research, Education, and Evaluation project. Increases an extra fee collected for the sale of new or used tires at retail for the Emergency Public Health Fund, beginning July 1, 2027, from 50 cents per tire to 60 cents per tire.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Community Housing Reintegration Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund may be used to provide housing-related costs for eligible persons who are either (i) transitioning out of congregate long-term care settings into less restrictive independent and community-based housing or (ii) facing impending placement in a congregate long-term care facility due to lack of affordable accessible housing. Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the real estate transfer tax from $0.50 per $500 of valuation to $0.75 per $500 in valuation. Provides that a portion of the proceeds from the real estate transfer tax shall be deposited into the Community Housing Reintegration Fund. Effective immediately.