Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the University of Illinois for the purpose of increasing the extension service trust fund allocation for the University of Illinois Extension program to enable the University of Illinois Extension program to achieve the stated purpose of the Farmland Transition Commission under the Farmland Transition Commission Act, which includes examining current barriers individuals ages 25 through 40 years old face when trying to purchase or access farmland, reviewing current incentives and policies to encourage the transfer of farmland to current or prospective farmers ages 25 through 40 years old, and compiling resources about and assisting current and prospective farmers ages 25 through 40 years old with barriers in purchasing or otherwise accessing farmland for farm operations. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. In provisions concerning competitive sealed bidding, provides that a contract for supplies may be awarded using a market basket analysis to evaluate the lowest price a vendor can offer for a representative sample of supplies.
Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the Illinois Down Payment Assistant Grant Program to offer grants for eligible applicants purchasing their first farms in the State. Effective July 1, 2026.
Creates the District Energy and Thermal Energy Storage Parity Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish an optional certification process for Qualified District Energy Infrastructure. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to support certain projects. Provides that, within 180 days after the effective date of the Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed proceeding to develop standardized thermal service agreement templates, suitable for developer financing and underwriting, and minimum requirements for customer rate stabilization options. Provides that a developer shall obtain a District Energy Feasibility Assessment from a qualified preparer for certain projects. Sets forth requirements for the content of the District Energy Feasibility Assessment. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and make available to units of local government a municipal alignment toolkit to facilitate the development and expansion of district energy systems. Requires the Department to establish and administer a district energy expansion program to support the development expansion, modernization, and decarbonization of district energy systems in the State. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Authority may provide loans, credit enhancements, interest rate buydowns, loan loss reserves, or other financial assistance for the development, construction, expansion, or operation of the Qualified Energy Infrastructure and Dispatchable Thermal Energy Storage. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Creates the Thermal Energy Storage Credit procurement program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy evaluation in State procurements. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions. Amends the Property Tax Code. Defines "commercial energy storage system". Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy enabling measures and heat recovery incentives. Makes other changes.
Creates the Distressed Farmers Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall fund and administer programs to address the needs of distressed farmers. Amends The Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, each taxpayer who is a distressed farmer and who incurs qualified farming expenses during the taxable year is entitled to a tax credit in an amount equal to 100% of those qualified farming expenses, not to exceed $50,000 per taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that qualified farming expenses include: (1) repairing tractors, trailers, and other vehicles; (2) purchasing, repairing, or constructing greenhouses and other covers for agricultural products; (3) purchasing tractors with tillers and other attachments; and (4) planting or harvesting food that will be delivered to an underserved community.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Procurement Policy Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $587,000.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Procurement Policy Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $587,000.
Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each State purchasing agency shall submit a procurement reform report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Creates the Reforming State Procurement Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct public hearings to review and take testimony on the reports filed by the State purchasing agencies. Provides that the Task Force shall submit certain reports. Effective immediately.
Creates the School Spending Efficiency and Relief Act. Requires each school district to undertake budgetary and expenditure control actions to ensure that administrative expenditures do not exceed 15% of the school district's total operating expenditures. Requires any school district with administrative expenditures exceeding 15% of its total operating expenditures to implement a mandatory annual reduction plan that reduces administrative expenditures by 1% for such time as is required to bring the school district into compliance. Prohibits any school district that is out of compliance from hiring additional administrative personnel. Requires each school district to post an annual budget report online. Allows a school district to increase its tax levy only if the average student enrollment increases by an amount proportional to the tax levy. Requires a school district to decrease its tax levy by a proportional amount whenever the school district's average student enrollment declines. Requires any new contract for a superintendent or assistant superintendent position to be made publicly available at least 30 days prior to approval. Requires any proposal by a school district to increase expenditures on outside consultants and any consultant contract in excess of $25,000 to be made publicly available at least 30 days prior to approval. Requires each school district to enact a budget that either maintains or increases instructional spending as a percentage of total school district expenditures. Provides for a State mandate relief block grant program and a voluntary statewide purchasing consortium. Makes other changes. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2032. Effective immediately.
Appropriates the amount of $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Central Management Services for the purpose of making a grant to Amp AI, doing business as Nozma, to conduct a procurement modernization and artificial intelligence pilot program. Effective July 1, 2026.
