Expresses strong support for the initiative to reprogram USDA funds allocated to Puerto Rico toward purchasing locally grown items in Puerto Rico. Urges the United States Congress to endorse and implement this initiative in recognition of its potential to foster economic growth, promote sustainability, enhance resilience, and enrich cultural heritage.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws governing public libraries in Illinois to prohibit limiting access to or purchasing books based on their depiction of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or human rights activism. It directly affects public library boards, staff, and library systems by establishing new rules that prevent censorship of specific subject matters while allowing restrictions for public safety or age-appropriateness. The legislation ensures that library collections remain inclusive by explicitly forbidding bans on biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs that cover these topics.
Creates the Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act. Provides that any person doing business in this State, or any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or any other entity, may erect, maintain, and operate a natural organic reduction facility in the State and provide the necessary appliances and facilities for the natural organic reduction of human remains in accordance with the Act. Provides that an individual or a person, cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or other entity may reduce human remains only in a natural organic reduction facility operated by a disposition authority licensed for this purpose and only under the limitations provided in the Act. Provides for: grounds for denial or discipline; surrender of a license; license, display, transfer; authorizing agent; authorization for natural organic reduction; performance of natural organic reduction services, training; recordkeeping; natural organic reduction procedures; disposition of reduced human remains; limitation of liability; hazardous implants; penalties; failure to file an annual report; injunctive action, cease and desist order; service of notice; investigations, notice and hearing; compelling testimony; administrative review, venue, certification of record, costs; and preneed of natural organic reduction arrangements.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board that decides to offer to the school district's teachers a retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may enter into a contract with only one vendor to administer the plan. Provides that a vendor shall be selected, with the approval of the teachers' exclusive bargaining representative, if any, through a competitive bidding process. Provides that the school board may enter into a contract with the vendor for no more than 5 years.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Early Childhood Education Act to establish a framework for early childhood education in Illinois. A specific provision within the legislation ensures that the rights, benefits, and employment status of state employees and their agencies remain unchanged by the new act. It explicitly states that the law does not affect existing personnel codes, labor relations, collective bargaining agreements, or pension plans. The bill was signed into law and became effective on June 25, 2024, with some provisions taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Manufacturing Mentorship Program to be administered by the Department of Labor for the purpose of exposing minors who are 17 years of age to manufacturing occupations in the State through temporary employment with an employer. Provides for educational and training requirements that an employer must satisfy to ensure the safety of minors. Provides that the Director of Labor, in consultation with employers, shall adopt rules specifying a list of the tools that a minor who is employed under the program may operate during the minor's employment in a manufacturing occupation. Amends the Child Labor Law. Provides that nothing in the Act applies to the employment of a minor, 17 years of age, in a manufacturing occupation under the Manufacturing Mentorship Program. Effective July 1, 2024.
Creates the Small Business Truth in Lending Act. Sets forth provisions concerning disclosure requirements for sales-based financing, closed-end commercial financing, open-end commercial financing, factoring transactions, renewal financing, and other forms of financing. Provides that all commercial financing shall include a clear and conspicuous notice on how to file a complaint with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that the Department may adopt rules. Provides that upon a finding by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation that a provider has violated the provisions or rules, the provider shall be ordered to pay the Department a civil penalty for each violation of the provisions or any rule not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or if a violation is willful, $20,000 for each violation. Sets forth provisions concerning cease and desist orders, injunctions, investigation and examination, civil actions, violations, and registration. Provides that a violation of the provisions constitutes an unlawful practice in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Makes a conforming change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the senior citizens homestead exemption, permanently removes the requirement to reapply for the exemption in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants (currently, that requirement was eliminated only for taxable years 2019 through 2023). In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, provides that, if the county board passes a resolution removing the requirement to reapply for the exemption, the chief county assessment official shall conduct, by no later than December 31 of the first year of each reassessment cycle, an audit of all senior citizen homestead exemptions granted for the preceding reassessment cycle.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Creates the Driver and Motor Vehicle Records Data Privacy Law. Provides that the purpose is to comply with the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 in order to protect the interest of individuals in their personal privacy by prohibiting the disclosure and use of personal information contained in their motor vehicle record, except as authorized by the individual or by law. Adds provisions concerning: disclosure of social security number; confidentiality of captured photographs, signatures, and images; confidentiality of documents submitted with applications for driver's licenses and vehicle transactions; restrictions on use of information for immigration enforcement; disclosure with consent; permitted disclosures; fees; commercial requesters; access agreements; audits; redisclosures; prohibitions and violations; data system security breaches; procedural safeguards; and rules. Repeals provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code regarding confidentiality of captured photographs and images; confidentiality of documents submitted with an application for a driver's license; restrictions on use of information; and sale and distribution of information.
Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may establish and administer a non-profit investment pool to supplement and enhance investment opportunities otherwise available to not-for-profit corporations in the State. Provides that the Treasurer may receive funds paid into the pool for the purpose of holding and investing those funds. Provides for surety bonds payable to not-for-profit corporations who participate in the pool. Makes changes to provisions concerning the direct deposit of State payments. Amends the Accountability for the Investment of Public Funds Act. Provides that the Treasurer shall adopt rules for the efficient administration of the pool. Provides that each State agency shall make available on the Internet, and update at least monthly, no later than the end of each month (rather than by the 15th of the month), sufficient information concerning the investment of any public funds held by that State agency to identify specified information. Effective immediately.
