Sen. Chris Balkema

Amends the Election Code. Requires Voter Identification Cards for those who do not have acceptable photo identification. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning electioneering at voting precincts, provides that electioneering includes the distribution of food or drinks to voters. Provides that each election authority shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration for an election until the 7th day before the election (currently, the day of the election). Provides that a polling place shall not be located in any residential building, including, but not limited to, an apartment or dormitory. Provides that election authorities shall establish vote centers in at least 2 locations. Specifies the locations where vote centers shall be located. Provides that each election authority shall keep a secure record of the number of ballots printed and distributed to the judges of election at each polling place of each precinct or district. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall develop standards that each election authority shall implement for the 2026 general primary election, and all subsequent elections, to count and track the number of ballots printed and distributed. Removes provisions allowing voters to apply for permanent vote by mail status. Removes a provision that authorizes election authorities to maintain one or more secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Provides that the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days (rather than 14 calendar days) of the day after the election. Provides that specified vote by mail ballots returned to an election authority shall be counted on or before the 7th day after the election. Provides that any person who, during an early voting period, gathers on behalf of another and submits to an election authority more than 3 vote by mail ballots shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Makes other changes.

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall immediately inform a victim of the early release of the prisoner from State custody or of the prisoner's pardon, commutation, furlough, or granting of sentence credit, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that when the defendant has been found guilty but mentally ill and is granted early release, pardon, commutation, or furlough, the Prisoner Review Board immediately shall notify the victim, if the victim has previously requested notification of that information. Provides that the notification shall be based upon the most recent information as to the victim's residence or other location available to the Board. Provides that when no such information is available, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain the information and make the notification. Provides that this notification requirement is in addition to any notification requirements pursuant to any other statewide victim notification systems. Provides that the Board must document notification efforts if the victim alleges lack of notification.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it shall be a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Defines "electronic communication device".

Recognizes Caterpillar Inc. on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Commends the company for its remarkable achievements, enduring legacy, and continued contributions to the economy, society, and the global community.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois to prepare and implement a defined contribution plan by July 1, 2027 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts that are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant may elect to participate in the defined contribution plan instead of the defined benefit plan and may also elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account under the defined contribution plan. Provides that a person who first becomes an employee after the effective date of the amendatory Act is not required to participate in the System as a condition of employment. Provides that, if a person who made the election to participate in the defined contribution plan terminates service and thereafter returns to service, he or she may either elect to participate in the defined contribution plan with regard to that service or not elect to participate in the defined contribution plan with regard to that service. Provides that an employee may elect not to participate in the System by notifying the System in writing in a manner specified by the System. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes conforming and other changes. Makes related changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Includes, in the minimum curriculum for police training schools, training in investigating domestic minor sex trafficking. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that a child shall be considered abused regardless of the perpetrator of the abuse if the child is a human trafficking victim. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides for immediate expungement of juvenile court and law enforcement records of minors who are human trafficking victims involved in prostitution. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Deletes a provision that provides that commercial sexual activity and sexually-explicit performances are forms of activities that are "services" under the human trafficking statute. Provides that involuntary sexual servitude of a minor includes purchasing sexual services of the minor whether from the trafficker or minor. Provides that it is not a defense to involuntary sexual servitude of a minor that the accused reasonably believed the trafficking victim to be 18 years of age or over. Eliminates other mistake of age defenses concerning grooming and patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution. Provides that a person who is a victim of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor is deemed a crime victim and is eligible for protections afforded to crime victims. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to permit a motion to vacate an adjudication of delinquency of a human trafficking victim who engaged in prostitution. Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Makes violations concerning trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and related offenses registrable offenses under the Act. Amends the Crime Victims Compensation Act to provide that a trafficking victim who is under 18 years of age is not subject to the filing requirements of the Act and is not subject to the eligibility requirements of the Act.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Auditing Law of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that certain provisions concerning audit requirements shall become inoperable in fiscal year 2026. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, if a municipality has a population of 1,000 or more, then the municipality shall file annually with the Comptroller an audit report and annual financial report. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, a municipality with a population of less than 1,000 shall file annually with the Comptroller an annual financial report. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, a municipality with a population of less than 1,000 that owns or operates public utilities or has bonded debt shall file an audit report once every 4 years unless the latest audit report filed with the Comptroller contains an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. Provides that, if the audit report contains an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, then the municipality shall file an audit report annually until the audit report shows no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. Provides that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, municipalities shall submit completed audit reports and annual financial reports within 180 days after the close of such fiscal year, unless an extension is granted by the Comptroller in writing.

Amends the Property Owned By Noncitizens Act. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in public or private land in the State. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity in violation of the provisions has 2 years to divest of the public or private land, and if a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity does not divest the public or private land, the Attorney General shall commence an action in the circuit court within the jurisdiction of the public or private land. Provides that a prohibited foreign party shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in agricultural land in the State regardless of whether the prohibited foreign party intends to use the agricultural land for nonfarming purposes. Provides that a prohibited foreign party who is a resident alien of the United States shall have the right to acquire and hold agricultural land in the State upon the same terms as a citizen of the United States during the continuance of his or her residence in the State, but if a prohibited foreign party is no longer a resident alien, he or she shall have 2 years to divest of the agricultural land, and that if the prohibited foreign party does not divest of the agricultural land as required, the Attorney General shall commence an action in circuit court within the jurisdiction of the agricultural land. Provides that violation of the provisions by either a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity or a prohibited foreign party owning agricultural land shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 4 felony punishable by not more than 2 years imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections or a $15,000 fine, or both. Creates the Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to collect and analyze information concerning the unlawful sale or possession of agricultural land by prohibited foreign parties and administer and enforce the provisions of the Act.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that the amount of the taxes imposed under the Act shall be reduced in each year by 20%. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after January 1, 2030 or for transfers occurring on or after January 1, 2030. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.