Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the design and color of registration plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. Provides that plates for veterans with disabilities who have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act shall pay a specified fee (instead of $24). Authorizes the Secretary to suspend or revoke a certificate or the special plates issued to tow truck or wrecker operator upon determining that the person is not lawfully entitled thereto or has made or knowingly permitted any illegal use of the plates or has committed fraud in the registration of vehicles or failed to give notices of transfers. Prohibits a vehicle from being registered in the name of a person who is not an owner or lessee of that vehicle. Requires a vehicle owner seeking to register a vehicle in the State to register that vehicle to a State address. Provides that it is a violation for a person to alter, forge, or counterfeit a license plate or digital license plate. Provides that if no assignable title is available when auctioning a vehicle, the auctioneer or dealer must apply for Illinois title for the purpose of assigning title. Provides that the renewal fee for licenses and permits issued to 18, 19, and 20 year olds is $5. Provides that the Secretary shall issue a meter-exempt decal or device to the parent of a person with a disability who is under 18 years of age and incapable of driving or the legal guardian of a person with a disability incapable of driving. Makes other changes.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Vision Benefit Managers Article. Beginning on July 1, 2026, requires a vision benefit manager to be registered with the Department of Insurance, as specified, to conduct business in the State. Requires amounts collected under provisions concerning vision benefit manager registration requirements to be deposited into the Low-Income Student Vision Examination Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Grants the Director or the Director's designee the authority to examine a registered vision benefit manager related to all of its lines of business. Amends the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Vision Benefit Manager Regulation Act. Establishes the legislative intent of the Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Throughout the Act, replaces references to vision care plans with vision benefit plans and vision benefit discount plans and vision care organizations with vision benefit managers. Sets forth provisions concerning required actions for noncovered services; fee schedules for eye care providers; reimbursement paid by a vision benefit manager to an eye care provider; application of the Act to a specified limited health service organization; an eye care provider's choice of vendors and affiliations; the modification of a plan; audits of an eye care provider; prohibited conduct impacting patient access and choice; credentialing; termination of agreements; prohibition on security interests; arbitration costs; nonretaliation; and private rights of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2027.
Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall award grants to not-for-profit fire departments exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (in addition to units of local government) for the rehabilitation or construction of fire stations.
Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that for all funds in the State treasury established to provide funding for the administration and operation of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's responsibilities, interest earned by the investment or deposit of moneys accumulated in the funds shall be deposited into the respective fund. Effective immediately.
Expresses strong support for the American High Speed Rail Act of 2026 and commends Illinois congressional delegation members for their leadership as original cosponsors of this landmark legislation. Urges the United States Congress to advance and pass the American High Speed Rail Act of 2026 and to ensure that any federal surface transportation reauthorization package includes substantial, dedicated funding for high-speed and higher-speed rail development nationwide. Calls upon the Trump administration to include robust funding for high-speed rail in its federal budget proposals. Affirms support for the ongoing work of the Illinois High Speed Rail Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation in developing a statewide high-speed rail plan. Recognizes this state-level planning effort represents the kind of serious groundwork that merits strong federal investment.
Amends the State Comptroller Act. Prohibits the State Comptroller from withholding, offsetting, or otherwise applying against any debt any funds payable to a unit of local government if those funds are restricted for a specific purpose by federal or State law, county ordinance, or grant agreement. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Exempts all funds, revenues, or accounts that are restricted by federal law, State, law, county ordinance, or grant agreement for a specific public purpose from garnishment, attachment, or any other legal process to satisfy a judgment or debt. Effective immediately.
Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. Changes the income eligibility levels used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may license and regulate all commercial operations within the municipality's boundaries, whether for profit or not for profit, but may not impose any tax upon their operations except as otherwise authorized by law. Limits the definition of "commercial operations" to exclude agritourism operations, agricultural properties, agribusinesses, agritourism activities, agricultural experiences, and pollution control facilities.
Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that disbursements shall be made from the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund for the payment of contingency fees to third-party entities that the Office of Inspector General authorizes to conduct payment recapture audits and other specified audits under the medical assistance program.
Urges the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Pritzker Administration to delay cuts to Direct Service Professional (DSP) service hours set to begin January 1,2026, until such time as the State is prepared to implement the "Zero Hour" Staffing Model, to protect the services depended on by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
