Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a nursing student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing program. Sets forth provisions concerning application for a stipend, the amount of the stipend, the pre-licensure nursing program cost, the distribution of funds, information on the stipend program, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public high school shall require a unit of instruction addressing climate change in either a required science class or a required social studies class. Sets forth what the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee, shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public high school shall include instruction on climate change and the impacts and causes of climate change in grades 9 through 12 in specified courses. Provides that the State Board of Education shall convene a working group of students, educators, and experts in the area of climate change. Sets forth the membership of the working group. Sets forth tasks for the working group concerning State learning standards. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Prohibits a landlord from charging a prospective tenant an application screening fee if the prospective tenant provides a reusable tenant screening report that meets the following criteria: (i) the report was prepared within the previous 30 days by a consumer credit reporting agency at the request and expense of a prospective tenant; (ii) the report is made directly available to a landlord for use in the rental application process or is provided through a third-party website that regularly engages in the business of providing a reusable tenant screening report and complies with all state and federal laws pertaining to use and disclosure of information contained in a consumer report by a consumer credit reporting agency; and (iii) the report is available to the landlord at no cost to access or use.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Certified Medication Aide Program to regulate individuals who assist with medication administration in long-term care facilities. It creates a certification process requiring applicants to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and pass an examination administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Facilities participating in the program must ensure a registered nurse is present at all times to supervise these aides and certify that hiring them will not replace existing nursing staff. The law also restricts certified aides from administering certain types of medications, such as controlled substances or injections, and imposes civil penalties on those who practice without certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as HEALTH-TECH, establishes a framework for implementing universal mental health screenings for students in Illinois public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. It requires the State Board of Education to submit a report with implementation recommendations by December 2023 and to release a strategy for measuring district readiness by October 2024, with a final plan due by April 2025. Additionally, the legislation repeals the previous Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act and strengthens protections for Medicaid enrollees by ensuring managed care organizations cover emergency services without requiring prior approval and by setting specific rules for post-stabilization care payments.

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that all State agencies engaged in any development within a special flood hazard area shall comply with all requirements of applicable federal and State law. Requires additional specified requirements to apply to State agencies engaged in any development within a special flood hazard area. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt an administrative rule setting forth a program to ensure certain requirements via the issuance of permits prior to any State agency development within a special flood hazard area. Provides that grants or loans administered by State agencies for financing a development within special flood hazard area shall inform participants in their programs of the existence and location of special flood hazard areas and of any State or local floodplain requirements that are in effect in such areas. Requires State agencies that are responsible for regulating or permitting a development within special flood hazard areas to inform participants in their programs of the existence and location of special flood hazard areas and of any State or local floodplain requirements that are in effect in such areas. Requires State agencies that are engaged in planning programs or programs for the promotion of development to inform participants in their programs of the existence and location of special flood hazard areas and of any State or local floodplain requirements that are in effect in such areas. Requires the Department to provide available flood hazard information to assist State agencies in complying with the established requirements.

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Secretary of State shall establish an electronic registry, to be known as the Advance Directive Registry, through which residents of the State of Illinois may deposit, with the Secretary of State, a completed Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form. Specifies that information in the Advance Directive Registry shall be made available to hospitals licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act and hospitals organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Authorizes hospitals to rely on information obtained from the Advance Directive Registry as an accurate copy of the documents filed with the Advance Directive Registry. Directs the Secretary of State to adopt any rules necessary to implement the amendatory Act and to provide information on the Secretary of State's website regarding use of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Secretary of State and employees of the Secretary of State are immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with the creation and maintenance of the Advance Directive Registry. Provides that a person who knowingly submits a document to the Advance Directive Registry without authorization or assists in such submission shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that the board of managers of a condominium shall adopt a policy to reasonably accommodate a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires an accessible parking space to ensure that person has access to the building. Provides that for an association that sells parking spaces, if an owner of an accessible parking space is unable to sell the accessible parking space to a qualified user, the board of managers shall purchase the parking space for fair market value and ensure that the space remains available to persons with disabilities who require an accessible parking space. Provides that a unit owner who is a person with a disability who requires an accessible parking space may bring a civil action against the board of managers to compel the board of managers to provide an accessible parking space. Provides that a prevailing unit owner is entitled to attorney's fees and court costs.

Creates the Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant plan for the preservation and enhancement of forests, prairies, and wetlands in Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to the comprehensive plan and subject to appropriation, shall establish and administer a Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program to restore degraded forest lands and native prairies, and to promote the growth of native vegetation that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to mitigate the impact of climate change. Provides that units of local government are eligible to submit a grant proposal in a format and at a time prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that grants may be used by units of local government to fund: (1) local projects restoring or expanding forests, wetlands, prairies, or other natural landscapes demonstrated to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; (2) education and marketing regarding local projects or steps community members may take to promote the growth of native vegetation that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; and (3) any other purpose approved by the Department of Natural Resources that advances the State goal that there be no overall net loss of the State's existing forest, prairie, or wetland acres or their functional value due to State-supported activities. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Large Event Recycling and Composting Law. Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2025, an owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,000 persons and that receives funding from the State of Illinois shall participate in the recycling program established by the county in which the event facility is located and shall send recyclable materials to a recycling center. Defines "event facility".