Harry Benton D

Encourages State agencies to regulate the use of electrical lights in State buildings and facilities to better conserve energy and to minimize light pollution. Urges electrical lights in State buildings and facilities to be turned off unless the building or facility or that part of it is occupied, unless the building or facility is open 24-hours a day, limited to …

Amends the Animal Welfare Act. In provisions concerning the acceptance of stray dogs and cats, provides that an animal shelter shall allow access to the public to view the animals housed there, and access to in-person viewing of the animals at the animal shelter shall not be restricted, except during emergency circumstances. Provides that "access to the public" means in-person …

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Replaces provisions concerning restrictions on advertising with language that provides that a licensee may advertise its video gaming operation through permanent physical signage, as long as the signage is securely affixed and not temporary or movable.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a grant made by the Department of Transportation to municipalities and airport authorities for the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities must include a condition that the renovation, construction, and development of airport facilities is covered by a project labor agreement entered into with …

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a contributing employee may establish additional service credit for periods of full-time employment with the federal government or a unit of state or local government located outside Illinois for which he or she does not qualify for credit under any other provision of the State Employee Article of …

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Requires each public institution of higher education in the State to adopt a policy that authorizes a student to withdraw from the public institution of higher education under extenuating circumstances, which shall include a provision to refund a student for tuition and fees and room and board costs paid by the student or the …

Creates the Conservation of Energy in State Government Act. Requires the electrical lights in State buildings and facilities to be turned off unless: (1) the building or facility or that part of it is occupied; (2) the building or facility is open 24-hours a day; or (3) the lighting is required for security or safety purposes.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, a political committee shall not bear the same name as, nor include the name of any established political committee. Effective immediately.

Appropriates the sum of $50,000,000 from the Capital Projects Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the DuPage Children’s Museum for costs associated with capital improvements. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population of over 3,000,000, the minimum setback distance for new developments is 150 feet away from any arterial street. Defines "arterial street" for the purposes of the provisions.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurance policies to be written in language easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education. Provides the factors the Director of Insurance shall consider in making the determination that the policy is easily readable and understandable by a person of average intelligence and education.

Amends the Public Adjusters Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Removes provisions allowing a public adjuster to have a direct or indirect financial interest in an aspect of the claim if the public adjuster provides the insured a written disclosure. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for emergency medical services delivered by an out-of-network provider on the same terms as coverage that would be provided for an in-network provider. Provides that …

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that if a student resides with a parent in the State and that parent is an active military member at the time the student enrolls, registers, or submits an enrollment deposit to a public institution of higher education in the State, the student shall be guaranteed the in-State tuition rate for the entirety …

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Removes the Collection Agency Act from the list of Acts being repealed under the Act. Amends the Collection Agency Act. Makes changes concerning defined terms; exempt persons and entities under the Act; unlicensed practice; disciplinary actions; communication; informal conferences; penalties; investigations; the record of hearing; oaths; findings and recommendations; hearings; orders; and returned payments. Provides …

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a day care home or group day care home may be exempt from licensure (rather than is not required to be licensed) if it serves dependent children of military personnel, is located on a military base or federal or government property, and is certified as a child development program by a …

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. In provisions prohibiting a person licensed under the Act from knowingly carrying a firearm on or into a building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government, provides that a retired police officer may carry a concealed firearm on the premises of the retired officer's former governmental employer …

Provides that, until June 30, 2030, a licensed day care center may hire an individual who is in the process of completing the educational requirements set forth in administrative rules as an Interim Conditional Early Childhood Teacher for a period of 18 months. Requires the hired individual to provide documentation that shows that the individual is enrolled in courses that …

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, the term "public works" also includes all private projects that are located in a tax increment financing district and paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, unless the total cost of the project is less than $25,000 or the project is performed in a designated …

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no person shall broadcast any electioneering communication on a video or audio service that offers content that is primarily viewed or listened to by children under the age of 13. Provides that a violation of the provision is a business offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the school board of a school district maintaining any of grades 9 through 12 shall require all students who are at least 16 years of age to receive a heart screening and, if a student is 16 years old, to receive another heart screening at the age of 18 years.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property that is owned by an immediate family caregiver of a veteran with a disability or a veteran of World War II is eligible for the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II if the immediate family caregiver resides with the veteran on a full-time basis.

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment that is located within the designated amount of feet, as designated by the municipality in which the establishment is located, from a school or a place of worship (rather than 100 feet of a …

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure any studies, drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda, and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record is not exempt if the record has remained in draft form for more than a 12-month period and public dollars …

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer is a Class 4 felony if there is video evidence of the driver or operator of the motor vehicle fleeing or attempting to elude the peace officer and that the fleeing or attempting to elude the peace officer results in damage to property of the …

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a federally licensed firearm dealer shall, upon the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person whom the dealer reasonably believes to be a first-time purchaser or transferee of a firearm, provide the purchaser or transferee of the firearm with printed or digital information about firearm safety courses available locally …

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a deduction for the full amount of union dues paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year if the taxpayer was not allowed a federal deduction under the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that, if any amount of union dues representing federal miscellaneous itemized deductions was allowed as a federal deduction, then the amount …

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated by an engine fueled wholly or partially by an electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell electric fueling system may exceed the posted weight limits by up to 2,000 pounds.