Illinois 2024 End of Session Report

FY 2025 Budget

SB 251 (Sims/Gordon-Booth) creates the FY 2025 state budget. After three consecutive years of strong revenue growth, FY 2025 revenues are projected to be relatively similar to the previous fiscal year, which led to contentious budget negotiations. House and Senate Democrat leadership and Gov. J.B. Pritzker agreed on a budget that operates on a $53.281B General Revenue Fund (GRF) ($125.6B all funds) revenue estimate and plans to spend $53.074B, for an estimated surplus of approximately $200M. The budget adds $870M ($750M GRF and $120M other state funds) in net new annual revenues (included in the Revenue Omnibus, HB 4951) through implementing a graduated tax structure on sports wagering ($200M per year), a 1% tax increase on video gaming ($35M per year), a corporate net operating loss deduction cap ($526M per year), a $1,000 monthly retailer’s discount cap ($101M per year), and a re-renter tax ($25M per year). It fully funds Illinois’ statutorily required pension contribution of $11.57B to remain on track for the long-standing goal of 90% funding in FY 2045. Legislators ultimately decided not to include Gov. Pritzker’s proposal to allocate funds currently going to pay off bond debt to pensions to reach 100% funding in FY 2048. The budget provides for $198M in transfers to the Budget Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund). Details on specific appropriations are listed below. SB 251 passed the Senate by a vote of 38-21-0 on May 26 and passed the House by a vote of 65-45-0 on May 29. The bill was signed into law on June 5, becoming Public Act 103-589.

P-20 Education

Toplines

• $20.51B all funds for pre-K through higher education, a 6.4% decrease from FY 2024. $13.5B GRF budget for education, a 5.9% increase over FY 2024.
  • $17.5B all funds for pre-K through high school education.
  • $2.86B all funds for higher education.

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)

• $17.47B all funds ($10.89B GRF) to ISBE.
• $8.6B to the evidence-based funding formula (EBF), an increase of $350M over FY 2024.
• $1.1B GRF to increase funding mandated categoricals (MCATs), an increase of $30.7M over FY 2024.
  • $30M to provide additional funding to the special education transportation line item.
  • $700K to the regular orphanage tuition line item.
• $748.1M to the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG), an increase of $75M over FY 2024.
• $45M to the Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program.
• $58M GRF to career and technical education programs, an increase of $10.3M over FY 2024.
• $14M to the Southwest Organizing Project Parent Mentoring Program.
• $3.5M to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program, an increase of $1.9M over FY 2024.
• $50M to create and maintain after school programs throughout the state.
• $3M to support digital literacy and enhancing the quality of digital education.
• $2.5M to the Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH) program.
• $1M to Social and Emotional Learning Hubs (SEL Hubs).
• $3.0M GRF for the state literacy plan implementation.
• $2M to the Student Care Department.
• $670K for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program, which will provide $120 to each eligible student’s household to use for means during the summer months.
• $350K to the ParentTeach Parenting Education Pilot Program.
• $250K to redetermine the EBF’s comparable wage index.

Illinois Department of Early Childhood

• $4.0M HRF to the new Department of Early Childhood to create the agency and build out operational infrastructure before merging early childhood-related programs from other state agencies.
• $10M to the Department of Human Services (DHS) to serve as the fiscal agent during the transition period.

Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)

• $88.7M all funds ($41.6M GRF) to IHBE, an increase of $16.0M GRF over FY 2024.
• $8.0M new GRF funding to HOPE Chicago grants.
• $2.0M new GRF funding to a statewide organization to provide data analytics; muti-channel marketing; live professional coaching; and a platform-based user experience to re-enroll residents with some college experience and no degree into public higher education, apprenticeship, or workforce training.
• $70.M GRF for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, a $3.2M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Community College Board (ICCB)

• $548.7M all funds ($380.3M GRF) to ICCB, a $10.1M GRF increase over FY 2024.
• $100M GRF for community college base operation, a 4.1M increase over FY 2024.
• $81.1M GRF for the equalization grant, a $1.6M increase over FY 2024.
• $500K GRF in new grants to Rock Valley Community college for fire science technology.
• $30M in new Workforce Development Programs.
• $6M for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, a $3.2M GRF decrease from FY 2024.
• $15M GRF to the Pipeline for the Advancement of Health Care Workers (PATH), a $10M decrease from FY 2024.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)

• $910.3M all funds ($827.7M GRF) to ISAC, a $17.7M GRF increase over FY 2024.
• $711.5M GRF to the Monetary Award Program (MAP), a $10M increase over FY 2024.
• $5.0M in new GRF funding to the Early Education Consortium Scholarship Program.
• $10M in GRF funding to the Prepare Illinois Future Free Test Prep Program.

Public Safety

Topline

• $6.06B all funds ($2.52B GRF) to public safety agencies, a $7.8M GRF increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC)

• $2.03B all funds ($1.92B GRF) for DOC, a $9.7M all funds decrease and $50.6M GRF increase over FY 2025.
• $52.1M increase for contractual services.
• $56.1M increase for personal services.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)

• $550.0M all funds to ICJIA ($100.4M GRF), a $65.8M all funds decrease and $35.7M GRF decrease from FY 2024.
• $15M GRF decrease in grants to local law enforcement agencies related to less lethal weapon alternatives.
• $1M GRF for the development of the Infonet system.
• $1.6M for grants to violence prevention programs, youth employment programs, and operations to named entities.

Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)

• $151.4M all funds ($138.4M GRF) to DJJ, a $13.4M GRF increase over FY 2024.
• $5.2M GRF increase to DJJ’s new facility, IYC Lincoln.
• $5.5M GRF increase to personal services and fringe benefits.
• $1.4M increase to contractual services to strengthen and expands the department’s ability to provide a range of human services, including temporary housing, multi-systemic therapy, behavioral health services, and community-based wraparound services for youth.
• $395.6K GRF increase to the Office of Independent Juvenile Ombudsman to secure and protect the rights of youth in facilities.

Illinois Department of Military Affairs (DMA)

• $20.5M GRF to DMA, an increase of $1.9M GRF over FY 2024.

Illinois State Police (ISP)

• $923M all funds ($425M GRF) to ISP, a $57.1M all funds increase over FY 2024.
• $19M for two new cadet classes, bringing 200 additional troopers, in FY 2025.
• $2M to increase enforcement efforts of Scott’s Law and safety inspections on commercial vehicles.
• $1.3M to the Safe2Help program.
• $5.0M for direct and indirect costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the recreational cannabis program.
• $28M to the fingerprint program, a $3M increase over FY 2024.
• $230M to the statewide 9-1-1 administrator program.

Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)

• $69.6M all funds to OSFM, an increase of $12.3M over FY 2024.
• $4M for small equipment grants.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)

• $2.2B all funds ($24.2M GRF) to IEMA, level with funding from FY 2024.
• $3M GRF to the Illinois Non-Profit Security Grant Program.
• $1.5M GRF to the Mississippi Levee Study.
• $7.5M GRF to the Homeland Security Initiative.

Illinois State Police Merit Board (SPMB)

• $4.9M to SPMB, an increase of $1.5M over FY 2024.

Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB)

• $5.3M all funds (5.2M GRF) to PRB, a $1.1M GRF decrease from FY 2024.

Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB)

• $147.6M all funds ($2M GRF) to ILETSB, a $41M GRF decrease and $22.8M other state funds increase over FY 2024.
• $60M to the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act, a $30M increase over FY 2024.
• $27.5M to grants and reimbursements to local law enforcement agencies for basic training expenses and reimbursements to local law enforcement agencies for in-service training expenses.
• $2M GRF for new grants to local law enforcement for costs associated with the National Integrated Ballistic Information testing equipment.
• $10M GRF to the Law Enforcement Officer Retention Pilot Program.

Human Services

Topline

• $59.7B all funds ($20.5B GRF) for human services, a $147.5M GRF decrease and a $117.9M other state funds increase.

Illinois Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

• $39.5B all funds ($9.4B GRF) to HFS, an increase of $834.2M all funds over FY 2024.
• $26.8B estimated Medicaid liability, up $100M from FY 2022, largely due to rate increases from the FY 2024 Medicaid Omnibus.
• $629M all funds ($440M GRF) to the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) programs, a $110M GRF decrease from FY 2024.
• $29.2M GRF to cover the costs of the FY 2025 Medicaid Omnibus (SB 3268).
• New line items added into HFS’ Medicaid cost:
  • $7M GRF for mental health and substance use disorders.
  • $7.6M GRF for SMHRF stabilization payments.
  • $7.3M GRF for SMHRF incentive payments.
  • $8.0M GRF for SMHRF bed reduction.
  • $5.0M GRF for mental health wellness checks.

• $1B all funds ($454.5M GRF) for annualized Medicaid rate increases.
  • $556.2M all funds ($222.5M GRF) for hospital rate increases.
  • $97M all funds ($47.7M GRD) for nursing home rate increases.
  • $53.3M all funds ($21.3M GRF) for CCP Homemaker wage increases.
  • $50M all funds ($20M GRD) for FQHC rate increases.
  • $42.3M all funds ($16.9M GRF) for ambulance rate increases.
• $329.8M all funds ($83.8M GRF) for child support enforcement, a $28.9M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)

• $122M GRF for the workforce development portion of the SMART Start Illinois initiative.
  • $110M for workforce grants.
  • $10M for quality contracts.
  • $2M to the Early Child Apprentice Program.
• $27.9M to the Parents Too Soon and Healthy Families program for home visiting, $5M increase from FY 2024.
• $161.9M to early intervention programs, a $6M increase from FY 2024.
• $290.3M GRF to the Home Illinois program.
• $139.4M GRF to new arrival welcoming centers, an $84.4M GRF increase over FY 2024.
• $2.4B to services for people with developmental disabilities.
  • $434.3M to state operated developmental centers.
  • $2.17M to long term care programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • $80M increase to provide a $1.00 per hour wage increase for Direct Support Personnel (DSPs).
• $146.6M GRF to grants to organizations to implement violence prevention and youth employment programs.
• $10M GRF for costs associated with the new Department of Early Childhood.

Illinois Department on Aging

• $1.9B all funds ($1.7B GRF) to the Department on Aging, an increase of $193.4M over FY 2024.
• $1.5B GRF to the Community Care Program, a $68.6M increase over FY 2024.
• $55.3M GRF for home delivered meals, a $3M increase over FY 2024.
• $1.3M GRF in discretionary funds, which will be used to implement the Dementia Friendly Illinois and Connecting Rural Illinois programs.
• $1.8M GRF for a new case tracking system.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

• $2.36B all funds ($1.48B GRF) for DCFS, an increase of $333M over FY 2024.
• $9.7M GRF increase to hire 280 new front-line staffers.
• $22.1M GRF and $64.8M other state funds increase to foster homes and specialized care.
• $6.9M GRF and $54.4M other state funds increase to institution and group home care.
• $5.5M GRF to DCFS’ Scholarship program.

Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

• $908.7K all funds ($661.2K GRF) to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, maintaining funding levels from FY 2024.

Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

• $6.6M all funds to the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.
• $70K GRF increase for operational expenses.

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission

• $17.4M all funds to the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, an increase of $964K over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

• $1.8B all funds ($358.6M GRF) to IDPH, a $147.3M decrease from FY 2024.
• $13M GRF increase for personal services to increase salaries and improve recruitment and retention to fill critical healthcare vacancies in the Office of Health Care Regulations.
• $400K GRF increase to the Homelessness Morbidity and Mortality Report.
• $4.0M GRF to the Birth Equity Initiative.
• $2.0M GRF to provide security to reproductive health clinics.
• $800K for a modern data platform solution that offers easy navigation and efficient communication between Office of Health Care Regulation staff and healthcare facilities.
• $82.9M GRF increase to safety net hospitals.
• $30M GRF increase to local health departments.

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs

• $237.4M all funds to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, a $23.7M increase over FY 2024.

Environmental and Business Regulation

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)

• $923.1M all funds to IEPA, a $51.4M all funds increase over FY 2024.
• $12M to the electric vehicle rebate program.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• $705.7M all funds ($103.5M GRF) to DNR, an increase of $297.9M over FY 2024.
• $1.5M GRF to the East St. Louis Flood mitigation cost share program.
• $30M to the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program.
• $2.5M GRF to the Youth Conservation Initiative.
• $1M GRF to the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant.

Illinois Department of Agriculture

• $199.59M all funds ($39.8M GRF) to the Department of Agriculture, an increase of $1.7M over FY 2024.
• $960K GRF to the Cover Crop Insurance Program, an increase of $300K over FY 2024.
• $2M GRF to the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program.
• $32.7M for the administration of the adult-use cannabis program and medicinal and industrial hemp programs, an increase of $4.2M over FY 2024.
• $550K GRF to assist in paying for Future Farmers of America fees for students across the state.
• $7.7M GRF for operations of the state fair, an increase of $596.4M over FY 2024.

Illinois Power Agency (IPA)

• $117.1M to IPA, a $10.1M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)

• $76.3M to ICC, an increase of $6.8M over FY 2024.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC)

• $30.67M to IWCC, a $618.7K decrease from FY 2024.

Illinois Labor Relations Board

• $2.6M GRF to the Labor Relations Board, a $399.8K increase over FY 2024 to fund an 8.2% salary increase for all employees.

Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)

• $29.8M all funds ($19.5M GRF) to IDHR.
• $5.6M GRF over five years to the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
• $9.6M GRF to allow external partners to file a discrimination charge with IDHR more easily.

Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC)

• $5.4M all funds to HRC, a $611.1K increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Labor (DOL)

• $23.9M all funds ($13M GRF) for DOL, a $3.8M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR)

• $206M all funds (16.6M GRF) to IDFPR, a $45.6M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI)

• $115.8M to DOI, an $88.5M increase over FY 2024.
• $9.7M increase for personal services.
• $10M increase for costs associated with implementing the new State Health Benefit marketplace Exchange.
• $3.1M for the rollout of the new DOI Consumer Complaint Help Center.
• $2.3M for administration and operation of the Health Care Protection Act.

Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

• $541.6M all funds ($22M GRF) to IEDS, a decrease of $52.5M from FY 2024.

Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB)

• $47.2M all funds ($500K GRF) to CDB, an increase of $5.1M over FY 2024.
• $500K GRF increase for the administration of a Mechanical Insulation Energy and Safety Assessment Pilot Program.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

• $4.2B all funds ($316.4M GRF) for DCEO, a $160M increase over FY 2024.
• $25M GRF to provide funding for various competitive business development capital grants to expand or attract private business to Illinois.
• $5M GRF grant to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association for promotion, workforce, development, and training.
• $61.8M GRF in public safety economic development grants to various nonprofits, units of local government, institutions of higher education, public safety institutions, and arts and culture organizations.
• $10M GRF to the Illinois Grocery Initiative.
• $10M from the Workforce Technology and Economic Development Fund for matching funds to federal workforce development programs, an increase of $8M over FY 2024.
• $194.2M GRF to the Fund for Illinois’ Future for grants to local chambers of commerce and other community institutions.
• $250M to the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Development Program, an increase of $150M over FY 2024.
• $100M for costs related to the Energy Transition Act.
• $78M increase for the administration of training, technical assistance, and grants for weatherization programs.
• $23M decrease to Community Services Block Grants.
• $30M decrease to the American Rescue Plan Capital Assets Program.
• $14.5M decrease to the Business Interruption Grant Program and Back to Business Program for small business.

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA)

• $294.7M to MPEA, a decrease of $3.2M from FY 2024.

Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA)

• $80.7M to ISFA, an increase of $4.2M over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

• $4.67B all funds to IDOT, a $470M increase over FY 2024.
• $400M from the Road Fund to IDOT to be used for transportation related purposes in municipalities, counties, townships, and road districts for projects.
• $530M for continued operating assistance to the Regional Transportation Authority’s three services: CTA, Metra, and Pace. This represents a $61.8M increase over FY 2024.
• $20.9M to the Fare Reduction Program, a $1.9M increase over FY 2024.
• $10.2M to the PACE Paratransit program, an increase of $900K over FY 2024.
• $586.6M in Motor Fuel Tax disbursements, consistent with FY 2024 funding levels.
  • $205.9M to counties.
  • $287.2M to municipalities.
  • $93.3M to townships and road districts.

Other Government Agencies

Illinois State Board of Elections

• $49.4M all funds to the State Board of Elections, a $3.6M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS)

• $7.64B all funds ($2.4B GRF) to CMS, a $1.2B increase over FY 2024.
• $2.48B all funds ($2.3B GRF) for State Employee Group Health Insurance, a $498.3M increase over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT)

• $894.52K all funds ($214.52K GRF) to DoIT, a $76.98K decrease from FY 2024.

Illinois Gaming Board (IGB)

• $271.4M to IGB, a $19.6M increase over FY 2024.
• $20M increase from the State Gaming Fund for distribution to local governments for the taxes on casino admissions and wagering, including any prior year costs.

Illinois Racing Board (IRB)

• $4.9M to IRB, a $2.7M decrease from FY 2024.

Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC)

• $13.9M to ILCC, an increase of $1.9M over FY 2024.

Illinois Department of Revenue (DOR)

• $1.45B all funds ($53M GRF) to DOR, an increase of $11M over FY 2024.
• $17.2M increase from the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund for operational expenses of DOR.

Illinois Arts Council

• $24.6M all funds ($23.2M GRF) to the Illinois Arts Council, a $7.8M increase over FY 2024.
• $1.4M GRF for salary increases.
• $1.0M GRF for operations.
• $10M GRF for programmatic expenses.
• $7.6M GRF for Creative Sector Grants for youth employment opportunities, a $1.9M increase over FY 2024.
• $3.3M GRF to close the gap between urban and rural communities, an increase of $2.1M over FY 2024.
• $2.9M GRF for founding to nonprofit organizations and programs, a $1.8M increase over FY 2024.

FY 2025 BIMP

HB 4959 (Gabel/Sims) creates the FY 2025 Budget Implementation (BIMP) Act making various transfers and funding changes to implement the FY 2025 Budget. Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 4959 passed the House by a vote of 97-8-0 on April 18, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 41-18-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 62-46-0 on May 29. The bill was signed into law on June 5, becoming Public Act 103-588.

Finance Changes

• Creates the Department on Aging Federal Indirect Cost Fund and authorizes the deposit of indirect cost reimbursement.
• Codifies the DCEO Projects Fund and allows the fund to receive revenues from any public or private source, excluding funds already directed by law to another fund.
• Authorizes DCEO to receive direct appropriations from the Clean Air Act Permit Fund to support its Small Business Environmental Regulatory Assistance Program.
• Authorizes IEPA to spend from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund for administrative costs. Provides IEPA with additional administrative capacity to monitor grant projects.
• Clarifies the distribution of scratch-off lottery proceeds from the Illinois DREAM Fund.
• Limits the IEMA Office of Homeland Security Nonprofit Security Grant Program to non-medical organizations.
• Creates the Professional Licensure Fund for IDFPR to utilize for its electronic licensure project.
• Modifies the authorized uses of the Fund for Illinois’ Future, allowing for various member initiatives.
• Clarifies the authorized uses of the Rebuild Illinois Project Fund to align the eligible uses of the fund with the appropriations in the FY 25 budget.
• Authorizes IDOT to pay PACE paratransit grants, RTA reduced fare subsidy grants, and Amtrak subsidies from the Road Fund, at maximum levels equal to the amounts included in the FY 2025 budget.
• Authorizes IEPA to utilize the Road Fund for deposits into the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund.
• Increases the agency appropriation transfer limit to 4% for FY 2025.
• Continues to allow Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund money to be used for ICCB community college base operating grants and IDPH local health protection grants to local health departments.
• Continues the practice of having the Executive Ethics Commission set aside amounts necessary for the use of the Chief Procurement Officers for the ordinary and contingent expenses of their respective procurement offices.
• Requires 9.15% of personal income taxes and 14.0% of corporate income taxes be deposited into the Income Tax Refund Fund in FY 2025.
• Clarifies the eligible recipients and uses of Violent Crime Witness Protection program grants funded through ICJIA.
• Authorizes IDES to return excess cash back to GRF for repayment to FEMA for Lost Wage Assistance.
• Authorizes IBHE to make grants to public universities to support the implementation of the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act.
• Authorizes HFS to operate a Medical Debt Purchasing Pilot program.
• Clarifies the reimbursement rate increases for substance use disorder treatment and intervention services, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024, are subject to annual increases based on CPI not to exceed 2% and provides for emergency rule making.
• Modifies the assistance provided to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes to remove the food assistance component for persons residing in a shelter that provides a majority of their meals.
• Creates the Summer EBT Program Fund and establishes the authority for IEMA Office of Homeland Security to operate the federally funded program.
• Authorizes IDOT to pay prompt payment interest resulting from federal funds expenditures using Road Fund dollars.
• Amends the Homelessness Prevention Act to provide that a grantee’s case management and administrative cost cannot exceed 20% (previously 15%) of the total grant awarded.
• Removes the in-kind operating commitment requirements for DCFS child abuse prevention shelter program and IEMA Office of Homeland Security community-based youth services.

