Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

Creates the Illinois Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall enter into partnerships with drug companies or manufactures to: (i) increase competition, lower prices, and address shortages in the market for generic prescription drugs; (ii) reduce the cost of prescription drugs for public and private purchasers, taxpayers, and consumers; and (iii) increase patient access to affordable drugs. Provides that such partnerships shall be made with the intent to ensure the wide availability of generic prescription drugs to public and private purchasers, providers and suppliers, and pharmacies as appropriate. Requires that such drugs must be produced or distributed by a drug company or generic drug manufacturer that is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Sets forth price setting criteria and a list of the most common generic prescription drugs that are to be produced and distributed through the partnerships. Requires the Department to consult with other State agencies, licensed health care service plans, health insurers, hospitals, and pharmacy benefit managers in maintaining the list of generic prescription drugs. Contains provisions concerning minimum drug procurement thresholds; reporting requirements; and other matters. Makes implementation of the Act subject to appropriation. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions take effect on January 1, 2029.

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.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Agriculture to create a grant program to award grants of up to $250,000, subject to appropriation, to cover the costs and labor of any qualified applicant farmer to distribute healthy, free food to expectant mothers in need who reside in the same county or in a municipality within 20 miles of the farmer's farm, with certain requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Amends Public Act 103-0589. Increases the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for ordinary and contingent administrative expenses from $4,500,000 to $8,500,000. Effective immediately.

Creates the Emergency Co-Response Grant Act. Provides that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall, subject to appropriation, make grants to law enforcement departments to establish or maintain a co-response unit. Defines terms, including "co-response unit" to mean a unit of a law enforcement department featuring a specially trained team focused on de-escalation that includes at least one law enforcement officer and at least one clinician or trained civilian directly dispatched to emergency calls in which a behavioral health crisis is likely to be involved. Establishes requirements for applications for grants and use of grant moneys from the Emergency Co-Response Grant Fund. Requires each law enforcement department receiving a grant under the Act to submit a report to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Agency, which shall also be posted on each law enforcement department's website, after July 1, 2031 but before January 1, 2032 on the programmatic and fiscal savings associated with co-response units, key conclusions, populations served, the benefits conferred or realized, and resulting policy recommendations to provide guidance to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Agency in fully implementing and scaling permanent units. Requires joint adoption of rules to implement the Act, including requirements for law enforcement department co-response units receiving grants under the Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2033. Amends the State Finance Act creating the Emergency Co-Response Grant Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals, the Department of Human Services shall develop and implement a transitional benefits program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a TANF or SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should the beneficiary's income exceed the maximum allowable income under the TANF or SNAP program. Provides that the transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income. Sets forth monthly benefits amounts based on monthly household income. Requires beneficiaries to comply with TANF and SNAP work requirements. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement, by July 1, 2026, a program to allow recipients to receive transitional child care benefits without the requirement that such recipients first be eligible for full child care benefits. Provides that transitional child care benefits shall be determined on a sliding scale for recipients with household incomes in excess of the eligibility level for full benefits. Sets forth the sliding benefit schedule for the program. Requires the Department to track the number of participants in the program and issue an annual report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027 and by September 1 each year thereafter, detailing the effectiveness of the program in encouraging recipients to secure employment earning an income greater than the maximum wage eligible for the full child care benefit. Requires the Department to pursue all necessary waivers from the federal government to implement the program. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department shall limit any initial application for the SNAP, TANF, or the Child Care Assistance Program to a one-page form that is easily accessible on the Department's website. Provides that persons participating in TANF, SNAP, or the Child Care Assistance Program who are required to complete a periodic eligibility review form, may submit such form as an attachment to their Illinois income tax return. Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

Amends the Safe Schools Law of the School Code. In provisions concerning funding, provides that in any fiscal year in which the State funding allocation is at or above $22,730,000, each alternative school program shall receive $100,000 for that fiscal year (instead of receiving funding in the amount of $30,000), plus an amount based on the ratio of an educational service region's or the Chicago public school system's average student enrollment (instead of best 3 months' average daily attendance in grades pre-kindergarten through 12) to the statewide totals of these amounts. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends Public Act 103-0589. Increases the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for ordinary and contingent administrative expenses from $4,500,000 to $8,500,000. Effective immediately.

Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Act. Adds a licensed occupational therapist and a licensed occupational therapy assistant to the list of health care professionals that may receive a grant of $15,000 or less per year from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, subject to appropriation, for a maximum of 4 years.

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a transitional benefits program for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should his or her income exceed the maximum allowable income for the SNAP program. Provides that transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income thereby allowing for a transition to self-sufficiency while incentivizing work and financial stability. Sets forth how a SNAP beneficiary's transitional benefit will be determined under the transitional benefits program. Requires SNAP beneficiaries who are receiving transitional benefits to comply with all SNAP requirements, including work requirements. Makes implementation of the transitional benefits program subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective January 1, 2026.