Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.

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.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In a provision concerning coverage for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions, requires certain insurers to ensure, prior to policy issuance, that there is no limit on the number of visits per week for outpatient mental health treatment.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides for the election (rather than appointment) of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago beginning with the 2027 consolidated election. Provides that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 trustee districts by the General Assembly for seats on the board of trustees, in addition to one at-large trustee. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a health insurance issuer or a contracted utilization review organization may not require prior authorization for preventive health services recommended by a health care professional. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a policy of group health insurance coverage or individual health insurance coverage shall, at a minimum, provide coverage and shall not require prior authorization or impose any cost-sharing requirements, including a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible, for specified preventive health services. Effective January 1, 2027.

Creates the Prescription Drug Purchasing Task Force Act. Creates a Prescription Drug Purchasing Task Force in the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to study the different ways that other states are using multi-state prescription drug purchasing pools to increase the State's negotiating power and lower prices for patients. Provides for duties of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that, on or before July 31, 2026, the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and to the Governor. Provides that the Prescription Drug Purchasing Task Force is abolished and the Act is repealed on January 1, 2027.

Creates the Insurance Rate Transparency Law as an Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, each insurer offering automobile and homeowners insurance policies in Illinois shall maintain a publicly accessible website displaying a summary of the annual percentage increase or decrease in premium rates for homeowners insurance policies and automobile insurance policies. Requires the website to display the rate-change data for the previous 5 years, updated annually by no later than January 31 of each year, and specified other data. Sets forth provisions concerning the format of the renewal notice; enforcement of the requirements by the Department of Insurance; penalties; and rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Creates the Paper Waste Reduction Act. Sets forth limits on the amount of junk mail a for-profit corporation, association, limited liability company, partnership, not-for-profit organization, or other legal entity shall send or cause to be sent to a person residing in the State. Provides that a violation of any of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act making to make a conforming change.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a park district, city, village, or incorporated town to decrease the speed limit within an urban district, but not to less than 10 (rather than 20) miles per hour. Allows a park district, city, village, or incorporated town to decrease the speed limit within a residence district, not to less than 15 (rather than 25) miles per hour. Provides that the difference in limit between adjacent altered speed zones shall not be more than 15 (rather than 10) miles per hour.