Sen. Tom Bennett

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a program to award property tax relief grants to property taxpayers within school districts in this State. Provides that the State Board of Education shall work with county clerk's offices in this State to determine the amount given to each property taxpayer. Provides that moneys awarded to property taxpayers shall be distributed pro rata based on the amount a property taxpayer paid in taxes in the previous fiscal year. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of awarding grants. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds public institutions of higher education to the list of organizations from which cost-effective energy efficiency measures may be procured for purposes of the Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a technical correction to the Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act by updating the short title. The amendment clarifies the specific types of educator licenses required for teachers to receive certain benefits under the program. By revising the text to include "Professional Educator License" alongside other career and technical endorsements, the law ensures precise definitions for eligible staff. This change affects military children's education support programs by aligning the legal language with current teacher certification standards. The update was approved by the Governor and became effective on July 1, 2024.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it is unlawful to take wild turkey except by use of a bow and arrow or a shotgun of not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than .410 bore (rather than no smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4). Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may by administrative rule restrict shot size, material, or density.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile, on an annual basis, a list of the most in-demand jobs in this State, along with the starting salary, the median salary, and the typical education level for those jobs. Provides that the Board shall make the list available to the public on its Internet website. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that "policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that is age and developmentally appropriate. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a ballot initiative committee or an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters, and neither a ballot initiative committee nor an independent expenditure committee may knowingly solicit or accept a contribution from a foreign national for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Provides that a foreign national may not make an independent expenditure for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Automated Telephone Answering Equipment Act, requires businesses with 50 or more employees to offer callers the option of speaking to a live person during normal business hours. The law applies specifically to companies operating within the state and excludes systems used solely for general information or those allowing customers to complete transactions entirely by pressing touch-tone keys. Violations of this requirement could result in a civil penalty of $10,000 per incident, which would be paid to the Secretary of State and enforced by the Attorney General.

Appropriates the sum of $200,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to reimburse an eligible electric utility serving adversely impacted residential and small commercial customers. Effective July 1, 2023.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a child care credit in an amount equal to 25% of the federal tax credit for each qualifying child. Effective immediately.