The new bill, authored by State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz in the Illinois Senate, aims to broaden access to free test preparation for a wider range of professional exams, according to the Illinois State Senate.
The bill, introduced as SB4167 on March 5, 2026, during the general assembly session 104, was summarized by the state legislature as follows: “Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. In provisions concerning the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program, requires the Program to offer students test preparation services for the Test of Essential Academic Skills. Provides that the other preparation programs for professional exams that the Program is required to offer students may include exams for insurance, allied health care, emergency medical services, firefighting, and fitness and wellness services. Provides that, in establishing the Program, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may (rather than shall) consider, among other factors, whether a vendor can provide test preparation for multiple admission and professional exams (rather than whether the test and licensure exam preparation and credentialing programs can be provided by a single vendor). Provides that the Commission may not require a vendor to provide test preparation for all such admission and professional exams.”
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to expand the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program by requiring it to offer free test preparation for the Test of Essential Academic Skills, in addition to existing graduate and professional admission exams. It clarifies that other professional exam preparation may include insurance, allied health care, emergency medical services, firefighting, and fitness and wellness services, along with certain financial credentials. The bill changes the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s duty from requiring consideration of a single vendor model to allowing consideration of vendors that can cover multiple exams and bars the commission from requiring any vendor to provide preparation for all covered exams.
Feigenholtz has proposed another 50 bills since the beginning of the 104th session, with eight of them being adopted.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
Feigenholtz graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 1979 with a BA.
Feigenholtz, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2020 to represent the state’s 6th Senate District, replacing previous state senator John Cullerton.
Bills Introduced by Sara Feigenholtz in Illinois Senate During General Assembly Session 104
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB4167 | 03/05/2026 | Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. In provisions concerning the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program, requires the Program to offer students test preparation services for the Test of Essential Academic Skills. Provides that the other preparation programs for professional exams that the Program is required to offer students may include exams for insurance, allied health care, emergency medical services, firefighting, and fitness and wellness services. Provides that, in establishing the Program, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may (rather than shall) consider, among other factors, whether a vendor can provide test preparation for multiple admission and professional exams (rather than whether the test and licensure exam preparation and credentialing programs can be provided by a single vendor). Provides that the Commission may not require a vendor to provide test preparation for all such admission and professional exams. |
| SB4067 | 02/24/2026 | Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Secretary of State for a recurring, permanent program for the awarding of grants to Illinois academic libraries for open education resources. Effective July 1, 2026. |
| SB4068 | 02/24/2026 | Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, coverage for all abortifacients, hormonal therapy medication, human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis, and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and follow-up services related to that coverage, shall include screenings for pre-PrEP HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Provides that the coverage shall also include kidney function analysis, routine laboratory testing, and routine provider visits associated with those screenings. Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Prohibits a health insurance issuer from requiring prior authorization for the following prescription drug types and their therapeutic equivalents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration: human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis medication or human immunodeficiency virus treatment medication. Effective January 1, 2028. |
| SB4061 | 02/19/2026 | Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no building code adopted by a county or municipality may prohibit residential buildings from having a single stairway serving as an exit for all units if the building: (1) has not more than 6 stories above grade plane; (2) is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in the interior exit stairway; (3) has all dwelling unit doors serving as an exit equipped with self-closing devices; (4) is equipped with smoke detection throughout all common areas and individual dwelling units; (5) has at least one emergency escape and rescue opening for each individual dwelling unit; and (6) has not more than 4 individual dwelling units on a floor. Limits home rule powers. |
| SB4021 | 02/06/2026 | Amends the Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Title of the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a municipality or county may, to the same extent as an owner or operator, conduct tank removal, abandonment, site investigation, and corrective action with respect to a petroleum orphan underground storage tank in accordance with the requirements of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program, except that a municipality or county does not have to elect to proceed as an owner and the costs shall be eligible for payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund. Defines “orphan underground storage tank”. Makes conforming and other changes in provisions regarding the Underground Storage Tank Fund. |
