Budget & Taxes

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Creates the Illinois Future Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish the Direct Cash Assistance Program, which will provide qualifying individuals with a monthly cash payment of $500. Allows the Department of Human Services to adopt rules. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act regarding the Illinois Future Fund and further amends the Act in provisions regarding the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that the 25% of the monthly amount transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund that is transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund shall be changed, beginning July 1, 2027, according to the following schedule: (i) for the 2028 fiscal year, the excess between the amount transferred during the 2027 calendar year and the amount transferred in the 2026 calendar year shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Illinois Future Fund, and the remainder of the 25% of the monthly amount transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund; (ii) for the 2029 fiscal year, only 20% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 5% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (iii) for the 2030 fiscal year, only 15% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 10% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (iv) for the 2031 fiscal year, only 10% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 15% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; (v) for the 2032 fiscal year, only 5% shall be transferred to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund and 20% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund; and (vi) for the 2033 fiscal year and all subsequent fiscal years, 25% shall be transferred to the Illinois Future Fund.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to special education teacher scholarships, provides that up to 50 additional scholarships may be awarded each year to persons who qualify, subject to appropriation to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for this purpose.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago for costs associated with funding equitable mortgage lending and homebuyer subsidies, foreclosure prevention services, and other support. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Creates a homestead exemption in the amount of a reduction of $5,000 from the equalized assessed value of property of the surviving spouse of a police officer or firefighter who is killed in the line of duty. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safe Place to Go Act. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services' Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, to apply for a Medicaid State Plan amendment or federal waiver within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act to draw federal financial participation for crisis triage and stabilization services provided by behavioral health urgent care centers to support adults or children 5 years of age and older who are in an active mental health crisis and adults 18 years of age and older in a substance use crisis. Sets forth the services provided by behavioral health urgent care centers that shall be covered, including, but not limited to, crisis triage services, crisis stabilization services, and medication monitoring. Contains provisions concerning the use of the Illinois Mental Health Crisis Assessment Tool to determine an individual's eligibility or medical need for crisis stabilization services; telehealth and on-site services; safe sobering services; linkages to enable rapid transition to next level of care; length of stay; the development of a single bundle rate for crisis triage services and 2 separate per diem reimbursement rates for crisis stabilization services and safe sobering services; no prior authorization requirements; and the establishment of a working group to provide meaningful input on the establishment, operations, staffing, and financing of behavioral health urgent care centers. Requires the Department to adopt rules within 6 months after federal approval of its State Plan amendment or federal waiver application, if granted. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that qualifies for the senior citizens homestead exemption is exempt from taxation under the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a municipality may, by ordinance, designate an area within its jurisdiction as a retail improvement abatement area if the area (i) is a contiguous area, (ii) consists of at least one-half square mile and  not more than 12 square miles, exclusive of lakes and waterways, and (iii) has a vacancy rate for retail properties that exceeds 40% at the time the ordinance is adopted. Provides that owners of retail property that is in a retail improvement abatement area may enter into one or more agreements with any of the taxing districts in which the property is located to abate all or a portion of the taxes levied by the taxing district on the subject property. Provides that the agreement shall require the property owner to make a special payment to the taxing district in lieu of the property taxes that would otherwise be imposed on the property.

Appropriates the sum of $2,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for a grant to Safer Pathways to support the Supportive Reentry Network Collaborative. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the equalized assessed value of property in a general assessment year, other than long-term ownership property, shall not exceed the equalized assessed value of the property in the immediately preceding general assessment year, increased by the lesser of: (1) 3% of the equalized assessed value of the property for the immediately preceding general assessment year; or (2) the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year preceding the general assessment year for which the property is being reassessed. Provides that the equalized assessed value of long-term ownership property in a general assessment year shall not exceed the equalized assessed value of the property in the immediately preceding general assessment year increased by 2% of the equalized assessed value of the property for the immediately preceding general assessment year. Defines "long-term ownership property". Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that provisions allowing a chief county assessment officer to renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without an annual application apply permanently. Effective immediately.