Transfers

• Transfers $20M from the Road Fund to the Federal/State/Local Airport Fund to allow IDOT to make payments from the Fund while awaiting federal reimbursement.
• Transfers $26.8M ($20.7M GRF) to the Audit Expense Fund transfers to provide for slate audits.
• Extends through FY 2025 the annual transfer from GRF to the Partners for Conservation Fund at the $14M level in effect from FY 2021 to FY 2024.
• Transfers $12.9M from numerous Secretary of State funds to the Secretary of State Identification Security and Theft Prevention Fund.
• Directs money from the State Pensions Fund as a portion of the state’s required contribution to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).
• Transfers $350M GRF to the Fund for Illinois’ Future in FY 2024. This provides funding for various member initiative projects, previously appropriated directly from GRF in FY 2024.
• Transfers $500K GRF to the Governor’s Administrative Fund.
• Transfers $500K GRF to the Grant Accountability Transparency Fund to provide working capital for GOMB’s Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit.
• Transfers $20.0M from the Capital Projects Fund to the Illinois Works Fund to support the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship program at DCEO.
• Transfers $175M from the Road Fund and $50.0M from the Underground Tanker Fund to the Public Transportation Fund and the Downstate Public Transportation Fund.
• Provides for up to a $14M transfer from the Insurance Producer Administration Fund to the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Fund at the direction of DOI.
• Transfers $5M from the Solid Waste Management Fund to GRF.
• Transfers $10M from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to GRF.
• Transfers $25M from the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund to GRF.
• Provides for a $3.2M transfer from the Horse Racing Purse Equity Fund to race tracks in Illinois.
• Allows the comptroller to make payments to the five state sponsored pension systems that are greater than 1/12 of the required state monthly contribution, allowing the comptroller to front-load pension payments when the state has additional cash on hand.
• Makes a $2M transfer from the Fair and Exposition Fund to the Standardbred Horse Breeder Fund.

State Government and Education

• Clarifies travel reimbursement provisions from the FY 2024 BIMP, allowing the Travel Regulation Council to retain rulemaking authority over how per diem travel reimbursement is calculated. Reimbursement rates will still be set by the federal government.
• Adds the Department of Early Childhood to the list of agencies to be served by DoIT for IT needs.
• Adds flexibility to information related to intergenerational poverty that must be included in the governor’s annual budget proposals.
• Allows IDPH to select a lead agent to administer grants from the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund.
• Extends a waiver of matching requirements for Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development funds through FY 2025.
• Provides a camping fee waiver during the 2024 Illinois State Fair at the three nearest DNR campsites to campers who purchased a season admission ticket during a specified time window.
• Transfers statutory authority for health care telementoring from HFS to IDPF.
• Provides for a $1.00 per hour wage increase for DSPs in intellectual/developmental disability facilities licensed by IDPH.
• Establishes that TRS retirees shall be offered vision and dental insurance effective July 1, 2024 at an estimated cost to the state of approximately $5M.
• Requires DHS to issue a request for proposal to establish this locator function to search for addiction treatment facilities.
• Allows retired Chicago teachers to return to work in subject shortage areas until July 1, 2027 (previously planned to sunset on July 1, 2024).
• Allows state-authorized charter schools to receive state reimbursement for student transportation costs at the same rate as public school districts.
• Requires DNR to report information to the General Assembly on which distressed local governments have received Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grants in FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025 with a 10% match.
• Allows the University of Illinois Springfield to build a downtown campus.
• Amends the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act (ECACE) by creating three-year appointment terms for members of the ECACE Advisory Board; adding new information for the ECACE advisory board to submit to the General Assembly and Governor on yearly basis; requiring the ECACE advisory board to work as one body, rather than regional hubs; requiring the ECACE advisory board to meet twice a year, rather than quarterly; codifying the ECACE Scholarship Program to provide that, subject to appropriation, ISAC shall award annual scholarships to students enrolled in early childhood education, with a preference given to members of the incumbent workforce, recipients who received a scholarship during the previous academic year, and applicants in financial need; and ECACE scholarship recipients must agree to either continue or return to teaching or direct services after they have completed their program of study.
• Requires the Department on Aging, in consultation with HFS, IDPH, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to create an Illinois Caregiver Assistance and Resource portal through, subject to appropriation, within three years.
• Establishes a grant program providing up to $7,000 per school site to initiate breakfast after the bell programs.
• Creates Pretrial Success Grants, providing grants to community-based organizations to maximize pretrial success.

Revenue Omnibus

HB 4951 (Burke/Villanueva) creates the FY 2025 Revenue Omnibus, making changes to a variety of state taxes and revenue sources. The changes in this legislation add an estimated $870M in new annual revenues ($750M GRF and $120M other state funds). Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 4951 passed the House unanimously on April 18, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 37-22-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 60-47-0 on May 29. The bill was signed into law on June 7, becoming Public Act 103-592.

County Official Compensation Task Force

• Creates a County Official Compensation Task Force to review the compensation of county-level officials as provided for in various state statues and make recommendations to the General Assembly.

Workforce Development through Charitable Loan Repayment Act

• Allows community foundations to provide qualified workers in key growth industries the ability to apply for student loan forgiveness.
• Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create an income tax modification for qualified recipients of the Charitable Loan Repayment Program.

Housing Opportunity Area Abatement Program

• Extends the sunset date of the Housing Opportunity Area Abatement Program through 2034.