| SB3568 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires that a guardian ad litem in a petition seeking a guardianship of an adult with alleged disability to inquire with the respondent before the hearing on whether a supported decision-making agreement is an appropriate alternative to guardianship or a limited guardianship is an appropriate alternative to plenary guardianship. Requires that the court make the same inquiry at the hearing and advise the respondent of the right to modify an adjudication of disability using a limited guardianship or termination of guardianship with a supported decision-making agreement. Amends the Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act. Allows the existence of a supported decision-making agreement to be entered into evidence for purposes other than as evidence of capacity or incapacity. Requires that a support decision-making agreement must be written in plain language and include the following: (1) a list of the areas in which both the principal requests support and the supporter agrees to provide support; (2) the supporter’s agreement that the supporter is not disqualified from acting as a supporter under the Act; (3) the supporter’s agreement that the supporter will complete the training required by the Act; (4) a statement that a supporter is not authorized to make a decision for the principal; and ( 5) information about how to report suspicion that an adult with a disability is being abused, neglected, or exploited by the supporter. Requires that a supported decision-making agreement must be signed by the principal and each supporter. Provides that the principal may use reasonable modifications, such as assistive technology or physical assistant, to sign the agreement. Provides that a supported decision-making agreement should be reviewed by the principal and all supporters every 2 years and, updated as needed, in the same manner as an initial supported decision-making agreement is executed. Makes other changes. |
| SB3627 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to accept a request for proposal for a quick-build infrastructure as an alternative for an infrastructure project. Provides that an accepted quick-build infrastructure may include a cycle lane segregator or other temporary infrastructure solution. Sets forth cycle lane segregator specifications. |
| SB3628 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, if a person who is licensed as a retailer of alcoholic liquor has had the renewal of his or her certificate of registration denied or has had his or her certificate of registration revoked, then the Department of Revenue shall file a notice with the Liquor Control Commission that includes a certification, signed by the Director of Revenue or his or her designee, attesting that the person’s certificate of registration renewal has been denied or revoked after notice and an opportunity to be heard. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that the Liquor Control Commission shall inactivate the license of any licensee authorized to sell alcoholic liquor at retail if that person’s certificate of registration renewal has been denied by the Department of Revenue or that person’s certificate of registration has been revoked by the Department of Revenue. Effective July 1, 2026. |
| SB3694 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB3695 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Counties Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB3696 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no insurer licensed to issue a policy of automobile insurance shall fail or refuse to accept an application for that insurance from a person who holds legal title to a motor vehicle but who is unable or not permitted to drive due to a disability, so long as the person identifies a primary driver or drivers. |
| SB3697 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that required hate crime training so Illinois may include material to help officers distinguish hate crimes from other crimes, understand and assist the victims of hate crimes, and ensure the accurate reporting of hate crimes, provides that the Illinois State Police shall biannually review the hate crime training curriculum. Provides the Illinois State Police may consult with the commission on discrimination and hate crimes to update the curriculum as needed. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve training programs in crimes motivated by bias. Includes requirements for the training programs. Requires the training for new law enforcement officers and the completion of continuing education credits for current law enforcement officers who complete the training. |
| SB3706 | 02/05/2026 | Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that the surviving adult children, adult grandchildren, or surviving spouse of a deceased adopted or surrendered person born in Illinois before January 1, 1946, may petition the court for the appointment of a confidential intermediary for purposes of obtaining all records of the court relating to the adoption that constitute the adoption file. Provides that if such a petition is filed, the court may appoint a confidential intermediary under the Act and release the adoption file. |
| SB3335 | 02/04/2026 | Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide coverage under the medical assistance program for intensive outpatient services delivered via telehealth when the services: (1) are otherwise covered when provided in person; (2) are medically necessary; (3) are delivered by a provider enrolled in the medical assistance program and acting within the scope of the provider’s license, certification, or authorization under State law; and (4) comply with all applicable federal and State telehealth requirements. Provides that intensive outpatient services provided via telehealth shall be subject to the same coverage requirements, utilization management, and reimbursement methodologies as intensive outpatient services provided in person. Sets forth standards for telehealth delivery of intensive outpatient services. Provides that implementation of the provisions is subject to any required federal approval. Effective immediately. |
