Sen. Paul Faraci

Maddy summarySJR 52 is a symbolic resolution declaring October 11-17, 2026, as Menopause Awareness Week in Illinois. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise public awareness about menopause and perimenopause impacts. The resolution highlights statistics on limited awareness (94% of women inadequately informed) and treatment gaps (only 19% of women aged 40-60 receiving a diagnosis), though it focuses solely on recognition, not policy change. This procedural resolution directly affects Illinois residents by designating a specific week for educational outreach.

Creates the Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act. Defines "transportation network driver" as an individual who operates a motor vehicle that: (i) is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the individual; (ii) is not a taxicab or for-hire public passenger vehicle; (iii) is used to provide transportation network company services; and (iv) operates under the license of a transportation network company. Provides that transportation network drivers have the right of self-organization, to form, join, or assist transportation network driver organizations, and to bargain collectively. Sets forth provisions concerning unfair work practices; the prevention of unfair work practices; the designation of bargaining representatives; administrative fees; bargaining, impasse resolution procedures, and final determinations by the Department of Labor; applicability of other labor standards; rulemaking; and public records. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Labor Dispute Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes changes concerning the taxes due under the Act on estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir". Effective January 1, 2027.

Creates the Illinois Home Buyer Savings Accounts Act. Provides that a first-time and second-chance home buyer may open an account with a financial institution designated in its entirety by the financial institution as a first-time and second-chance home buyer savings account. Provides that the funds in a first-time and second-chance home buyer savings account may be used only to pay a first-time and second-chance home buyer's eligible costs for the purchase of a single-family residence in Illinois. Provides that 2 first-time and second-chance home buyers may jointly own a first-time and second-chance home buyer savings account. Provides that only cash and marketable securities may be contributed to a first-time and second-chance home buyer savings account. Sets forth provisions concerning the responsibilities of an account holder; the responsibilities of financial institutions; deduction of contributions, exclusion of earnings, and limitations; the penalty for withdrawal for purpose other than eligible costs; and the forms the Department of Revenue must adopt.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for a qualified employer who makes a qualified contribution toward a health reimbursement arrangement for the qualified taxpayer's employees. Provides that the amount of the credit is $400 per covered employee in the first taxable year and $200 per covered employee in the second taxable year. Effective immediately.

Creates the Farmer Tax Benefit Act. Provides that, for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2027, landowners may apply to the Department for an income tax credit in an amount equal to either (i) 100% of the fair market value of a qualified donation of a land protection agreement or (ii) 50% of the fair market value of the qualified donation of a fee simple interest or a remainder interest in qualified real property. Specifies that the total aggregate amount of tax credits issued under the Act in any State fiscal year shall not exceed $7,500,000. Further provides that the amount of the credit that may be claimed by a landowner for any single qualified donation shall not exceed $500,000. Contains additional provisions concerning allocation of the credit by the Department of Natural Resources and other powers of the Department of Natural Resources, allowable credit use, the Illinois Land Protection Tax Credit, legislative findings, and other related matters. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2025 and ending on or before June 30, 2032. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term "full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 1452 amends Illinois' School Code to allow the Chicago Board of Education to establish compensation for its members through a formal resolution. Currently, board members serve without pay but receive expense reimbursements; this bill would authorize the Board to set salaries or other compensation if it chooses. The change directly affects Chicago Public Schools board members, who would no longer be required to serve without compensation. The bill does not mandate pay but gives the Board the authority to decide whether to provide it. This is a procedural change to the existing law, not a new policy requiring immediate implementation.

Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre shall be paid by the buyer or lessee of a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose of developing an industrial park, a commercial area, a single-family or multi-family dwelling or for being put to any other use that removes the agricultural land from production. Provides that the fee shall be collected by the Department of Agricultural. Provides for the creation of the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all Farmland Conversion Fees collected by the Department of Agriculture shall be contributed to the Fund. Further provides that moneys in the Fund may be exclusively used for the following purposes: (i) supporting education and programs that support healthy soil clean water, and climate-smart agricultural practices; (ii) supporting operations funding for soil and water conservation districts; (iii) covering costs associated with administering the Act; (iv) any other purposes that the Department of Agriculture determines are consistent with the purposes of the Act. Provides that, before expending moneys for any other purposes, the Department of Agriculture shall, subject to the availability of moneys in the Fund, ensure that during each State fiscal year, $10,000,000 is distributed to soil and water conservation districts, for the purpose of supporting their operations funding. Provides that $500,000 shall be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of collecting fees and administering the program created under the Act. Provides for penalties. Effective immediately.