Sen. Christopher Belt

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for one crib and one car seat for each postpartum individual covered under the policy. Provides that the postpartum individual must be covered by the insurance policy at the time of child birth and must submit a claim within 6 months after the birth. Provides that the insurer must either reimburse the postpartum individual for the purchase of an approved crib and car seat upon submission of a valid receipt or provide a car seat and crib to the postpartum individual that complies with all federal and State safety standards. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective January 9, 2026.

Amends the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of one week (5 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to grieve the death of a covered companion animal. Provides that, in the event of the death of more than one covered companion animal in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to a total of 2 weeks (10 work days) of bereavement leave during the 12-month period. Defines "companion animal". Makes conforming changes.

Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution passed by the Illinois Senate to honor Dr. Obie Rush following his death on August 26, 2024. It expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and community, recognizing his 50-year pastoral service at St. Paul Baptist Church in East St. Louis and his founding of community organizations like Ministers United Against Human Suffering. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, extending sympathy rather than enacting new law.

Creates the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning registration requirements for persons providing commercial financing; additional registration information; registration expiration; functions, power, and duties; subpoena power of the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; disclosure requirements; commercial financing disclosure forms approved for use in other states; violation of disclosure requirements; notification; suspension of registrations, civil penalties, and other discipline; investigation of complaints; confidentiality; appeal and review; registration fees; cease and desist orders; injunctions; exemptions; complaint disclosure; rules; violations; limitations on liability; beginning of registration; beginning of disclosure requirements; severability; and a commercial financing database. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Repeals the definition of "supplier" and related provisions in the Motor Fuel Tax Law that establish various requirements for suppliers. Repeals a provision that prohibits a person other than a licensed distributor from acting as a supplier of special fuel within the State. Changes the definitions of "distributor" and "receiver".

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Michael C. Fordson, a resident of Belleville who passed away in December 2024. The bill formally records his service as a U.S. Army Reserve member, a retired major in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and a dedicated community volunteer. It expresses the state's condolences to his family and directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to them as a gesture of sympathy.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act. Provides that the KIND Act creates the statutory vision and authority for the Department of Children and Family Services to execute a kin-first approach to service delivery and directs the juvenile courts to provide necessary oversight of the Department's obligations to maintain family connections and promote equitable opportunities for youth and families to thrive with relational permanence. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Contains provisions concerning Department rules on relative, kinship, and licensed foster care; grants to subsidized guardians of hard-to-place children; a requirement on the Department to make reasonable efforts to place a child with a relative; documentation of the Department's reasons for failing to secure a relative placement; foster care maintenance payments for relatives who qualify for certification as a kinship caregiver home; subsidized guardianship support services for children and their guardians; certification and background checks on relative caregivers; annual reports regarding relative and kinship care placements; performance audits; and other matters. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Requires the Department to adopt standards for certifying kinship caregiver family homes that are different from licensing standards used for non-relative foster family homes. Contains provisions concerning background screenings of prospective kinship caregivers; a requirement that the Department assist relatives and prospective kinship caregivers with completing the steps required for approval as a kinship caregiver home; orientation activities for prospective kinship caregivers; Guardianship Assistance Program payments and services for relative caregivers; and other matters. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes changes to provisions concerning "best interest" determinations; emergency placement of a minor with a willing relative pending a temporary custody hearing; court assessments on the Department's effort to place a minor with a relative; court ordered family-finding efforts; required notification to a minor's located relatives that the minor has been removed from the custody of the minor's parents; and other matters. Effective immediately.

Creates the Nonopioid Alternatives for Pain Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for pain treatment. Provides that a health care practitioner shall exercise professional judgment in selecting appropriate treatment modalities for pain in accordance with specified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the use of nonopioid alternatives whenever nonopioid alternatives exist. Requires a health care practitioner who prescribes an opioid drug to provide certain information to the patient, discuss certain topics, and document the reasons for the prescription. Requires the Department to develop a nonopioid directive form for patients. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions, execution of a nonopioid directive, opioid administration to a patient with a nonopioid directive, and limitations of liability. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that when a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, it shall be unlawful for a health insurance issuer to deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or to require the patient to try an opioid prescription drug before providing coverage. Provides that in establishing and maintaining its drug formulary, a health insurance issuer shall ensure that no nonopioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain shall be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that whenever a licensed health care practitioner prescribes a nonopioid medication for the treatment of acute pain, neither the Department of Healthcare and Family Services nor a managed care organization shall deny coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug in favor of an opioid prescription drug or require a patient to try an opioid prescription drug prior to providing coverage of the nonopioid prescription drug. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Specifies that the notice in contested case hearings must include an enclosure that notifies the recipient of the ability to request interpretive assistance for the hearing and to receive language assistance in translating the contents of the notice. Provides that an administrative law judge has the duty to inquire and determine whether a self-represented litigant or witness in a hearing needs interpretive assistance to participate in or understand the hearing. Authorizes any self-represented litigant, witness, or indigent person to request, at any time during the course of a hearing, interpretive assistance needed to participate in or understand the hearing. Provides that, if interpretive assistance is requested by a self-represented litigant, a witness, or an indigent person or if interpretive assistance is determined to be necessary by the administrative law judge, the administrative agency must appoint a foreign language interpreter at no cost to the person in need of the assistance for use in a substantive hearing. Authorizes an administrative agency to provide interpretive assistance during a nonsubstantive hearing through use of an interpreter who is not a foreign language interpreter, provided the administrative law judge examines the interpreter for competency for the purposes of the nonsubstantive hearing. Requires all persons appointed to provide interpretive assistance in substantive and nonsubstantive hearings to make certain affirmations. Contains provisions concerning waiver of these language assistance provisions.