Sen. Chris Balkema

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may offer a firearm safety training course to students in grades 9 through 12, which may include instruction on hunting safety. Provides that if a school district offers the course, a student may not be required to take the course. Provides that if a school board intends to offer a firearm safety training course, it must develop a policy to implement the course and must publish that policy on the district's website.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act to the contrary, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police may not revoke a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a Firearm Owner's Identification Card may only be revoked after a Firearm Owner's Identification Card hearing has been held in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that if the State's Attorney of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked has probable cause to believe that the person who has been issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is no longer eligible for the Card under the Act, the State's Attorney shall file a petition in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that at the hearing, the person may present evidence in his or her favor seeking retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the Illinois State Police and State's Attorney may present evidence for revocation. Provides that the hearing shall be a civil proceeding and subject to due process, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Illinois Rules of Evidence as adopted by the Supreme Court. Provides that the hearing shall be held within 45 days after the filing of the petition. Provides that if the circuit court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is ineligible for retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act, the court shall order the Illinois State Police to immediately revoke the Card and the circuit clerk shall seize the Card and transmit the Card to the Illinois State Police. Establishes procedures for the Illinois State Police to suspend a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Eliminates language providing that no person may acquire or possess firearm ammunition within the State without having in his or her possession a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the provisions of the Act. Eliminates language providing that no person may knowingly transfer, or cause to be transferred, any firearm ammunition to any person within the State unless the transferee with whom the person deals displays either: (1) a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card which has previously been issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the provisions of the Act; or (2) a currently valid license to carry a concealed firearm which has previously been issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prioritize projects that incorporate construction, materials, designs, products, or technologies that increase accessibility and usability beyond the highest standards established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or federal regulations promulgated under that Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules to establish this priority within its grant application review process under the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Effective immediately.

Opposes a progressive income tax in Illinois. Opposes the reconsideration by the Illinois General Assembly of any constitutional amendment intended to change the flat-rate income tax language of subsection (a) of Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution of Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that each unit of local government which imposes or intends to impose impact fees and which has created an Advisory Committee, shall publish the names of the Advisory Committee members names on the public website maintained by the unit of local government, together with a list of the dates and times at which the Advisory Committee has met and provide an electronically accessible copy of the minutes of any such meetings. Removes language providing that if the unit of local government has a planning or zoning commission, the unit of local government may elect to use its planning or zoning commission to serve as the Advisory Committee. Provides that a unit of local government which currently has in effect an impact fee ordinance or resolution shall have not more than 12 months from July 1, 2025 to bring its ordinance or resolution into conformance with the requirements imposed by the Act, except that a home rule unit of local government with a population over 75,000 and located in a county with a population over 600,000 and less than 2,000,000 shall have not more than 18 months from July 1, 2025 to bring that ordinance or resolution into conformance. Provides that any unit of local government which has in effect an impact fee ordinance or resolution on the effective date of the amendatory Act and which has not brought their impact fee ordinance or resolution into compliance by the required date, shall refund all funds previously collected under the impact fee ordinance or resolution together with any interest earned on the same. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Declares April 18, 2025 as Lineworker Appreciation Day in the State of Illinois. Urges all Illinoisans to join the Senate in applauding the hard work, dedication, and bravery of the State's lineworkers.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, beginning June 1, 2027 and subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval to equip and operate light mitigating technology for at least 30% of the proposed wind towers included within a commercial wind energy facility, a county shall require the facility owner of a commercial wind energy facility constructed beginning in 2019 or later to install light mitigating technology at the commercial wind energy facility. Includes requirements when the light mitigating technology must be installed, and allows a facility owner to seek an extension from these requirements from the county board. Provides that a county board may impose civil penalties on the facility owner of a commercial wind energy facility that failed to comply with the requirements in the amount of $1,000 per day. Provides that the provisions do not apply to test wind towers allowed by a county that are used solely for purposes of research and testing.

Amends the Illinois Gas Pipeline Safety Act. Provides that any person who has received a permit from the United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must submit a copy of the permit to the Illinois Commerce Commission within 2 weeks of the approval of the permit. Provides that the copy of the permit shall be publicly available on the Illinois Commerce Commission's website. Provides that any person who intends to engage in the transportation of gas via a pipeline facility or who owns or operates pipeline facilities shall file with the Illinois Commerce Commission a notice prior to the construction of a pipeline facility which shall be publicly available on the Commission's website. Sets forth requirements for the content of the notice. Effective immediately.