| SB3322 | 02/03/2026 | Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that each consumer shall be offered at least 15 hours of treatment programming per week and encouraged to attend the treatment domains that meet the consumer’s needs, as reflected in the consumer’s treatment plans. Provides that each consumer’s program engagement and attendance shall be documented in the consumer’s clinical record, and each consumer shall be prompted to attend programming regularly as documented in the consumer’s clinical record at least quarterly. Effective July 1, 2026. |
| SB3138 | 02/02/2026 | Amends the Children’s Mental Health Act. In provisions concerning the Children’s Mental Health Partnership, makes changes to the Partnership’s list of duties to include (i) reviewing or facilitating needs assessments (rather than conducting research assessments) to better understand the challenges and gaps of programs, services, and policies related to children’s mental health; (ii) monitoring policy development related to children’s mental health in Illinois at the local, State, and federal level; and (iii) regularly reviewing aggregate and de-identified data on the need for children’s behavioral health services in Illinois that is collected by the Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation (BEACON) portal to ensure that system transformation can continue to be driven by data. Provides that the Partnership’s membership shall include public members who reflect a diversity of sexual orientation; and that all Partnership members shall serve without compensation and with no entitlement to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Removes a provision permitting the Partnership to convene study groups. Expands the membership of the adjunct council to include up to 10 youth aged 16 to 25 (rather than up to 6 youth aged 14 to 25) and up to 4 (rather than a minimum of 4) representatives of 4 different community-based organizations that focus on youth mental health. Makes other changes. |
| SB3187 | 02/02/2026 | Creates the Faith-Based Housing and Mixed-Use By-Right Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall permit multifamily developments and mixed-use developments as allowable by-right uses on faith-based land. Provides that a unit of local government may not require a proposed multifamily or mixed-use development on faith-based land to obtain any discretionary approval in order to permit the proposed use and development or allow for the minimum development standards and limitations established by the Act. Provides that the by-right entitlement under the Act applies whether or not the faith-based organization continues to operate an existing religious, educational, or community facility on the same parcel or adjacent parcel, and regardless of whether the housing is owned, leased, operated, or developed by the faith-based organization or by a partner acting under agreement with the faith-based organization. Provides that nothing in the Act affects the authority of a unit of local government to apply to a development authorized by this Act requirements that are (1) generally applicable to comparable developments within the jurisdiction; (2) objective and ascertainable on the face of the ordinance or code provision; and (3) related to public health and safety. Provides that a unit of local government shall approve an application for a multifamily or mixed-use development on faith-based land if the development satisfies the unit of local government’s generally applicable, objective land development and building regulations as limited by the Act. Limits the concurrent use of home rule powers. Effective immediately. |
| SB3188 | 02/02/2026 | Amends the Employee Blood Donation Leave Act. Provides that an employee who does not have available paid leave is entitled to take one hour of unpaid leave every 56 days to donate blood. Provides that the leave to serve as an organ donor is unpaid unless the employer has a policy allowing the leave to be paid or unless the employee has available paid leave. Provides that, if the employer does not have a policy providing paid leave and the employee does not have enough available paid leave to cover the absence, the employee is entitled to up to 10 days of unpaid leave in any 12-month period in order to serve as an organ donor. Makes other changes. |
| SB3189 | 02/02/2026 | Amends the Property Tax Code. Establishes a homestead exemption for qualified homestead property that has been continuously owned, used, and occupied as the primary residence by the qualified taxpayer for at least 30 years any time prior to January 1 of the taxable year for which the exemption would apply. Requires taxpayers who have been granted an exemption to reapply on an annual basis. Provides that the assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. Sets forth provisions concerning the review of exemptions granted under the provisions. Defines “qualified homestead property” and “qualified taxpayer”. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. |
| SB3045 | 01/29/2026 | Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to conduct a statewide one-year pilot program that studies the prevalence of cholestatic liver disorders associated with increased risk of end-stage liver disease among women ages 35 through 64 who are recipients of medical assistance. Requires the Department to collect the following information on study participants: (1) key demographics such as age, genetic predispositions, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle factors that elevate the risk of developing cholestatic liver disorders; (2) the number or percentage of study participants who, despite being identified as high-risk, do not follow through with referrals or treatment recommendations; (3) the number of study participants who avoid referral and follow-up care or engage in treatment avoidance; and (4) any other relevant information or issues identified by the Department. Requires the Department to compile a report on its findings at the end of the one-year study and include (i) recommendations on how to increase awareness of cholestatic liver disorders through screenings, genetic testing, and collaboration with patient advocacy groups to raise public awareness and (ii) an analysis of strategies and funding to increase screening and genetic testing for cholestatic liver disorders. Provides that the Department shall submit the report to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2028. Effective immediately. |