Property Tax Changes

• Makes changes to property redemption processes for all counties, except Cook County.
• Requires all taxpayers to receive a list of all available exemptions and contact information for their Chief County Assessment Officers.
• Makes changes to tax disbursements for tax incentivized developments.
• Adds supplemental levy language for La Moille CUSD #303.
• Makes petroleum refineries located in counties with fewer than 1M people subject to real property tax assessment settlement agreements between the taxpayer and the taxing districts in which the property is located.

Local Journalism Sustainability Act

• Creates the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.
• Allows local news organizations to receive up to $15,000 payroll tax credits, up to a maximum program appropriation of $5M, from 2025 to 2030.

Live Theater Production Tax Credit Act

• Adds nonprofit theater productions to the Live Theater Production Tax Credit Act.
• Increases the annual cap on credits to $6M in FY 2025.

Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act

• Creates the Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act.
• Creates an income tax credit and allows for the tax credit program to be housed under DCEO and provide a tax credit to music companies equal to 10% to 15% of their labor expenditures, up to a maximum program appropriation of $2M per year.
• Adds a protection the program under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Credit for Wages Paid to Returning Citizens

• Renames the Illinois Ex-Felon Tax Credit to the Credit for Wages Paid to Returning Citizens.
• Increases the credit amount from 5% to 15% of wages and increases the cap from $1,500 to $7,500, up to a maximum program appropriation of $1M per year.
• Increases the length of time when a returning citizen would qualify for the program from three years to five years.

Volunteer Emergency Workers Tax Credit

• Expands the Volunteer Emergency Workers Tax Credit to include IEMA workers.

Hotel Operators’ Occupancy Tax (HOOT)

• Expands HOOT to include re-renters of hotel rooms and makes conforming changes to the MPEA Law and ISFA Law.

Motor Fuel Tax Law

• Extends the Motor Fuel Tax Law sunset to January 1, 2030.

Use Tax on Tangible Personal Property

• Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly to apply Use Tax to the privilege of leasing tangible personal property that are required to be registered with the state, except for motor vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and semitrailers.

Cigarette Tax Act

• Adds provisions adding to the information that the Department of Revenue may lawfully solicit related to the Cigarette Tax.

Business Income for Persons Other than Residents

• Beginning in 2025, receipts from investment assets and activities and trading assets and activities are included in the receipts factor for business income for persons other than residents.

Student Assistance Contributions Tax Credit

• Extends the sunset date of the tax credit for student assistance contributions through 2029.

Adoption Tax Credit

• Extends the adoption tax credit through 2029.

Child Tax Credit

• Creates the Child Tax Credit, equal to 20% of the federal credit for child dependents younger than 12 years old.

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Deduction Cap

• Reinstates the NOL deduction cap and increases the cap amount from $100,000 to $500,000 per year.

Retailer’s Discount

• Caps the Retailer’s Discount under the Use Tax Act at $1,000 per month, beginning January 1, 2025.
• Makes conforming changes for other state and local sales taxes.

Sports Wagering Tax Changes

• Establishes a graduated tax structure under the Sports Wagering Act.
  • 20% tax on wagering receipts up to and including $30K.
  • 25% tax on wagering receipts from $30K to $50K.
  • 30% tax on wagering receipts from $50K to $100K.
  • 35% tax on wagering receipts from $100K to $200K.
  • 40% tax on wagering receipts over $200K.

Video Gaming Tax Increase

• 1% tax increase on net video gaming terminal income.

Senior Homestead Exemption Changes

• Requires the Cook County Assessor to conduct a reassessment for Senior Homestead Exemption recipients by no later than December 31 of the first year of each reassessment cycle.
• Allows county boards to pass a resolution to have their chief county assessment official conduct a review to determine if any Senior Homestead Exemptions have been granted erroneously.

Historic Residence Assessment Freeze Law

• Makes various changes to the Historic Residence Assessment Freeze Law property tax structure.

Interchange Fee Prohibition Act

• Establishes the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act providing that any issuer, payment card network, acquirer bank, or processor may not receive or charge a merchant any interchange fee on the tax amount or gratuity of an electronic payment transaction.

East St. Louis Gaming Privilege Tax Changes

• Makes changes to the Illinois Gaming Act to allow a riverboat casino in East St. Louis to enjoy a lower privilege tax for 10 years after gaming commences in Collinsville.

Illinois Local Library Act

• Amends the Illinois Local Library Act to decreases the power of the Board of Trustees’ ability to use funds received by the library for bonding from 50% to 10%.
• Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Library System Act and other acts.

Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act

• Creates the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act establishing a 25% income tax credit for eligible endowments made to schools in the state, up to a maximum program appropriation of $5M per year.

Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) Changes

• Amends PTELL to accommodate changes provided to community mental health boards and flexibility in use of funds.
• Allows for levies not to be subject to PTELL and makes these changes retroactive.

Local Government Tax Omnibus

HB 3144 (Burke/Castro) creates the Local Government Tax Omnibus which repeals the 1% statewide sales tax on groceries beginning January 1, 2026. It allows counties and both home rule and non-home rule municipalities to impose their own 1% sales tax on groceries by ordinance or resolution, without requiring a referendum, to take effect on or after January 1, 2026 to make up for lost revenue from the repealed state grocery tax. Additionally, it authorizes the Sangamon County Board to institute a local Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax (HOOT) up to 3% to promote tourism to Springfield. HB 3144 passed the House by a vote of 77-31-0 on March 23, 2023, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 48-11-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 86-20-0 on May 29. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Bond Authorization Act of 2024

HB 4582 (Rita/Harmon) creates the Bond Authorization Act of 2024, authorizing $8B in new state bonding authority. It increases the General Obligation Bond authority by $2.349B, the Build Illinois Bond authority by $1.339B, and the Illinois Housing Development Bond authority by $4.3B. HB 4582 passed the House unanimously on April 18 on May 26, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate on May 26 by a vote of 40-18-0, and the House concurred by a vote of 72-38-0 on May 29. The bill was signed into law on June 7, becoming Public Act 103-591.

