Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to issue a notification to public officials when a hospital, medical facility, nursing home, rehabilitation center, or any other health care facility licensed by the State fails any kind of federally required or State-required inspection or fails to pay State taxes. Provides that the Department shall publish a report quarterly, on a publicly accessible website, of all hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and any other health care facilities licensed by the State that have failed any kind of federally required or State-required inspection or failed to pay State taxes.

Creates the Make Polluters Pay Act. Amends the Drug Take-Back Act. Provides that any person who violates the act is liable for a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $7,000). Amends the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act. Provides that any person who violates the Act is liable for a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $7,000) Amends the Paint Stewardship Act. Provides that any person who violates the Act is liable for a civil penalty of $10,000 (rather than $7,000).

Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 12 (rather than grade 2), other than for diagnostic purposes. Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 12 (rather than grade 2). Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that all institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall not deny the distribution of original physical mail to committed persons after such incoming mail has undergone inspection and it has been determined that the mail does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility, personnel of the Department, or committed persons. Defines "threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility".

Urges the 119th United States Congress to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Urges Congress to implement an orderly and just transfer of essential and basic legally required functions in a manner that upholds values of due process, equality under the law, and family unity upon or before the abolition of ICE.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires 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 to cover up to 12 mental health provider visits per plan year, with no visitation restrictions, if a local or State emergency is declared due to immigration enforcement activity and the insured has experienced loss, trauma, or displacement due to such activity. Provides that the coverage shall not be subject to deductibles, copayments, or other forms of cost sharing. Effective immediately.

Designates the part of U.S. Route 14 that is within the State of Illinois and is known as the Northwest Highway as the Ronald Reagan Highway, with the exception of the portion of U.S. Route 14 that lies between Broadway and Ridge Avenue (also known as Ridge Boulevard).

Recognizes Adwa Day on the 130th anniversary of the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 2026, as it serves as a source of inspiration for all freedom-loving people in the State of Illinois and for generations to come. Recognizes Ethiopian women for their instrumental involvement in the Battle of Adwa, whose actions secured their country's freedom and independence.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the offense of methamphetamine trafficking may be tried in any county. Permits the Attorney General to authorize certain eavesdropping requests from law enforcement. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Permits the Attorney General or an Assistant Attorney General authorized by the Attorney General to authorize an application to a circuit judge or an associate judge assigned by the Chief Judge of the circuit for, and such judge may grant in conformity with the Judicial Supervision of the Use of Eavesdropping Devices Article of the Code, an order authorizing or approving the use of an eavesdropping device by a law enforcement officer or agency having the responsibility for the investigation of any felony under Illinois law where any one party to a conversation to be monitored, or previously monitored in the case of an emergency situation, has consented to such monitoring. Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Provides that a Statewide Grand Jury may investigate, indict, and prosecute theft, retail theft, Internet offenses, continuing financial crimes enterprise, vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, vehicular invasion, burglary, residential burglary, and home invasion if the offense involves acts occurring in more than one county of the State.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a county opting out of the special assessment programs to reduce the assessed value of certain residential real property shall not disqualify or shorten the maximum eligibility periods for any property approved to receive a reduced valuation prior to the county opting out. Requires that the special assessment programs be available to all qualifying residential real property regardless of whether or not the property has or is currently receiving any other public financing or subsidies or subject to any regulatory agreements with any public entity, or both. If an owner is approved for the reduced valuation prior to December 31, 2037 and the provisions are not subsequently extended, this shall not disqualify or shorten the maximum eligibility periods for any property approved to receive a reduced valuation. Provides that, if the chief county assessment officer has not created application forms, the chief county assessment officer shall make publicly available and accept applications forms that shall be available to local governments from the Illinois Department of Revenue. If a county Internet website exists, the application materials, as well as any other program requirements used by the county (such as application deadlines, fees, and other procedures required by the application) must be published on that website, otherwise it must be available to the public upon request at the office of the chief county assessment officer. On an annual basis, requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to calculate and make available on its website the minimum per square foot expenditure requirements to be applicable statewide to be eligible for the reduced valuation, which shall include the historical annual expenditure requirements starting with calendar year 2021. Changes reference to improvements to existing residential real property to substantially rehabilitated residential real property. Makes other changes.