Rep. Brad Stephens

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Provides that the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters Act of 1984 is repealed on January 1, 2030 (rather than January 1, 2025). Amends the Illinois Certified Shorthand Reporters Act of 1984. Provides that all applicants and registrants shall: (1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for registration or renewal of a registration; and (2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department's licensure maintenance unit. Provides that every application for an original licensee under the Act shall include the applicant's Social Security Number or individual taxpayer identification number. Provides that the report of findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations of the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board shall be the basis for the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation's (rather than the Department's) action regarding a certificate. Provides that within 20 days after service of a notice of report of refusal to issue or renew, the respondent may present to the Secretary (rather than to the Department) a motion in writing for a rehearing. Removes a provision providing that exhibits shall be certified without cost. Repeals a provision concerning a roster. Makes corresponding and other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Removes a provision repealing the Risk Retention Companies Article of the Illinois Insurance Code on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall create, and the Department of Labor shall make available, at no cost, a veterans and service members' benefits, services, and protections poster. Requires the poster to include, but not be limited to, information regarding free veterans' benefits and services provided by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and other veterans service organizations, tax benefits, the Illinois veteran driver's license and non-driver veteran identification card, and Illinois protections for survivors of sexual violence in the military. Requires the poster to also include contact information for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Veterans Crisis Line. Effective January 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all reports involving railroad fatalities and all communications between police officers and train crew members involved in those occurrences shall not be public reports and shall be maintained by the police departments in a manner that ensures their confidentiality. Provides that these reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times upon written request to the host railroad, to the employing railroad, by court order, and to others specifically authorized by court order to obtain the information if the access is necessary in the performance of their duties. Provides that all such reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times, upon written or electronic mail request, to law enforcement officers, State's Attorneys, or Assistant State's Attorneys. Provides that communications between police officers and railroad employees of the incidents may be shared with these persons if the access is necessary in the performance of their duties.

Creates the O'Hare Driver Safety Act. Provides that a person operating a motor vehicle shall not stop or stand the person's vehicle on a shoulder of a highway including the highway entrance and exit ramps or on the side of a roadway within a 2-mile radius surrounding O'Hare International Airport. Establishes that a person who violates the provisions shall be subject to a $100 fine. Limits the liability of a vehicle lessor if specified conditions are met. Requires the Illinois Toll Highway Authority to install and maintain automated traffic safety systems along traffic routes within a 2-mile radius of O'Hare International Airport. Requires all fine proceeds to be deposited into the Illinois State Police Highway Enforcement Fund. Requires the Authority to adopt rules to implement and administer the Act. Defines terms.

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that "alcoholic liquor" includes alcohol-infused products. Defines "alcohol-infused products" and "co-branded alcoholic beverage". Provides that, except for persons issued a license under the Act, no person shall manufacture, distribute, or sell alcohol-infused products. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to similar products that are not alcohol-infused products or immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor area that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images or immediately adjacent to products that are not alcohol-infused products. Provides that any retail establishment with a retail sales floor that is equal to or less than 2,500 square feet shall either not display alcohol-infused products or co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to specified products or equip the display with specified signage. Prohibits retail licensees from keeping, exposing for sale, or displaying alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to products marketed toward children.

Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that no person shall cause electronic cigarettes ordered or purchased by mail, through the Internet, or other remote sale methods, to be shipped to anyone in the State other than (i) a distributor, as defined in specified Acts, or (ii) a retailer, as defined in specified Acts. Effective immediately.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services may establish or authorize a program for dispensing and distributing fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may acquire fentanyl test strips, train individuals in the use of fentanyl test strips, and distribute fentanyl test strips. Provides that the Department may award grants for the purchasing and distributing of fentanyl test strips. Requires every law enforcement agency and fire department that responds to emergency medical calls to possess fentanyl test strips and to distribute fentanyl test strips to the public at no charge. Permits law enforcement agencies and relevant fire departments to apply to the Department for grants to fund acquisition of fentanyl test strips and related training programs. Requires every health care facility to possess fentanyl test strips and to make available fentanyl test strips to the public. Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Adds fentanyl test strips to the needle and hypodermic syringe access program.

Amends the Regional Planning Act. Removes provisions relating to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's Wastewater Committee. Provides that approval of four-fifths of the Board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning members in office is necessary for the Board to take action regarding the Agency's budget and work plan, a regional plan, the annual federally funded program, the legislative agenda, and any matter regarding the executive director, but action on all other matters shall be taken in accordance with the Board's bylaws. Provides that the Board shall continue directly involving local elected officials in federal program allocation decisions for any other federally suballocated funding as required by law (rather than only directly involving local elected officials in federal program allocation decisions for the Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds). Repeals provisions relating to succession and transfers related to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and a transition period of the Board. Provides that each General Assembly shall appropriate dedicated funding to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to fulfill those functions and programs authorized by the Act (rather than additional funding shall be provided to the Agency to support those functions and programs authorized by the Act). Makes other changes.

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.