Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Expands the definition of "eligible infants and toddlers" to list infants having a birth weight less than 1,000 grams. Requires the Department of Early Childhood, as the designated lead agency to administer the system of early intervention services on and after July 1, 2026, to develop informational materials and handouts for hospitals to distribute to the parents or legal guardians of severely premature infants, explaining that infants having a birth weight of less than 1,000 grams automatically qualify for early intervention services up until their 3rd birthday. Provides that the informational materials and handouts shall also contain information on the benefits of early intervention services for severely premature infants, the website addresses and phone numbers that parents and legal guardians can access to obtain more information on early intervention services, and the contact information of the early intervention regional intake entity designated to coordinate services for eligible infants. Requires the statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, interagency and interdisciplinary early intervention programs to include in its public awareness program, a special focus on the early identification of infants who automatically qualify for early intervention services on account of having a birth weight less than 1,000 grams. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals to distribute, free of charge, to the parents or legal guardians of each severely premature infant having a birth weight of less than 1,000 grams informational materials and handouts developed by the Department of Early Childhood on the availability of early intervention services for severely premature infants. Requires a nurse or physical therapist to review the proffered materials with the infant's parents or legal guardians prior to discharge and explain that premature infants having a birth weight of less than 1,000 grams automatically qualify for early intervention services up until their 3rd birthday, including speech, physical, occupational, and other therapies.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning third party non-instructional services, allows a board of education to enter into a one-time contract (rather than a contract), of no longer than 3 months in duration, with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member for the purpose of augmenting the current workforce in an emergency situation that threatens the safety or health of the school district's students or staff, provided that the school board meets all of its obligations under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act prior to entering into such a contract (rather than not specifying a time period). Defines "emergency situation". Provides that a board of education that attempts to enter into a contract with a third party for non-instructional services, as specified, more than once during a school year is required to receive the mutual agreement of the affected collective bargaining unit or units. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. Repeals the definition of "client agency" and makes changes in the definitions of "dedicated unit", "State agency", and "transferring agency". Replaces references to "transferring agency" with references to "transferred agency". Makes changes in provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Innovation and Technology, including changes in the scope of services provided by the Department and in the classes of persons to whom those services are to be provided. Authorizes the Department to charge fees for service to all State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor (rather than only client agencies). Repeals from the Department of Innovation and Technology Act and adds to the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act a provision requiring the principal executive officer of specified units of local government to designate a local official or employee as the primary point of contact for local cybersecurity issues. Requires the name and contact information for the specified individual to be provided to the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer. Further amends the Illinois Information Security Improvement Act. Makes changes concerning the duties of the Office of the Statewide Chief Information Security Officer and the Secretary of Innovation and Technology. Changes the definition of "State agency".

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, organization, joint venture, importer, or domestic distributor of firefighting agents or firefighting equipment that sells firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS chemicals to any person, local government, or State agency shall provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale which shall state: (i) that the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS chemicals; and (ii) the reason PFAS chemicals are added to the equipment. Requires the seller and the purchaser of the equipment to retain a copy of the required notice on file for at least 3 years from the date of the purchase. Provides that, upon the request of the Agency, the seller shall furnish the notice, or written copies, and associated sales documentation to the Agency within 60 days of such request. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person that sells firefighting personal protective equipment to any person, local government, or State agency shall not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in the State any firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Defines terms.

Amends the Illinois Credit Union Act. Authorizes a credit union to furnish information to any person on a list submitted and periodically updated by a member who is an elderly person or person with a disability or to specified other persons, if there is suspicion by the credit union that the member has been or may become a victim of financial exploitation. Provides that the board of directors of a credit union with a composite rating of either 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System known as the CAMELS supervisory rating system and a management rating under such composite rating of either 1 or 2 may meet not less than 4 (instead of 6) times annually. Provides that the supervisory committee of a credit union with assets of less than $10,000,000 may, at its option, engage (instead of a credit union with assets of $5,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000 shall engage) a licensed certified public accountant or licensed certified public accounting firm to perform specified auditing and other services. Permits the merger of credit unions, without meeting certain voting and notice requirements, where supervisory concerns exist and upon agreement of the boards of directors of the merging and continuing credit unions, as confirmed by a majority vote of the directors present at a meeting of each board at which a quorum is present. Makes other changes.

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. In provisions concerning the qualifications of applicants, provides that the first part of the required examination for licensure may be taken upon graduation and before completion of a postdoctoral supervised experience in clinical, school, or counseling psychology.

Maddy summaryHB 2179 makes a technical amendment to the Nursing Home Care Act. The bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of the Act. This is a minor, technical adjustment to existing law.

Amends the Innovations for Transportation Infrastructure Act. Provides that the Department of Transportation or the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority may use the design-build project delivery method for transportation facilities if the capital costs for transportation facilities delivered utilizing the design-build project delivery method or Construction Manager/General Contractor project delivery method or Alternative Technical Concepts in a design-bid-build project delivery method do not for transportation facilities delivered by the Department, exceed the value of 20% of the projects annually programmed in (rather than $400 million of contracts awarded during) the Department's multi-year highway improvement program on an annual basis (rather than for any 5-year period). Removes language that provides that notwithstanding any other law, and as authority supplemental to its existing powers, the Department may use the Construction Manager/General Contractor project delivery method for up to 2 transportation facilities per year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. In provisions regarding the emergency management powers of the Governor, adds mobile support teams (MSTs) to provisions that include emergency services and disaster agencies, and changes other provisions. In provisions regarding MSTs, adds provisions with respect to mutual aid, powers of the Governor or the Director of Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Provides that the MSTs may be reimbursed and political subdivisions or body politics may (rather than shall) be reimbursed for certain expenses. Makes changes to provisions regarding the oath of office. Adds and changes definitions.