| SB2922 | 01/27/2026 | Amends the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB2861 | 01/16/2026 | Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires charter schools and contract schools to retain all payroll records and contribution information for a minimum of 5 years after the payroll records and contribution information are created. Effective immediately. |
| SB2785 | 01/13/2026 | Amends the Counties Code if and only if Senate Bill 25 of the 104th General Assembly becomes law. Provides that “shared roof” does not include a roof that serves townhouses. Provides that “townhouse” means a privately owned single-family dwelling unit that is attached to but separated from other privately owned single-family dwelling units by a common party wall that has no doors, windows, or other means of human passage or visibility. |
| SB2803 | 01/13/2026 | Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2027 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount). Amends the Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately. |
| SB2667 | 05/26/2025 | Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Specifies that, for purposes of the Act, the term “sports event” includes any awards show. Provides that “awards show” means the Emmy Awards Show, the Grammy Awards Show, the Academy Awards Show, the Tony Awards Show, or any other live competition or talent contest. Grants rulemaking and emergency rulemaking powers to the Illinois Gaming Board to authorize wagering on awards shows. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately. |
| SB2618 | 02/26/2025 | Makes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective July 1, 2025. |
| SB2218 | 02/07/2025 | Amends the Life Care Facilities Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to issue the preliminary certificate of registration, the certificate of registration, or the renewal certificate of registration to a provider or inform the provider of the Department’s decision to deny any of the certificates no later than 30 days after the provider submits a completed application. Requires a provider to present the Department with certain materials to receive a certificate of registration, including a reasonable financial plan to provide at-home continuing care services. Provides that a reasonable financial plan provide at-home continuing care services includes execution of 25% of agreements necessary to meet the year-one actuarial forecast for the market to support the program. Sets forth requirements for each person employed by or under a contract with a provider. Requires a provider to comply with the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and the Health Care Worker Background Check Code for each person employed by or under a contract with a provider and who will enter a subscriber’s home to provide at-home continuing care service. Requires a provider to check the status of all personnel applicants with the Nurse Aide Registry prior to hiring and shall not hiring any individual who has a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on the Nurse Aide Registry. Provides that, prior to employing or contracting with any individual in a position that requires a State professional license in the health care field, the provider shall check the status of the individual’s license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to verify that the individual’s license is active. |
| SB2375 | 02/07/2025 | Amends the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Changes the definition of “electric vehicle” by removing language stating that the vehicle is “exclusively” powered by and refuled by electricity, and by removing language stating that it does not include a hybrid electric vehicle. Changes the definition of “electric vehicle charging station” by including a device that is used to provide electricity to a plug-in hybrid. |
| SB2456 | 02/07/2025 | Amends the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997. Extends the repeal of the Act until December 31, 2030. Effective immediately. |
| SB1844 | 02/06/2025 | Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision prohibiting prior authorization mandates and utilization management controls under the fee-for-service and managed care medical assistance programs for FDA-approved prescription drugs that treat mental illness, requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and managed care organizations to report quarterly on compliance with the specified prohibitions beginning with dates of service on and after July 1, 2025. Requires the Department to post on its website a report on fee-for-service prescriptions and the reports from each managed care organization. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the quarterly reports, including, but not limited to: (i) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those covered prescriptions summarized by each of the allowed categories specified in the Code; (ii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated net cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by each of the non-allowed categories specified in the Code; and (iii) the number of denied prescriptions and estimated gross cost to the State for those prescriptions summarized by any other reason not specified in the Code. Requires the Department to sanction those managed care organizations that do not file the required reports. Effective immediately. |
| SB1845 | 02/06/2025 | Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Community Care Program, provides that subject to federal approval, within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, rates for adult day services shall be increased to $17.84 per hour and rates for each way transportation services for adult day services shall be increased to $13.44 per unit transportation. |
| SB2052 | 02/06/2025 | Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Removes language repealing a provision concerning the delivery and carry out of mixed drinks on August 1, 2028. Effective immediately. |
| SB2053 | 02/06/2025 | Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, in Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall require that any convention and tourism bureau receiving a grant from the Local Tourism Fund that requires matching funds shall provide matching funds equal to no less than 25% of the grant amount (currently, no less than 40% of the grant amount in Fiscal Year 2026 and no less than 50% of the grant amount in subsequent years). Amends the Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax Act and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the distribution of moneys under those Acts. Effective immediately. |
