Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that nothing in the Eviction Article may be construed to: (i) prohibit law enforcement officials from enforcing the offense of criminal trespass under the Criminal Code of 1963 or any other violation of the Code; or (ii) to interfere with the ability of law enforcement officials to remove persons or property from the premises when there is a criminal trespass.

Urges the State of Illinois to make needed investments in Illinois communities by raising $6 billion in new revenue from the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations. Affirms that, in addition to funding these critically-needed services, implementing these revenue policies will have the benefit of making our State's tax system less unfair to the lowest income Illinoisans.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to create the Consumer Protection from Surprise Health Care Billing Act. Provides that, on or after July 1, 2025, notwithstanding any other applicable provision, when a beneficiary, insured, or enrollee receives services from a nonparticipating ground ambulance service provider, the health insurance issuer shall ensure that the beneficiary, insured, or enrollee shall incur no greater out-of-pocket costs than the beneficiary, insured, or enrollee would have incurred with a participating ground ambulance service provider. Provides that any cost-sharing requirements shall be applied as though the services provided by the nonparticipating ground ambulance service provider had been provided by a participating ground ambulance service provider. Sets forth provisions concerning payment for ground ambulance services; calculating the recognized amount; limitations for the cost sharing amount for any occurrence in which a ground ambulance service is provided to a beneficiary; appeals for payments made by health insurance issuers; the maximum allowable payment amounts, by individual service types, for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned, operated, or controlled by a private organization; and payments to nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned, operated, or controlled, by a unit of government which participates in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation program administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the failure by a health insurance issuer to comply with the specified requirements constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and enforcement authority is granted to the Attorney General. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make corresponding changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, for the purpose of ensuring that there is appropriated to the Agency on an annual basis the funding necessary to address the risk to public health and safety caused by emerging drinking water contaminants that have the potential to threaten drinking water supplies in the State, there is hereby appropriated, on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Agency, the amount, if any, by which the total appropriation to the Agency from the General Revenue Fund for that fiscal year for that express purpose is less than $5,000,000.

Appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for continued funding to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program. Requires each public university in the direct admission program to identify and provide its grade point average standards for general admission for first time admission and for transfer students to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 of each year. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall use data collected from school districts to determine which students meet the standards for general admission and provide the data to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the State Board of Education, shall develop, in consultation with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a preselection outreach campaign to encourage qualifying State high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Requires the Board of Higher Education to submit a report on the direct admission program and the preselection outreach campaign to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029 and each August 1 thereafter. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to provide access to high school student directory information and each student's email address and grade point average to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and each public institution of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities.

Appropriates $18,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security for deposit into the IEMA State Projects Fund for grants and operational expenses associated with the administration of Illinois’ Not-For-Profit Security Grant Program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1901 is an appropriation bill that allocates funds to the Department of Transportation. Specifically, it provides $575,000,000 for expenses associated with the Statewide Railway Program. This funding measure is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of making grants under the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program authorized by the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. Effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1863 appropriates $90,000,000 to the Department of Transportation. These funds are specifically designated to support various passenger rail services. The bill aims to provide financial resources for the operation or development of rail transport options, directly affecting the state's transportation infrastructure and rail users. This appropriation will become effective on July 1, 2025.