Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Creates the Civil Remedies for Nonconsensual Recording of Children Act. Creates a civil action for a child or the parent or legal guardian on behalf of a child if a person (1) makes a video record or transmits a live video of the child without the consent of the child's parent or guardian in a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room, or hotel residence; or (2) makes a video record or transmits a live video of a child without the consent of the child's parent or guardian in a residence in which the child does not reside. Provides for exceptions. Provides that a child who proves by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant violated the Act against the child is considered obviously and materially harmful to the child and is per se harmful and traumatic. Authorizes a prevailing plaintiff to recover: (1) the greater of: (A) economic and noneconomic damages proximately caused by the defendant's violation of the Act, including but not limited to damages for emotional distress whether or not accompanied by other damages; or (B) statutory damages, not to exceed $10,000, against each defendant found liable under the Act; (2) punitive damages; and (3) reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Provides that an action under the Act may not be brought no later than 2 years from the date the cause of action was discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of reasonable diligence. Tolls the statute of limitation until the child becomes emancipated or attains the age of majority. Provides that if a State agency or unit of local government is required by law or ordinance to inspect a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room, or hotel residence, the State agency or unit of local government must also inspect for hidden cameras. Provides that if a hidden camera is discovered, the owner or operator of the inspected location must post a public notice advising of the camera and the area it films. Provides that the notice must be in English and any other language that is spoken by a significant number of local residents in that area. Provides that the Act applies to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill primarily updates tax and bond laws in Illinois to support large-scale construction projects known as megaprojects. It allows the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to certify specific building projects, granting eligible developers a temporary exemption from state and local taxes on building materials for up to 15 years. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that public corporations can no longer levy taxes to pay off bonds once the debt is fully paid or the bond matures. The bill also requires that future bond referenda be held during general elections rather than at regularly scheduled times, while making various technical adjustments to existing tax acts.

Maddy summaryHB 2137 makes a technical amendment to the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995. This bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of that existing act.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow assisted living establishments and supportive living establishments to provide an approved course of training for certified nursing assistants at the establishment, so long as the training meets the requirements of the Nursing Home Care Act and rules adopted by the Department. Sets forth provisions concerning the supervised clinical training portion of the training program. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules requiring that the Health Care Worker Registry include information identifying where an individual received clinical training and may amend specified rules as necessary to implement the certified nursing assistant training program.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires an instructors license application to be accompanied by a medical examination report completed by a competent physician licensed to practice in the State under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a physician assistant licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act (rather than by a competent medical examiner).

Amends the County Shelter Care and Detention Home Act, the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the Village Library Act, the Libraries in Parks Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the Probation and Probation Officers Act to require the placement of contact information for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Amends the School Code. With respect to the comprehensive health education program, provides that a school board shall require each public school serving students in any of grades 6 through 12 to assess courses and seminars available to those students through their regular academic experiences and implement age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention curricula if opportunities for integration exist. Further amends the Unified Code of Corrections. In provisions concerning an inmate's successful transition to the community, provides that release planning shall include access to suicide prevention resources.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHR 112 is a resolution that expresses the belief that the Illinois Income Tax Act should not be amended to permit the taxation of retirement income. It advocates against any future changes that would allow the state to tax the income of retirees in Illinois.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Legislative Ethics Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before issuing a subpoena. Provides that any existing rule, as of the effective date of the amendatory Act, requiring the Legislative Inspectors General to seek the Commission's advanced approval before issuing a subpoena is void. Provides that within 60 days after receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head, the Executive and Legislative Ethics Commissions shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response (currently, report required to be made public only if it resulted in a suspension of at least 3 days or termination of employment). Removes language providing that the Legislative Inspector General needs the advanced approval of the Commission to issue subpoenas. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.