Sen. Chris Balkema

Appropriates $700,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership for the purpose of expanding education, outreach, and technical assistance related to employee ownership transitions and supporting small businesses in evaluating and pursuing succession through employee ownership. Effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1050 amends the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995 to correct a reference to the law's short title. It makes a technical change to a specific section of the statute, updating how the law is formally named within its own text. This bill does not change any substantive policy or create new requirements for local governments or taxpayers. It solely addresses a clerical error in the law's designation. (1 sentence, as it is a purely procedural amendment.)

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a National Board certification-early childhood generalist endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a valid Early Childhood Generalist certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Provides that the endorsement holder is deemed qualified and authorized to provide instruction in early childhood education programs and is deemed to meet or exceed all early childhood instructional competency requirements established by the State Board for pre-kindergarten instruction.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to, on or before January 1, 2027, submit a report to the General Assembly regarding the status and availability of agricultural education programs in the State. Effective immediately.

Amends Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a legacy tax credit for businesses that are headquartered in the State. Creates an employee tax credit and a collective bargaining employee tax credit. Effective immediately.

Creates the Dissolution of Special Districts Act. Establishes a method for the dissolution of special districts. Provides that a special district may dissolve upon the affirmative majority vote of its own governing body and the affirmative majority vote of a receiving unit of local government. Provides that, on or before the date of dissolution, all real and personal property, and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving special district shall be transferred to the receiving unit of local government. Provides that, on the date of dissolution, the dissolving special district is dissolved. Provides that, on and after the date of dissolution, all rights and duties of the dissolving special district may be exercised by the receiving unit of local government. Provides that, before the date of dissolution, the receiving unit of local government shall submit a service continuation plan confirming that the receiving unit of local government has the resources to continue providing the services provided by the dissolving special district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that interest shall be paid upon any refund resulting from the overpayment of tax under the Act at the rate set forth under the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act if the overpayment is not refunded within the later of 30 days after the last date prescribed for the filing of a return under the Act or 30 days after the date of the overpayment.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the exclusion amount is $8,000,000. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2028, the exclusion amount shall be adjusted according to the inflation adjustment described in the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that the exclusion amount includes any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount available after a valid election is made under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the exclusion amount shall be the applicable exclusion amount calculated under Section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code as that Section exists on the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the inflation adjustment and including any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount (currently, the exclusion amount for Illinois estate tax purposes is $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, if the retailer or serviceman reports less than $50,000 in sales during the month for which the return is filed, then the vendor's discount for that retailer or serviceman shall be 3.5% (currently, 1.75%) of the amount collected or $5 per calendar year, whichever is greater. Effective immediately.