Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 825 is a memorial resolution that honors the lives of Matthew Alan Siemer and Alica Jean Barks, who passed away in December 2025. The bill formally records the Illinois Senate's condolences and extends sympathy to their families, friends, and communities. It acknowledges their significant contributions to healthcare, specifically their leadership roles at Mobile Care Chicago and the Chicago Women's Health Center, where they helped expand access to care for underserved populations. This resolution serves as an official expression of grief and recognition of their legacy rather than a change in law or policy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the memory of Rachel Gansner, a Chicago resident who passed away in April 2026, and offers condolences to her family and friends. The document highlights her life achievements, including founding the Warren Park Girls Fall Baseball League and establishing the nonprofit Let's Play Too to increase girls' access to baseball. It also notes her legacy of community service and her family's continued involvement in the sports leagues she created. The resolution formally records the Senate's mourning and directs that a copy be presented to her family as a gesture of sympathy.

Amends the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act. Makes changes concerning definitions. Requires a higher education institution's comprehensive policy to include sexual harassment. Provides that a confidential advisor is separate from a complaint advisor, unless a complainant chooses to have the confidential advisor also serve as the complaint advisor. Makes changes to the complaint resolution procedure, including the timeline of the complaint resolution procedure, protective measures and accommodations, the distribution of evidence that includes a private or intentionally digitally altered sexual image, the direct questioning of either party, support persons for survivors and respondents, and the notice of appeal. Provides that violations of the Act are actionable in civil court. Sets forth the relief a prevailing survivor is entitled to. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to make changes concerning confidential advisors. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2027.

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Prohibits a hospital or health care professional from disclosing or threatening to disclose to any other person, entity, or agency information regarding or relating to gender-affirming care of a minor or personally identifiable information regarding a minor receiving gender-affirming care, unless disclosure is in strict accordance with all applicable local, State, and federal law.

Creates the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Establishes a statutory right of first refusal for tenants and tenant associations if an owner seeks to sell a residential rental property in Illinois. Applies to all rental property with 11 exceptions. Allows tenants or a tenant association to purchase the property on the same terms as a third-party offer. Requires owners to provide advance notice of intent to sell no less than 60 days before listing for buildings with 5 or more units and no less than 30 days for buildings with 4 or fewer units. Requires that the notice must include property details, asking price, and a summary of tenant rights. Provides that after receiving a notice of sale, tenants of 5 or more units have 90 days to form a tenant association, for 3-4 units have 30 days; and for 1-2 units, at least one tenant has 15 days to declare intent to exercise the right of first refusal. Provides that tenants must match the third-party offer and provide the owner with a letter of intent of financing or preapproval within 120 calendar days from the date of the notice for 5 or more dwelling units and 60 days for 4 or fewer units. Prohibits the owner from requiring a tenant to pay a deposit of more than 5% of the contract sale price. Provides a civil cause of action and remedies for a violation of the Act. Authorizes the Illinois Housing Development Authority to adopt rules. Makes other changes.

Creates the Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act. Defines "transportation network driver" as an individual who operates a motor vehicle that: (i) is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the individual; (ii) is not a taxicab or for-hire public passenger vehicle; (iii) is used to provide transportation network company services; and (iv) operates under the license of a transportation network company. Provides that transportation network drivers have the right of self-organization, to form, join, or assist transportation network driver organizations, and to bargain collectively. Sets forth provisions concerning unfair work practices; the prevention of unfair work practices; the designation of bargaining representatives; administrative fees; bargaining, impasse resolution procedures, and final determinations by the Department of Labor; applicability of other labor standards; rulemaking; and public records. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Labor Dispute Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Water Use Act of 1983. Provides that the findings concerning a proposed point of withdrawal's effects upon other users of water shall be published on a publicly available website. Provides that each District within any county in Illinois with a population in excess of 10,000 (rather than each district within any county in Illinois with a population in excess of 100,000 through which the Mackinaw River flows) is authorized to recommend to the Department of Agriculture restrictions on groundwater withdrawals. Provides that, if an onsite investigation discloses (1) that the point of withdrawal fails to furnish its normal supply of water, (2) that the failure is caused by a substantial lowering of the level of groundwater in the area, and (3) that the point of withdrawal and its equipment conform to the recommended guidelines of the District issued under subsection (b), the District shall (rather than may) recommend to the Department of Agriculture that the Department restrict the quantity of water that a person may extract from any high-capacity well within the District's boundaries. Provides that the restrictions may be lifted or modified as soon as justified by changed conditions (rather than shall be lifted as soon as justified by changed conditions). Provides that when a District determines that restriction of the withdrawal of water at a particular point within the District is necessary to preserve an adequate water supply for all residents in the District, the District shall (rather than may) recommend to the Department of Agriculture that the Department restrict the quantity of water that may be extracted from any point of withdrawal within the District which is a high-capacity well. Provides that, if the Department disagrees with the District's recommendation, the Department shall (rather than may) propose an alternate recommendation.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that first full week of March each year is designated as Soil Health Week to be observed throughout the State as a week to celebrate and raise awareness regarding the importance of soil health to Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 331 amends the Eminent Domain Act. It makes a technical change to a section within the act that specifies its short title.

Creates the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act. Provides that, after the effective date of the Act, all general operating expenses for public universities shall be distributed by the Board of Higher Education through a funding formula for eligible public institutions and shall be administered by the Board. Defines "eligible public institution". Sets forth provisions concerning the adequacy targets and resource profiles of eligible public institutions. Provides for the distribution of State appropriations and the calculation of the base funding minimum for each eligible public institution. Provides that the Board shall oversee an accountability and transparency framework for assessing the distribution and use of all funds appropriated by the funding formula and evaluating the funds' effects on institutional outcomes pertaining to student affordability, enrollment, persistence, and outcome metrics. Provides for reporting and the establishment of an Accountability and Transparency Committee. Provides that the Board shall establish a Funding Formula Review Panel tasked with studying and reviewing topics pertaining to the implementation and impact of the funding formula. Contains provisions concerning the Board's annual budget request and the collection of data. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Removes certain provisions concerning budget proposals. Effective immediately.