Sen. Jason Plummer

Condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel, expresses deepest sorrow to all innocent people impacted by this terrorist attack and for all the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza, calls for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the region, demands the release of the hostages being held by Hamas, prays for all deployed Americans, and opposes all organizations that use terror as a tactic, victimize innocent civilians, and intentionally undermine peace throughout the world.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Provides that the Commission shall only issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a public utility operating or located within the State or to a company with a fossil fuel-based power generator. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules concerning the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for the construction, purchase, or lease of small modular nuclear reactors. Provides requirements for the Commission to follow when adopting rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors. Provides that the Commission may adopt emergency rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors.

Designates the new Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River along Illinois Route 150 and Missouri Route 51 as the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge".

Amends the Electric Cooperatives And Municipal Systems Article of the Public Utilities Act. Allows an electric cooperative organized to provided rural electric power to provide broadband service by using an easement owned, held, or used by the electric cooperative. Requires the electric cooperative to provide notice to the property owner on which the easement is located 3 months prior to beginning construction on the easement that the electric cooperative intends to use the easement for broadband purposes.

Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that the Invest in Kids credit applies on a permanent basis. Removes a limitation that the credit may not be taken for any qualified contribution for which the taxpayer claims a federal income tax deduction. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, notwithstanding other specified county property leasing provisions, upon majority vote, the county board may lease farmland acquired or held by the county for any term not exceeding 99 years. Provides that farmland may be leased to either public or private entities for the public purpose of financially supporting the operations of the government at any time or times and on any terms and conditions that the county board deems best for the interest of the county, including, but not limited to, crop-sharing arrangements. Effective immediately.

Amends the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act. Allows a parent who consents to the performance upon his or her child of a health care service to request to inspect and copy the child's records or any part thereof so long as it is related to the health care service the parent consented to. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Allows the personal representative under HIPAA of a recipient to request to inspect and copy a recipient's record or any part thereof, regardless of the age of the recipient.

Amends the State Finance Act. Adds uses for which the Partners for Conservation Fund and the Partners for Conservation Projects Fund may be used, and adds amounts that will be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Partners for Conservation Fund until 2033 (rather than ending in 2023). Provides that the Partners for Conservation Fund is eligible to receive grants, gifts, and awards from any public or private entity for the purpose of expanding financial and technical assistance in order to advance nutrient loss reduction efforts within priority watersheds. Amends the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act. Defines terms. Creates the Illinois Healthy Soils and Watersheds Initiative to improve the health of soils and the function of watersheds through efforts that support the implementation of the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, reduce nutrient loss, improve soil and water quality, protect drinking water, increase the resilience of ecosystems to extreme weather events, protect and improve agricultural productivity, and support aquatic and wildlife habitat. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall adopt and revise guidelines to assist soil and water conservation districts in determining local goals and needs for implementing soil health and watershed conservation projects consistent with the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Provides that, after the Department has adopted its guidelines, each soil and water conservation district shall develop its own goals and needs assessment to guide implementation of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Includes provisions about compliance and standards cost sharing, Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy alignment for State-owned, State-managed, and State-leased agricultural lands, and Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy reports. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.