Sen. Terri Bryant

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning the Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that for dates of service beginning January 1, 2027, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased by $5.75 to $10.50 per diem. Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, facilities located outside of Rate Areas 6, 7, and 8 shall have the Medicaid percent of occupied bed days to be at least 60% of all occupied bed days adjusted quarterly to qualify for the Medicaid Access Adjustment. Provides that the remaining facilities shall have their threshold remain at 70%.

Amends the River Conservancy Districts Act. Provides that a trustee on a board representing a river conservancy district that embraces Jackson County may be removed for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office by the appropriate appointing presiding officer or officers, without the advice and consent of the corporate authorities, by filing a written order of removal with the appropriate county or municipal clerk or clerks.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that any person who is a registered participant in a competitive shooting event that is sanctioned by a national governing body and held at the World Shooting Complex in the City of Sparta and who is not prohibited by the laws of Illinois, the state of his or her domicile, or the United States from obtaining, possessing, or using a firearm may purchase or obtain ammunition for a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or other long gun at the competitive shooting event.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no member of the State Board of Elections or affiliated person shall contribute, either financially or in services or goods or any other way, to any political party, candidate, or organization engaged in political activity. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Director of Corrections shall approve and shall issue concealed carry cards to all current and retired correctional officers that shall authorize the current or retired correctional officer to carry a concealed firearm off duty. Provides that the Director shall implement annual range qualification days for retirees to maintain their concealed carry cards. Provides that these range dates shall be offered no less than once per month, every month and may include weekends. Provides that the Director may charge a range fee of no more than $30 from each retiree for annual qualification. Provides that the proceeds from these fees shall be used to improve institutional firearms range facilities and training Department correctional officers. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall issue a retiree identification card to all employees at the conclusion of their employment at the Department of Corrections. Establishes information that must be placed on the cards. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act and the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" means a ground-mounted photovoltaic solar energy system that meets the following criteria: (1) the applicable farm plan and the system have been intentionally designed with agricultural producers, agrivoltaics experts, or both agricultural producers and agrivoltaics experts; (2) the system is constructed, installed, and operated to achieve an integrated and simultaneous production of both solar energy and current or future marketable agricultural products, including all products and activities described in the definition of "production agriculture" in the Use Tax Act and apiaries if the apiary is paired with another qualifying marketable agricultural product, by an agricultural producer; (3) the agricultural production of the system occur on land beneath or between rows of solar panels; and (4) the agricultural production of the system begins as soon as agronomically feasible and optimal for the agricultural producer after the commercial operation date of the solar panels and continues until decommissioning. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" does not include a system that has a pollinator habitat as the sole dual use of the system.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for a taxpayer that makes a qualified donation of real property during the taxable year to an employer that will use the property for the purpose of providing onsite child care to its employees. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to the fair market value of the property, as determined by the Department of Revenue by rule.

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that a lobbyist or lobbying entity may not promise anything of value to an official, State employee, or a candidate for a State executive or State legislative office for the person's support, action, or inaction for a specific legislative action or executive action, including, but not limited to, campaign contributions, endorsement of candidacy, or any in-kind contributions supporting an official, State employee, or candidate for a State executive or State legislative office. Prohibits a lobbyist or lobbying entity from soliciting an official or State employee to violate similar provisions of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents the making or accepting of voluntary contributions otherwise in accordance with law.

Maddy summaryHB 2044 amends the Freedom of Information Act. The bill makes a technical change to a specific section that concerns the short title of the Act.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Vehicle Use Tax Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the taxes under those Acts do not apply to a motor vehicle that is registered in the State to an Illinois resident who acquired the vehicle while the Illinois resident was stationed outside of this State as an active duty member of the military.