Sen. Ram Villivalam

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that upon approval of a charter renewal by an authorizer, the charter operator shall execute the renewal agreement no later than 90 days after the date of the authorizer's final renewal approval. Provides that a charter school that is deemed nonrenewed is ineligible to receive any payments from a school district. Provides that a charter operator that fails to execute a renewal agreement within a specified period may not continue to operate the charter school beyond the expiration of the existing charter term and is subject to closure procedures. Requires every charter operator to maintain closure security. Provides that failure to maintain closure security is a basis for the authorizer to withhold a portion of per-pupil payments until compliance is achieved and for consideration in denying a charter renewal or revoking the charter or ineligibility to operate additional charter campuses. Provides that if the closure security is insufficient to cover the costs of a closure event, the authorizer or the State Board of Education may bring a civil action against the charter operator to recover the unpaid amounts and seek to impose a lien on any property owned by the charter operator to secure recovery. Provides that if an authorizer determines that a charter school is in financial distress, the authorizer may require the charter operator to submit a financial remediation plan within 30 days. Provides that if the authorizer determines that the charter school has failed to implement an approved remediation plan or the financial distress presents an immediate risk to students, employees, or public funds, the authorizer may initiate financial intervention by appointing an independent fiscal manager approved by the authorizer and the State Board. Allows the fiscal manager to exercise authority limited to financial matters. Provides that financial intervention is temporary and may not exceed 180 days, except that the authorizer may extend the intervention once for good cause. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Recognizes The Coca-Cola Company and the Illinois Coca-Cola bottlers for their generous support of America250 and their historic and positive impact on Illinois and the United States and extends gratitude for their continued commitment to building a brighter future for all Americans.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act, Energy Efficient Building Act, Illinois Power Agency Act, Public Utilities Act, and related statutes to establish comprehensive environmental, water, and energy regulations for hyperscale data centers. In the Environmental Protection Act, requires cumulative impact assessments, public notice, and community benefits agreements for data centers; prohibits nondisclosure agreements; and creates the Data Center Community Intervenor Compensation Fund and Hyperscale Data Center Public Benefits and Affordability Fund funded by annual fees based on peak demand. Mandates water resource planning, quarterly water usage reporting, water scarcity plans, and Water Impact Permits with public hearings and renewal every 5 years. Requires compliance with stringent energy codes and annual energy and water reporting to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Expands renewable energy procurement programs, establishes a hyperscale data center self-direct program, and strengthens equity, transparency, and labor standards in clean energy initiatives. Creates the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Platform Act to require municipalities and counties to adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform on or before July 1, 2027, and authorizes persons to file a civil action against a municipality or county in violation.

Amends the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that remote retail sellers that meet certain sales criteria are required to collect and remit the tax under the Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2026, the tax under the Act is 36% of (i) the actual cost paid by a distributor or remote retail seller for the stock keeping unit or (ii) if documentation of the actual cost is not available due to matters beyond the distributor or remote retail seller's control, the actual cost list paid by the distributor or remote retail seller for the stock keeping unit. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026 and continuing through December 31, 2028, the tax per cigar sold or otherwise disposed of in the State, other than a little cigar, shall not exceed $0.75 per cigar. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2025 and ending on or before June 30, 2032. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term "full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 1452 amends Illinois' School Code to allow the Chicago Board of Education to establish compensation for its members through a formal resolution. Currently, board members serve without pay but receive expense reimbursements; this bill would authorize the Board to set salaries or other compensation if it chooses. The change directly affects Chicago Public Schools board members, who would no longer be required to serve without compensation. The bill does not mandate pay but gives the Board the authority to decide whether to provide it. This is a procedural change to the existing law, not a new policy requiring immediate implementation.

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the State Board of Education to implement Public Act 103-1076, referred to as the Faith by Plate Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Emerging and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Infrastructure and Market Access Grant Program. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall administer grants to eligible applicants to increase agricultural production, strengthen farm viability, and expand market access. Defines "emerging farmer," "socially disadvantaged farmer," and related terms. Specifies allowable uses of grant funds, priorities for awards, and reporting requirements. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2026. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2026 Article in the Code. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article in the Code. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Requires the Department of Early Childhood to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of nonprofit organizations or community-based organizations providing early childhood resources or services. Provides that grant funds shall be made available to each eligible entity upon completion of an application process that is consistent with Department rules. Sets forth application requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the amendatory Act, including, but not limited to, rules on the identification of additional prioritization areas for each competitive grant application cycle that are within the scope of the authorized uses. Provides that priority consideration for all applications shall be given for proposals that intend to serve a majority of families with racial or ethnic identities that are underrepresented in the early childhood system.