Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Establishes reimbursement rates for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for all group or individual policies of accident and health insurance or managed care plans that are amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 or for any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer. Requires a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 or any contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer to cover certain medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. Provides that, if the Department of Insurance determines that an insurer or a contracted third party administering the behavioral health benefits for the insurer has violated a provision concerning mental health and substance use parity, the Department shall by order assess a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation. Excludes certain health care plans serving Medicaid populations who are enrolled under the Illinois Public Aid Code or under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act from provisions concerning mental health and substance use parity. Requires the Department to review the impact of the proposed mental health and substance abuse mandate on network adequacy for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and access to affordable mental health and substance use care. Permits the Department to examine out-of-network utilization and out-of-pocket costs for insureds for mental health and substance use treatment and services for all plans to compare with in-network utilization. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the School Code to require coverage under those provisions. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SR 149) is a commemorative resolution designating March 12, 2025, as "Jerry Butler Day" in Illinois. It honors Jerry Butler, a renowned soul singer (known as "Iceman"), former Cook County Board member, and health care advocate who passed away on February 20, 2025. The resolution expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and commemorates his legacy in music and public service. As a symbolic gesture, it has no policy impact or direct effect on legislation or constituents.

Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that a full-service restaurant or quick-service restaurant shall not provide single-use plastic disposable foodware items to a consumer ordering or purchasing dine-in food unless requested by the consumer and that plastic drinking straws must be provided when specifically requested. Provides that single-use plastic disposable foodware items that are provided may not be packaged in plastic. Provides that a food dispensing establishment or takeout food delivery service must provide options for a customer to request disposable foodware items separate from the customer's order, with certain requirements. Provides that a full-service restaurant or quick-service restaurant offering condiments may use dispensers rather than prepackaged disposable condiment packets. Provides that a full-service restaurant or quick-service restaurant must post a sign indicating that single-use plastic disposable foodware will be made available upon request or at a self serve station. Provides that a full-service restaurant or quick-service restaurant may make single-use plastic straws available to customers ordering or purchasing dine-in food by making available dispensers or certain other means if a sign is posted encouraging the reduction of the use single-use plastics. Provides for a civil penalty of $25, after a first notice of violation, for each day a full-service restaurant or quick-service restaurant is in violation, paid to the Department of Public Health. Defines terms. Effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2618 allocates $110 million in supplemental funding to Illinois' Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for tourism programs, effective July 1, 2025. It provides $44 million for domestic and international tourism advertising, $2.5 million for outdoor recreation grants, and $1.8 million for tourism attraction development grants. The bill also includes $4.7 million for "Choose Chicago" and $21.5 million for grants to tourism bureaus outside Chicago, with additional funds targeting counties under and over 1 million residents. This funding supports existing tourism promotion and grant programs without creating new policies.

Creates the Temporary Immunity for Child Welfare Agencies Act. Creates immunity from civil liability for a licensed child welfare agency that provides service for youth in foster care for a 2-year period unless the agency's acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton conduct. Provides that the immunity extends to the agency's employees, volunteers, and agents acting within the scope of their employment. Defines a "child welfare agency" to mean a public or private child care facility that receives a child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement or free care of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, adoption-only homes, or other facilities for child care apart from the custody of the child's or children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes (i) all agencies established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes; and (ii) all agencies, persons, groups of persons, organizations, corporations, institutions, centers, or group providing adoption services but does not include a circuit court, appointed juvenile probation officer, or youth counselor of the court who receive and place children under an order of the court. Creates the Child Welfare Agency Liability Task Force to develop and recommend a permanent solution to address the unavailability of liability insurance for child welfare agencies in the State. Requires that the Task Force submit its first report to the General Assembly no later than December 26, 2026. Effective immediately.

Creates the Cat Declawing Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a person may not request or perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws. Authorizes a veterinarian, for a medically necessary and therapeutic purpose, to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or tendonectomy on a cat or otherwise alter a cat's toes, claws, or paws. Contains enforcement provisions. Effective 90 days after becoming law.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Changes the definition of "electric vehicle" by removing language stating that the vehicle is "exclusively" powered by and refuled by electricity, and by removing language stating that it does not include a hybrid electric vehicle. Changes the definition of "electric vehicle charging station" by including a device that is used to provide electricity to a plug-in hybrid.

Amends the Life Care Facilities Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to issue the preliminary certificate of registration, the certificate of registration, or the renewal certificate of registration to a provider or inform the provider of the Department's decision to deny any of the certificates no later than 30 days after the provider submits a completed application. Requires a provider to present the Department with certain materials to receive a certificate of registration, including a reasonable financial plan to provide at-home continuing care services. Provides that a reasonable financial plan provide at-home continuing care services includes execution of 25% of agreements necessary to meet the year-one actuarial forecast for the market to support the program. Sets forth requirements for each person employed by or under a contract with a provider. Requires a provider to comply with the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and the Health Care Worker Background Check Code for each person employed by or under a contract with a provider and who will enter a subscriber's home to provide at-home continuing care service. Requires a provider to check the status of all personnel applicants with the Nurse Aide Registry prior to hiring and shall not hiring any individual who has a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on the Nurse Aide Registry. Provides that, prior to employing or contracting with any individual in a position that requires a State professional license in the health care field, the provider shall check the status of the individual's license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to verify that the individual's license is active.

Creates the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that parents receiving intact family services or reunification services from the Illinois child welfare system have specified rights, including, but not limited to, the right to: (1) be treated with dignity and respect and as a valued member of the child welfare team; (2) be consulted about relative placement options for their children prior to placement in a foster home; (3) be notified and considered as a placement resource, as the noncustodial parent, prior to protective custody; (4) receive timely visitation with their children; (5) be provided a copy of the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act at the time of case opening for intact family services or reunification services; (6) participate in the development of the hair care plan for their child; and other enumerated rights. Effective immediately.

Declares February 7, 2025 as Wear Red Day in the State of Illinois. Urges all residents of Illinois to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in women, and to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by wearing the color red to commemorate this day.