Sen. Don DeWitte

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a pensioner, annuitant, applicant for a refund, disability beneficiary, or other beneficiary does not have the right to transfer or assign his or her pension, annuity, refund, or disability benefit, or any part thereof, by mortgage or otherwise; except that an annuitant or disability beneficiary may direct, in writing, that a monthly payment be made to an association or organization with which the annuitant or disability beneficiary or the annuitant's or disability beneficiary's surviving spouse may be affiliated by virtue of his or her fire service or for hospitalization insurance purposes.

Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, organization, joint venture, importer, or domestic distributor of firefighting agents or firefighting equipment that sells firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS chemicals to any person, local government, or State agency shall provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale which shall state: (i) that the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS chemicals; and (ii) the reason PFAS chemicals are added to the equipment. Requires the seller and the purchaser of the equipment to retain a copy of the required notice on file for at least 3 years from the date of the purchase. Provides that, upon the request of the Agency, the seller shall furnish the notice, or written copies, and associated sales documentation to the Agency within 60 days of such request. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, a person that sells firefighting personal protective equipment to any person, local government, or State agency shall not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in the State any firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. Defines terms.

Amends the Administrative Adjudications Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an ordinance established under the Division to establish a system of administrative adjudication shall allow hearing officers presiding over adjudicatory hearings to enter orders prohibiting further code violations or compelling the remediation of existing code violations.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows vehicles used by by local emergency services and disaster agencies, when responding to a bona fide emergency and when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, to install and operate a traffic control signal preemption device.

Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Deletes a provision that authorized certain rules to be adopted, amended, or repealed by filing a certified copy with the Secretary of State. Deletes a corresponding cross-reference in a provision concerning the incorporation by reference of certain materials in rules adopted by a State agency.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Exempts any tiny home for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of secure, long-term affordable housing, if that tiny home is constructed by a specified nonprofit organization that exclusively funds and administers tiny homes for veterans. Provides that every county and municipality that has the power to issue building permits and otherwise control the construction of buildings shall require by ordinance that an applicant seeking a building permit to construct tiny homes for at-risk veterans must include with the permit application a completed and signed affidavit stating that all buildings constructed under the permit are designated for the exclusive use of qualifying veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of secure, long-term affordable housing. Prohibits a county or municipality, including a home rule unit, from adopting any building code or ordinance that requires EV-capable parking spaces for tiny homes constructed for the purpose of providing affordable housing for at-risk veterans under the provisions. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall maintain a human trafficking unit to coordinate services, initiate prevention efforts, and provide access to resources for case-management staff to serve youth in care who have been determined to be victims of human trafficking or assessed to be at high risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking, as well as ensure a prompt response by the Department to recover youth in care in the custody of law enforcement. Provides that the Department shall incorporate services for all child trafficking victims into the community-based services provided by the Department. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall develop a strategic plan, in consultation with advocates and survivors, to establish a statewide system of identification and response to survivors of human trafficking and recommended levels of funding for phase-in of comprehensive victim-centered, trauma-informed statewide services for victims of human trafficking, including adults and children, and to sex and labor trafficking victims and require victim-centered, trauma-informed human trafficking training for caseworkers, treatment providers, investigators, foster parents, and residential home personnel. Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall develop a strategic plan to improve victim-centered, trauma-informed law enforcement response to victims of human trafficking across the State. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall work with the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement, victim-centered, trauma-informed human trafficking service providers, and survivor leaders to develop, curriculum standards for training on victim-centered, trauma-informed detection, investigation, and response to human trafficking victims certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Amends various other Acts concerning various agencies responsibilities of addressing human trafficking. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2025, the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is $75,000. Provides that, for taxable year 2026 and subsequent taxable years, the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code or any rule adopted under the Code, a nonresident who is employed as a public safety worker may operate in this State an authorized emergency vehicle if the nonresident possesses the license class required by the nonresident's state of residence to operate similar equipment and the nonresident has completed the Fire Service Vehicle Operator program of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.