| SB2054 | 02/06/2025 | Creates the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that parents receiving intact family services or reunification services from the Illinois child welfare system have specified rights, including, but not limited to, the right to: (1) be treated with dignity and respect and as a valued member of the child welfare team; (2) be consulted about relative placement options for their children prior to placement in a foster home; (3) be notified and considered as a placement resource, as the noncustodial parent, prior to protective custody; (4) receive timely visitation with their children; (5) be provided a copy of the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents and Caregivers Act at the time of case opening for intact family services or reunification services; (6) participate in the development of the hair care plan for their child; and other enumerated rights. Effective immediately. |
| SB1507 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In a provision regarding automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, provides a safety zone may, upon completion of a crash study, include a portion of Lake Shore Drive if the Chicago Department of Transportation designates an area of it as a high crash corridor. |
| SB1508 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to, no later than July 1, 2026, establish the Office of Alumni Support (Office) to provide assistance, guidance, and support to any former youth in care needing or requesting assistance, guidance, or support. Provides that the Office shall link former youth in care to existing supports, determine what additional supports are necessary to improve outcomes for former youth in care based upon identified needs, including researching existing evidence-based and evidence-informed practice models of providing assistance to former youth in care, and implement necessary changes to provide the additional supports. Provides that current and former youth in care shall provide input, guidance, and direction on the establishment and operation of the Office. Sets forth a list of stakeholders the Department shall engage with when developing the Office. Creates the Former Youth in Care Crisis Support Services Program for the purpose of providing former youth in care in crisis immediate funds to address urgent needs, including, but not limited to, emergency housing, healthcare, food, transportation, and items urgently needed to maintain the former youth in care in a work or educational setting. Provides that the Office of Alumni Support shall manage and operate the program. Requires the Department to submit quarterly progress reports to the General Assembly on the establishment of the Office. Requires the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit to determine if the Department is meeting the requirements of the amendatory Act. Provides that the performance audit shall be conducted 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately. |
| SB1509 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In provisions concerning Medicaid Access Adjustment payments to nursing facilities, provides that, for dates of service beginning July 1, 2025, the Medicaid Access Adjustment shall be increased to $5.75. Effective immediately. |
| SB1510 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Creates the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Department of Public Health to provide scholarships to nurse educators. Provides that each fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025, the State Comptroller shall transfer $1,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund to implement the nurse educator scholarship provisions. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that, for fiscal year 2026 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $6,000,000 (instead of $4,000,000) of the moneys deposited in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund each year shall be set aside and appropriated to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for nursing scholarships awarded pursuant to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Effective immediately. |
| SB1511 | 02/04/2025 | Appropriates $1,000,000 from the Education Assistance Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for grants to eligible nurse educators to use for payment of their educational loans pursuant to Public Act 94-1020. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for nurse educator fellowships to supplement nurse faculty salaries. Appropriates $1,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for competitive grants for nursing schools to increase the number of graduating nurses. Appropriates $6,000,000 from the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for expenses related to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Effective July 1, 2025. |
| SB1559 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study following the occurrence of any crash involving a pedestrian fatality that occurs at an intersection of a federal or municipal highway. |
| SB1560 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, in coordination with a statewide association representing a majority of hospitals, to establish and offer a voluntary training that will be recorded and made available on the Department’s website to all hospital social workers, clinicians, and administrative staff to inform them of BEACON, a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking services for behavioral health needs, with the goal of encouraging families to seek assistance through BEACON and the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Team. Provides that the training shall include how families and hospital staff can access BEACON, the process once a case is entered into BEACON, and State and community programs accessible through BEACON. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires a psychiatric hospital to contact a youth or the youth’s parents, guardian, or caregiver about the BEACON portal (rather than the Family Support Program and the Specialized Family Support Program) prior to referring the youth to the Department of Children and Family Services because the youth was left at the psychiatric hospital beyond medical necessity. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Team in the Office of the Governor and relevant stakeholders, to report its work and make available resource materials, including model policies and guidance informed by a phased approach to implementing universal mental health screening in schools. Requires the State Board of Education to report its work by September 1, 2026. Provides that mental health screenings shall be offered by school districts to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, at least once a year, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. |
