Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Vision Benefit Managers Article. Beginning on July 1, 2026, requires a vision benefit manager to be registered with the Department of Insurance, as specified, to conduct business in the State. Requires amounts collected under provisions concerning vision benefit manager registration requirements to be deposited into the Low-Income Student Vision Examination Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Grants the Director or the Director's designee the authority to examine a registered vision benefit manager related to all of its lines of business. Amends the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Vision Benefit Manager Regulation Act. Establishes the legislative intent of the Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Throughout the Act, replaces references to vision care plans with vision benefit plans and vision benefit discount plans and vision care organizations with vision benefit managers. Sets forth provisions concerning required actions for noncovered services; fee schedules for eye care providers; reimbursement paid by a vision benefit manager to an eye care provider; application of the Act to a specified limited health service organization; an eye care provider's choice of vendors and affiliations; the modification of a plan; audits of an eye care provider; prohibited conduct impacting patient access and choice; credentialing; termination of agreements; prohibition on security interests; arbitration costs; nonretaliation; and private rights of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. In provisions concerning teledentistry, provides that an initial examination for new patients, excluding patients seeking orthodontic treatment, may be conducted through teledentistry if the authorizing dentist establishes a bona fide dentist-patient relationship by reviewing the patient's medical and dental history and verifying both the patient's identity and physical location to ensure that dental care is being administered within the State. Provides that an initial examination for orthodontia treatment shall be performed in person only. Requires an in-person clinical examination to be performed immediately before providing or authorizing services or treatments to patients that are not reversible. Provides that, for ongoing dentist-patient relationships, dentists shall strongly encourage patients to be seen in person at least annually. Makes other changes.

Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall award grants to not-for-profit fire departments exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (in addition to units of local government) for the rehabilitation or construction of fire stations.

Creates the Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Requires the Department of Public Health to create educational materials regarding menopause, including symptoms, treatment options, and patient rights for distribution to the public online. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that on or after January 1, 2028, all individual and group health insurance policies issued, renewed, or amended must provide coverage for medically necessary evaluation and treatment of perimenopause and menopause as determined by a licensed health care provider using evidence-based guidelines. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides if a licensee treats or evaluates patients suffering from menopause-related conditions, 5 hours of the required 50 hours must include continuing education on menopause care, including management of symptoms, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, and bone health. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines "menopause-related condition" includes perimenopause, menopause, and associated medical or symptomatic conditions, including, but not limited to, vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruption, cognitive or mood changes, and osteoporosis-related changes. Provides that it is a civil rights violation to unlawfully discriminate because of a menopause-related condition or fail or refuse to provide reasonable accommodations.

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Criminal Justice Clients Article of the Substance Use Disorder Act. Changes references from "treatment" to "case management" and changes the name of the Article. Provides that nothing in provisions concerning case management shall preclude any individual with a substance use disorder who is charged with or convicted of a crime from receiving case management services with a designated program if such services are ordered by the court. Provides that the court, with the consent of the defendant and the State's Attorney, may, without entering a judgment, sentence the defendant to probation under a provision concerning case management as a condition of probation. Provides that the sentence to probation under the provisions shall not be considered a conviction under Illinois law unless and until judgment is entered upon violation of a term or condition of probation. Provides that, upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against the person. Provides that case management services by a designated program may be made a condition of pretrial release, and failure to comply with such services may be treated as a violation of a condition of pretrial release. Requires the designated program to make periodic progress reports regarding each such defendant to the appropriate pretrial services agency or Office of Statewide Pretrial Services and to report failures to comply with the requirements of the designated program. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. In provisions concerning fishing licenses, provides that the holder of a lifetime fishing or hunting license or a lifetime sportsmen's combination license that was purchased on or after January 1, 2027 must pay the corresponding resident or non-resident fee when purchasing any permits or stamps required under the Code or the Wildlife Code based on the license holder's current permanent abode when purchasing the permit or stamp. Further provides that, if the lifetime license holder does not live in Illinois at the time of application for any lotteries, drawings, permits, or stamps that are issued or held pursuant to the Code, the Wildlife Code, or any administrative rules issued pursuant to the Code or the Wildlife Code, that lifetime license holder shall be considered a non-resident for purposes of all lotteries, drawings, permits, or stamps issued or held pursuant to the Code, the Wildlife Code, or any administrative rules issued pursuant to the Code or the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall suspend the privileges of any person who pleads guilty to, is found guilty of, or receives court supervision for a violation of provisions concerning fee fishing areas. Provides that the Department may refuse to issue, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke any license issued under the Code if the Department finds that the licensed area or its operator is not in compliance with these requirements. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "implement of husbandry" to exclude any farm wagon, wagon trailer, or similar vehicle having a gross weight of more than 80,000 (rather than 36,000) pounds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires every insurer to provide in each group or individual policy, contract, or certificate of insurance issued or renewed for persons who are residents of the State, coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for all patients 30 (instead of 35) years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer within the provisions of the policy, contract, or certificate. Requires coverage for a baseline mammogram for patients 30 to 34 (instead of 35 to 39) years of age and an annual mammogram for patients 35 (instead of 40) years of age or older. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the chief procurement officer having jurisdiction over construction-related services for the Department of Central Management Services also has jurisdiction over construction procurements for the Department of Central Management Services. Amends the Design-Build Procurement Act. Extends the repeal of the Act until January 1, 2030 (currently, January 1, 2027). Effective immediately.

Amends the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act. Provides that, unless driving is an essential job function or is related to a legitimate business purpose for a position, an employer or employment agency shall not: (1) refuse to hire, segregate, or act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, or privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of an applicant or employee not possessing a driver's license; or (2) include a statement in a posting for a job opening for the position that an applicant must have a valid driver's license. Defines "driver's license". Effective January 1, 2027.