DCEO Omnibus

HB 5005 (Vella/Stadelman) creates a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Omnibus making various changes to the state’s tax credit programs and business development tools. Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 5005 passed the House unanimously on April 16, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 51-5-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 90-19-0 on May 29. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

• Creates a quantum computing campus enterprise zone tax incentive designation, providing an income tax credit equal to 20% of wages paid to full-time and part-time construction employees and exempting qualified tangible personal property of the zone from the 6.25% general sales tax, the Chicago Non-Titled Use Tax, all locally imposed Retailers’ Occupation tax, and Public Utilities Act fees.
• Allows grocery stores under the Grocery Initiative Act located in an Enterprise Zone to also apply for High Impact Business (HIB) designation.
• Changes payroll requirements of contractors and subcontractors for businesses under HIB, Enterprise Zones, Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) in Illinois, Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE), Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act (MICRO), and River Edge Redevelopment Zones.
• Allows industries producing aircraft with hybrid electric propulsion systems to apply for REV.
• Provides that for all REV, EDGE, and MICRO projects, the taxpayer may relocate from one site in Illinois to another site in Illinois if DCEO determined that the expansion in question cannot reasonably be accommodated within the municipality in which the business was originally located.
• Extends the utility exemption for REV and MICRO projects from the lesser of 10 years or the life of the agreement to lesser of 30 years or the life of the agreement.
• Prohibits delivery services from applying to EDGE and provides that, to consider a position toward eligibility requirements under EDGE, the applicant and DCEO shall set a minimum number of hours in which an employee must be physically present at an EDGE project location.
• Adds a new category for a 15-year EDGE agreement that requires the applicant make an investment of at least $50M in capital improvements and create at least 100 new full-time jobs.
• Allows taxpayers that focus on the development of semiconductor manufacturing, microchip manufacturing, and the manufacturing of semiconductor or microchip component parts to be eligible for MICRO.
• Lessens the requirements for one set of qualifications for MICRO, from $20M in capital improvements to $2.5M, and from 50 new full-time jobs created to either 50 new full-time jobs created or 10% of the number of current full-time employees worldwide.
• Provides that the DCEO shall develop and administer the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program to create a network of 14 Program delivery Hub Sites.

Procurement Omnibus

HB 5511 (Hoffman/Castro) creates a Procurement Omnibus making changes to the Illinois Procurement Code and other procurement-related statutes. Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 5511 passed the House by a vote of 110-0-1 on April 17, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 48-7-1 on May 24, and the House concurred by a vote of 80-27-0 on May 29. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

• Creates the Progressive Design-Build Pilot Program Act requiring the state use the progressive design-build delivery method for up to three public projects before January 1, 2027.
• Provides that each chief procurement officer may authorize any state governmental unit to purchase or lease supplies under the Procurement Code.
• Provides that a governmental unit may purchase a supply or service that is available on contract from multiple vendors if the governmental unit determines that the selected contract best meets their needs.
• Provides that cumulative small purchases under $1,000 within an agency or university that exceed the small purchase threshold do not constitute stringing and are allowable under the Procurement Code.
• Provides that the Procurement Code does not apply to procurement expenditures related to efforts for the recruitment, hiring, and retention of state employees.
• Makes changes concerning applicability of the Procurement Code to public institutions of higher education, independent chief procurement officers, duration of contracts, electronic procurement systems, job order contracting, curing a violation or deficiency during an active procurement, procurement communications reporting requirements, method of source selection, bid preferences for Illinois businesses, and prohibited bidders.
• Provides that the Commission on Equity and Inclusion shall supervise the effectiveness of supplier diversity training for the state procurement workforce, in addition to overseeing the implementation process.
• Provides that the Attorney General does not need to approve the title for lands needed for public works or improvements if the consideration cost is $25K or less.
• Makes changes concerning the definitions of “responsible public entity,” “unsolicited proposal,” and “formation of public-private agreements.”
• Provides that certain competitive bidding requirements apply to an elected official in a county with fewer than 2M inhabitants, in addition to applying to the county itself.
• Allows the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease any land or property under their jurisdiction, that will not immediately to be used or developed by the state, for the purpose of creating, operating, or maintaining a commercial solar energy system or clean energy project.
• Provides that a state agency may communicate with firms who were not selected to provide architectural, engineering, and land surveying services in order to provide further information about why their proposal was not selected.
• Provides that the mandatory competitive bid threshold for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is $60K or higher, up from a variable threshold of $10K to $40K.
• Makes changes in provisions concerning construction and professional services contracts for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.

Medicaid Omnibus

SB 3268 (Aquino/Gabel) creates the FY 2025 Medicaid Omnibus making various rate increases and other changes to Medicaid. Details on specific provisions are listed below. SB 3268 passed the Senate unanimously on April 12, prior to being amended. It passed the House by a vote of 98-6-0 on May 25, and the Senate unanimously concurred on May 26. The bill was signed into law on June 7, becoming Public Act 103-593.

• Provides for a 33% rate increase for sedation evaluation and the provision of deep sedation and intravenous sedation for the purpose of dental services.
• Provides for a one-time adjustment to the add-on rates for services delivered by physicians board-certified in psychiatry and advanced practice registered nurses certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing. The base rate plus the rate add-on shall be no less than $254.42 per hour.
• Provides that rates for supportive living services must be at least 54.75% of the average total nursing services per diem rate for specified geographic areas.
• Provides that the monthly personal needs allowance for a resident of a supportive living facility shall be $120.
• Provides that a birth center facility fee for the birthing person and baby shall be no less than 80% of the statewide average facility payment rate made to a hospital for an uncomplicated vaginal birth.
• Changes the Tier 1 assessment amount for managed care organizations to $78.90 per member month and changes the Tier 2 assessment amount to $1.40 per member month.
• Grants the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) emergency rulemaking authority to implement changes related to Medicaid hospital rates.
• Provides that, in addition to the statewide standardized amount and any other payments, a safety-net hospital healthcare equity add-on payment shall be paid for each inpatient general acute and psychiatric day of care. Depending on the safety-net hospital’s Medicaid inpatient utilization rate, the payment shall be $425, $300, $225, or $210. For hospitals that provided less than 11,000 Medicaid inpatient days of care, a low-volume add-on payment of $200 shall be paid.
• Excludes hospitals with over 9,000 Medicaid acute care inpatient admissions per calendar year from classification as a safety-net hospital.
• Provides for per-claim add-on payments of $95 per treatment for renal dialysis services.
• Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to pay for all inpatient stays at a hospital beginning on the third day a child is in the hospital beyond medical necessity because the parent or caregiver has denied access to the home and failed to make provisions for another living arrangement for the child or the child’s discharge is delayed due to a pending inquiry by DCFS.
• Provides for reimbursement for music therapy services.
• Provides for a 35% rate increase for optometric and optical services for determining refractive state, fitting of spectacles, and fitting of bifocal spectacles.
• Increases reimbursements to $1,300 for Children’s Community-Based Healthcare Centers.
• Provides that the HFS shall reimburse for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests.
• Increases reimbursement rates by 7% for nursing services for medically fragile and technology dependent children.
• Increases reimbursement rates by 7% for custom prosthetic and orthotic devices.
• Provides that HFS shall file administrative rules updating the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation orthodontic scoring tool.
• Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 to provide that facilities shall receive a payment of at least $35.50 per day, per single room occupancy. For improving the quality of life and the quality of care, facilities shall receive a payment of at least $23.25 per Medicaid-occupied bed in each dual-occupancy room.
• Prohibits HFS from approving an application for the expansion of supportive living dementia care if the site is within four miles of an existing supportive living site in Cook County, or within 12 miles in any other Illinois county.
• Adds reporting requirements to HFS for pharmacy benefit managers.
• Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act to provide for a separate per diem add-on paid to facilities licensed for only single occupancy rooms that have reduced their licensed capacity. Depending on the number of licensed beds, the add-on payment shall be $240, $230, or $220.
• Expands coverage for self-measured blood pressure monitoring services.
• Repeals and transfers money from the Electronic Health Record Incentive Fund and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Services Medicaid Matching Fund to the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund. Repeals the Provider Inquiry Trust Fund and transfers funds to the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund.
• Changes standards and requirements in the Managed Care Organization Provider Assessment article of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
• Provides that the Division of Developmental Disabilities shall provide 100% of the per diem reimbursement to a community-integrated living arrangement provider for up to 20 days for any resident requiring a medical absence.
• Provides that, under specified conditions, prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls shall not be imposed on any FDA-approved prescription drug if a preferred or non-preferred drug is prescribed to an adult patient to treat serious mental illness.
• Instructs HFS to apply for an amendment and waiver necessary to reimburse legally responsible family caregivers.
• Changes the staffing percentage used in the calculation of the per diem staffing add-on for payment of nursing services. Depending on staffing, the per diem shall be $16.52, $25.77, $30.98, or $36.44.
• Provides that HFS shall pay administrative fees associated with implementing telehealth services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are receiving Community Integrated Living Arrangement residential services.
• Allows pharmacists to perform testing, screening, and treatment services and covers them as if the services or procedures were performed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse.

