Sen. Paul Faraci

Creates the Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Discrimination Act. Provides that a person shall not use surveillance data as part of an automated decision system to inform the individualized price assessed to a consumer for goods or services. Provides that a person shall not use surveillance data as part of an automated decision system to inform the individualized wage paid to an employee. Sets forth exemptions to the provisions. Provides that the Attorney General shall enforce the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning private rights of action and penalties for violations.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the exercise of eminent domain powers by a public utility, provides that an owner or operator of a pipeline designed, constructed, and operated to transport carbon dioxide to which the Illinois Commerce Commission has granted a certificate under the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act shall not seek or exercise eminent domain authority from the Commission. Amends the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act. Provides that a certificate of authority does not grant an owner or operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline the authority to take and acquire an easement in any property or interest in property for the construction, maintenance, or operation of a carbon dioxide pipeline through the exercise of eminent domain power. Removes corresponding provisions concerning eminent domain.

Creates the Nitrogen Reduction Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Agriculture shall, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and soil and water conservation districts in the State, develop a nitrogen reduction incentive program by January 1, 2027 for the purpose of addressing water quality issues. Provides that the program will include a per-acre payment rate of not less than $5 per acre. Provides that crop management records collected from farmers shall be considered confidential. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act . Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security shall conduct a comprehensive study of weather radar in the State. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security shall prepare a written report summarizing the findings of the study. Requires the report to include recommendations, if any, for legislative or administrative action to improve or expand weather radar coverage in the State. Requires the Agency to submit the report to the Governor and the General Assembly by no later than one year after the effective date of the Act.

Amends the Sustainable Agriculture Act. Provides that the (b) The Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a joint study and publish the findings of such study to evaluate the extent to which carbon could be stored through widespread adoption of practices promoting soil carbon sequestration in the State, and what soil management practices that can be utilized to promote soil carbon sequestration. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency may consult with and seek assistance from (1) similar state agencies in other states and (2) federal agencies, to the extent that such coordination aids in furthering the purposes of this study. Provides that the joint study shall consider how changes in seasonality and weather patterns, driven by climate change, may impact the efficacy of soil carbon sequestration. Provides that the joint study shall be published on a publicly available website no later than January 1, 2028, and suitable copies shall be delivered to the Governor and members of the General Assembly.

Amends the Auction License Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Auction and Estate Sale License Act. Provides that "estate sale" means the sale of personal property for a principal that is conducted on premises or online, where items are offered to the public at posted, fixed prices (rather than a sale for liquidation of personal property of an estate owned by one or more individuals, families, or legal representatives of the estate that is advertised and scheduled for a predetermined amount of time and to which the public is invited to participate in a negotiation or bid for the purchase of the personal property). Provides that every person who desires to obtain an estate sale license under the Act shall perform certain actions. Provides that any corporation, limited liability company, or partnership who desires to obtain an estate sale license shall, in addition to other requirements, perform certain actions. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall not require applicants to report certain information and shall not consider certain criminal history records in connection with an application for licensure. Provides that an applicant or licensee shall report to the Department, in a manner prescribed by the Department, within 30 days after the occurrence if, during the term of licensure, certain judicial or administrative actions occur against the applicant or licensee. Provides that persons, corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships who conduct estate sales on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act must apply for an estate sale license no later than 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Department to waive the written examination for applicants under the Act who demonstrate active operation for 24 months before June 1, 2026. Provides that estate sale licensees shall not conduct competitive bidding. Provides that, if an estate sale licensee intends to auction specific high-value items, the licensee shall co-sign those items to a licensed auctioneer. Makes other changes. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the Township Code, the Real Estate License Act of 2000, the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Ticket Sale and Resale Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program in the Department of Agriculture to provide crop insurance premium discounts for cover crops. Directs the Department to award grants in specified amounts to Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Creates the Cover Crop Insurance Premium Discount Fund. Provides for requirements for the Program. Directs the Department to adopt rules.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, beginning on and after October 1, 2026, for rate year 2027 and thereafter, the Medicaid inpatient utilization rate used in the determination of eligibility for inpatient adjustment payments provided under the Code shall be modified to exclude from both the numerator and denominator all days of care funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at a hospital approved to conduct its operations from more than one location within contiguous counties under a single license, if at the time of its licensing application the hospital was located in a county with fewer than 125,000 inhabitants and the hospital's second facility is located in a contiguous county with fewer than 235,000 inhabitants. Provides that, for purposes of the amendatory Act, days of care funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs include authorized VA community care provided at non-VA hospitals. Effective immediately.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that for dates of service beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased by $5.75 to $10.50 per diem. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, facilities located outside of Rate Areas 6, 7, and 8 shall have the Medicaid percent of occupied bed days to be at least 60% of all occupied bed days adjusted quarterly to qualify for the Medicaid Access Adjustment. Provides that the remaining facilities shall have their threshold remain at 70%.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, elected and appointed supervisors of assessments who began a term of office on or after December 1, 2026, beginning December 1, 2029 shall be paid a salary in an amount equal to 80% of the amount paid to the State's Attorney of the county that employs the elected or appointed supervisor of assessments. Amends the Counties Code and the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that, beginning December 1, 2026, the compensation of a coroner, a county treasurer, a county clerk, a recorder, an auditor, or a clerk of a circuit court shall be equal to 80% of the amount paid to the State's Attorney of the coroner's, county treasurer's, county clerk's, recorder's, or auditor' s county. Provides that, the State must pay 66 2/3% of each officer's annual salary. Provides that, beginning with fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027, the county clerk, recorder, auditor, coroner, and treasurer of each county, and the chief clerk of each county board of election commissioners, shall receive a stipend in the amount of $12,800, adjusted annually.