| SB1584 | 02/04/2025 | Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to allow an individual who has received a short-term approval license under the Illinois Administrative Code to extend the validity of the short-term approval license beyond the expiration date if the individual has taken leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Requires the State Board of Education to allow an extension beyond the expiration date equal to or greater than the number of days the individual took for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. |
| SB1382 | 01/29/2025 | Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that “motor fuel” means all volatile and inflammable substances, whether in liquid or gaseous form (currently, volatile and inflammable liquids). Provides that incidental use of motor fuel on private roads or private highways in the operation of a motor vehicle does not constitute a “purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways” and does not form a basis for a claim for refund. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions take effect January 1, 2026. |
| SB1383 | 01/29/2025 | Amends the Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. Repeals the sunset of January 1, 2026. Effective immediately. |
| SB1384 | 01/29/2025 | Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB1385 | 01/29/2025 | Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB1278 | 01/28/2025 | Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0102 | 01/17/2025 | Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. |
| SB0103 | 01/17/2025 | Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a person may commence an adoption proceeding for a youth in care only if the youth in care is placed with the petitioning person or persons by the Department of Children and Family Services at the time the petition is filed, and the Department has provided its consent to the adoption or has otherwise approved the adoption. Requires the Department to adopt rules or procedures or both as to what constitutes its approval of the adoption. Provides that a person whose rights have been terminated under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 does not have to be made a defendant in a petition for adoption. Provides that the following persons must be given notice of a petition for adoption unless the person has been determined not to be a parent of the child or has had parental rights terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction: (i) any person who is recorded on the child’s birth certificate as the child’s parent; (ii) any person who is openly living with the child or the child’s mother at the time the proceeding is initiated and holds out the child as that person’s child; (iii) any person who has been identified as the child’s parent by the mother in a written, sworn statement, including an Affidavit of Identification; or (iv) any person who was married to the child’s mother on the date of the child’s birth or within 300 days before the child’s birth, unless that person has been determined not to be the parent of the child or has had parental rights terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction. |
| SB0104 | 01/17/2025 | Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that in request for a confidential intermediary by an adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted or surrendered person under the age of 21, the appointment of the confidential intermediary may include, for the purpose of exchanging medical information, identifying information or arranging contact with a mutually consenting adoptive parent or legal guardian of an adopted or surrendered person under the age of 21 who is biologically related to the petitioning adoptive parent’s or legal guardian’s adopted or surrendered child. Provides that the confidential intermediary shall disclose identifying information about the adult adopted or surrendered person that would have been reflected on the original filed certificate of birth under certain circumstances. Moves a provision regarding records a confidential intermediary has access to from a Section concerning the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange to a Section concerning confidential intermediaries. |
| SB0105 | 01/17/2025 | Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that for a 3-member body, 2 members of the body constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of 2 members is necessary to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance unless a greater number is otherwise provided. Provides that a Chicago Police District Council may hold a closed meeting involving public safety concerns to discuss (i) an ongoing, prior, or future law enforcement or official misconduct investigation or allegation thereof involving specific individuals or (ii) other topics that if discussed in an open meeting would pose an unreasonable risk to an ongoing criminal investigation or an unreasonable risk to the safety of specific individuals. Provides that an agenda for each regular meeting of a public body must be posted the principal office of the public body if such an office exists. Provides that if a public body has a website that is maintained by its full-time staff but does not have a principal office or single building where meetings are regularly held, that body is deemed to have complied with the requirement to post physical notice at the office or building of the meeting if the notice is timely posted on the public body’s website. Excludes from the definition of “meeting” for a Chicago Police District Council a gathering of 2 members, except if gathered for a regularly scheduled meeting or otherwise gathered to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance. Provides a Chicago Police District Council may hold meetings by audio or video conference without the physical presence of the members under certain conditions except for required regularly scheduled meetings. |