Health Insurance Reform Package

HB 5395 (Moeller/Peters) creates Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Health Insurance Reform package, initially proposed in his February budget address. Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 5395 passed the House by a vote of 81-25-2 on April 18, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 45-14-0 on May 23, and the House concurred by a vote of 83-23-1 on May 25. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

• Clarifies that the Department of Insurance may adopt emergency rules implementing federal standards for provider ratios, travel time and distance, and appointment wait times if they are more stringent than the state’s standards.
• Requires network plans to include essential community providers.
• Provides that the minimum ratio for each provider type shall not be less than any such ratio established in federally facilitated exchanges or by Medicare and Medicaid, even if the network plan is issued in the large group market or not issued through an exchange.
• Provides that the maximum travel time, distance standards, and appointment wait time standards shall not be greater than what is established in federally facilitated exchanges or by Medicare and Medicaid, even if the network plan is issued in the large group market or not issued through an exchange.
• Provides that if Medicare or Medicaid establishes more stringent standards for qualified health plans in federal exchanges, the federal standards shall supersede state standards for all network plans.
• Changes the requirements for insurers submitting a revised network adequacy filing.
• Allows the Director of the Department of Insurance to prohibit inadequate network plans from being renewed.
• Changes who is eligible for an ongoing course of treatment with a provider during a transitional period.
• Changes penalties and information requirements concerning a network plan’s directory.
• Clarifies how the Department of Insurance should investigate a complaint of incorrect charges.
• Lists information that shall not be deemed confidential.
• Creates a task force concerning uniform electronic provider directory information notification forms.
• Clarifies what approach insurers must take when proposing to offer a qualified health plan issued in the individual market.
• Establishes rules governing the premium rates and risk classifications of large group policies.
• Requires insurance companies using a drug formulary to post the formulary on their websites and lists what information must be included.
• Requires for coverage of inpatient mental health treatment.
• Clarifies definitions of “generally accepted standards of care,” “medically necessary,” “step therapy requirement,” and “utilization review.”
• Creates general standards and requirements for the use of utilization review criteria.

Short-Term Insurance Ban

HB 2499 (Morgan/Fine) amends the Illinois Insurance Code to ban short-term, limited duration, insurance plans in the Illinois. This legislation was originally a component of Gov. Pritzker’s health insurance reform package (HB 5395) but was removed from the package to become a stand-alone bill. HB 2499 passed the House unanimously on March 21, 2023, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 40-19-0 on May 23, and the House concurred by a vote of 72-35-0 on May 25. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Medical Debt Relief Act

HB 5290 (Ladisch Douglass/Simmons) creates the Medical Debt Relief Act establishing a Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program within the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). In accordance with the Act, it creates the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury to house funds for medical debt relief both from state appropriations and private charitable contributions. It provides that HFS will provide grant funding to a nonprofit medical debt relief coordinator, who shall negotiate and settle the medical debt of eligible residents, who earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or have medical debt equal or greater than 5% of the individual’s household income. It amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to add the amount of the medical debt relief to a taxpayer’s base income. HB 5290 passed the House unanimously on April 17, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 38-19-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 73-36-0 on May 28. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Elections Omnibus

HB 4488 (West/Morrison) creates an Elections Omnibus making various changes Election Code and other election-related statues. Details on specific provisions are listed below. HB 4488 passed the House unanimously on April 18, prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 51-3-3 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 68-38-0 on May 25. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

• Creates the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act requiring electors to pledge to nominate the candidate for President and Vice President of the political party that nominated them to be an elector. It additionally establishes a procedure for political parties to file alternate elector nominees with the Secretary of State in the case of an elector vacancy or an elector who votes in violation of their pledge.
• Requires that, except during the 27 days immediately preceding any election, the State Board of Elections shall make the statewide voter registration list available to the public, redacting telephone numbers, social security numbers, street numbers of home addresses, birth dates, identifiable portions of email addresses, and other highly sensitive personal information.
• Provides for vote-by-mail options for physically incapacitated voters who have made proper application to their election authority at least five days before the regular primary and general election.
• Requires pollical committees who receive contributions from vendors offering services or equipment for automated traffic law enforcement, automated speed enforcement, or automated railroad grade crossing enforcement to return the contribution or an amount equal to the contribution back to the donor or to a charity.
• Requires judicial review of circuit court decisions related to elections to be released within five days.
• Creates a procedure for park districts to prevent use of their buildings as polling places, if they can prove that use of that specific room would interfere with scheduled programming. If the park district and election authority cannot find a suitable alternative location, the county board would make the final decision on where the polling place will be located.
• Prohibits Cook County township supervisors from increasing or decreasing compensation for their own role only to take effect if a new person is elected to the position.

Mini Elections Omnibus

SB 2412 (Harmon/Hoffman) creates another election package with three major provisions. First, it changes election rules for filling ballot vacancies. Current state law offers three opportunities for a major party candidate to reach the General Election: (1) they can circulate petitions and win their primary, (2) run as a write-in candidate and win their primary, or (3) wait until after the primary occurred and be appointed to the ballot by local party chairs. The third option, known as “slating,” has been used by both parties in the past to appoint strong candidates while avoiding the campaign costs of the traditional electoral system. The bill eliminates slating for legislative offices effective immediately. Furthermore, the bill places three statewide non-binding advisory referenda on the 2024 general election ballot. The Election Worker Protection and Candidate Accountability Referendum Act will ask voters if candidates interfering with an election worker’s official duties should be subject to civil penalties; the Property Tax Relief and Fairness Referendum Act will ask if the Illinois Constitution should be amended to create an additional tax on income exceeding $1M to fund property tax relief; and the Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act will ask if all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilization, should be covered by any health insurance plan that covers pregnancy benefits. Finally, the bill extends the period for gathering candidate petition signatures by 28 days, so that the process will begin in August rather than September. SB 2412 passed the Senate unanimously on March 29, prior to being amended. It passed the House by a vote of 67-4-40 on May 1, and the Senate concurred by a vote of 35-3-18 on May 2. The bill was signed into law on May 3, becoming Public Act 103-586.

Carbon Capture and Sequestration

SB 1289 (Fine/A. Williams) creates the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration (SAFE CCS) Act establishing a regulatory framework for the emerging industry of carbon capture and sequestration. Details on specific provisions are listed below. SB 1289 passed the Senate unanimously on March 29, prior to being amended. It passed the House by a vote of 78-29-9 on May 25, and the Senate concurred by a vote of 43-12-2 on May 26. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

• Authorizes the Emergency Planning and Training Fund to appropriate funds that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security may spend to provide training exercises, equipment, and support for local emergency services and disaster agencies to prepare for future carbon dioxide pipelines and sequestration projects.
• Specifies training and emergency preparedness requirements prior to any pipeline becoming operational.
• Requires applicants to apply for necessary federal permits, hold public meetings, create an emergency operations plan, and contact landowners located near the proposed pipeline before the Commission can grant an application for a certificate of authority for a new carbon dioxide pipeline.
• Puts in place a carbon dioxide pipeline moratorium until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration finalizes updated safety rules for carbon dioxide pipelines or July 2026, whichever is sooner.
• Establishes a pipeline operator fee and specifies how the fees should be assessed and spent by the State.
• Makes it illegal to inject any carbon dioxide stream into wells, sell or transport carbon dioxide stream for use in oil or gas recovery, or operate any activity that may cause carbon dioxide to create water pollution.
• Lists application and permit requirements for carbon dioxide capture projects.
• Lists requirements for a report on minimum carbon capture standards and the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration technology.
• Requires 30 years of post-injection air and soil monitoring at project sites.
• Clarifies that existing well set back requirements apply to carbon capture storage projects.
• Requires the owner or operator of a sequestration activity to maintain financial assurance and insurance.
• Creates the Carbon Sequestration Long-Term Trust Fund, the Water Resources Fund, the Environmental Justice Grant Fund, and the Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Administrative Fund.
• Requires relevant entities to annually report the total tons of carbon dioxide injected, and entities will pay a per-tons sequestration fee depending on the status of a project labor agreement. It lists possible exemptions for project sites and specifies which State funds the fees shall enter.

Worker’s Compensation Omnibus

SB 1996 (Cunningham/Hoffman) creates a Worker’s Compensation Omnibus making changes to the Illinois Insurance Code and Workers’ Compensation Act. Details on specific provisions are listed below. SB 1996 passed the Senate unanimously on March 30, prior to being amended. It passed the House by a vote of 79-29-0 on May 22, and the Senate concurred by a vote of 44-14-0 on May 24. The bill was signed into law on June 5, becoming Public Act 103-590.

• Changes the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operations Fund Surcharge to 1.092% of the direct written premium.
• Clarifies that a Commission decision imposing penalties may be judicially reviewed only under certain circumstances. Upon expiration of the period for seeking judicial review, the Commission’s final decision may be enforced in the same manner as a judgement entered by a court.
• Requires employers to reimburse the Injured Workers’ Benefit Fund for any amounts paid to an employee on account of the compensation awarded by the Commission.
• Provides that the Chairman of the Commission may direct the State Treasurer to transfer up to $2M from the Self-Insurers Security Fund to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operation Funds in any fiscal year.
• Provides that the Chairman shall charge and collect an annual Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operations Fund Fee from relevant employers equal to 0.0081% of its annual actual wages paid in the state as reported in each employer’s annual self-insurance renewal.
• Provides that, within 60 days of July 15, 2024 and January 15, 2025, employers shall pay into the Rate Adjustment Fund a sum equal to 1.375% of compensation payments made in the prior six months.
• Makes it illegal to intentionally assist, abet, solicit, or conspire with any person preparing or providing an invalid, false, or counterfeit certificate of insurance, and lists sentencing details for different levels of violations.

TIF Extension Omnibus

SB 3563 (Curran/Yednock) extends tax increment financing (TIF) agreements in the following municipalities: the Village of Tremont, Village of Franklin Park, City of Jacksonville, City of Prophetstown, City of Ottawa, City of Salem, Village of Malta, City of Highland, City of Chicago, City of Des Plaines, City of Sullivan, Village of Rosemont, and City of Oak Forest. SB 3563 passed the Senate unanimously on April 12, prior to being amended. It passed the House by a vote of 92-11-0 on May 25, and the Senate concurred by a vote of 51-3-1 on May 26. It now awaits the governor’s signature.

Sunset Extension Omnibus

HB 4615 (Walsh/Hastings) extends the sunset dates of the following acts: the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, and the Public Utilities Act. It further amends the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act to provide that an authority may charge an application fee of $1,000 for each small wireless facility addressed in an application that includes the installation of a new utility pole, rather than a new utility, for such collocation. It allows an authority to charge recurring rates and application fees up to the amount permitted by the Federal Communication Commission and increases the annual small wireless facility fee for locating on an authority utility poll from $200 to $270. HB 4615 passed the House unanimously on April 16 prior to being amended. It passed the Senate unanimously on May 26, and the House unanimously concurred on May 28. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Task Force Omnibus

HB 4261 (Stuart/Hunter) creates a Task Force Omnibus extending the reporting dates for the following state task forces: Holistic Mental Health Care for Youth in Care Task Force, Community Land Trust Task Force, Illinois Flag Commission, Alternative Protein Innovation Task Force, Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force, and the Illinois Rental Housing Support Program Funding Allocation Task Force. It additionally establishes the Creative Economy Task Force under DCEO, adds two Chicago Police Officers to the membership of the Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women, and requires the Board of Governors of the Office of the State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor shall meet at least once every six months, rather than every three months. HB 4261 passed the House unanimously on April 15 prior to being amended. It passed the Senate by a vote of 51-5-0 on May 26, and the House concurred by a vote of 74-36-0 on May 28. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.