Chicago City Wire

Michael J. Kelly introduced HB2956 in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that nothing in the provisions prohibiting retailers from accepting certain things of value shall prohibit any manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor from providing tap handles, kegs, or barrels to a retailer pursuant to a written deposit agreement in which the deposit is in an amount equal to or less than the actual amount of money required to be paid by the manufacturer, distributor, or importing distributor to the manufacturer or supplier of any tap handles, kegs, or barrels, and any customary and reasonable delivery or freight fees. Provides that it shall be unlawful for a retailer, but not for any other licensee, to fail to return tap handles, bottles, cases, kegs, or barrels provided to a retailer pursuant to a written deposit agreement with a manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor upon demand of the manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately."

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 Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934, permitting manufacturers, importing distributors, or distributors to provide retailers with tap handles, kegs, or barrels under a written deposit agreement. The deposit must equal or not exceed the actual cost paid by the supplier, including delivery or freight fees. It is illegal for a retailer to fail to return these items upon demand, though this does not apply to other licensees. The bill allows for certain credits or refunds when items are returned. Manufacturers, distributors, or importing distributors may also provide free social media advertising to retailers if it excludes retail prices and complies with U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations. The bill mandates manufacturers, distributors, and importing distributors to report delinquent retail accounts to the state, with the delinquency period capped at 30 days. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Michael J. Kelly has proposed another 22 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Kelly graduated from Quincy University with a BA.

Michael J. Kelly is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 15th House District. He replaced previous state representative John C. D'Amico in 2021.

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.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB2956	02/05/2025	Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that nothing in the provisions prohibiting retailers from accepting certain things of value shall prohibit any manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor from providing tap handles, kegs, or barrels to a retailer pursuant to a written deposit agreement in which the deposit is in an amount equal to or less than the actual amount of money required to be paid by the manufacturer, distributor, or importing distributor to the manufacturer or supplier of any tap handles, kegs, or barrels, and any customary and reasonable delivery or freight fees. Provides that it shall be unlawful for a retailer, but not for any other licensee, to fail to return tap handles, bottles, cases, kegs, or barrels provided to a retailer pursuant to a written deposit agreement with a manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor upon demand of the manufacturer, importing distributor, or distributor. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.
HB2730	02/05/2025	Appropriates $54,256,600 from the General Revenue Fund to Northeastern Illinois University for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2953	02/05/2025	Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides that each municipality and county shall provide the Capital Development Board a list of all high-rise apartment buildings in their respective jurisdictions that: (1) meet the definition of high-rise apartment building; (2) were not subject to a requirement to include a sprinkler system at the time the building was constructed; and (3) have not been retrofitted with a sprinkler system.
HB2957	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law. In provisions concerning penalties, provides that an officer, employee, or agent shall not be held liable unless the officer, employee, or agent has personally profited from the violation. Provides that the first violation for acting as a broker of household goods shall constitute a Class 4 felony, and each subsequent violation shall constitute a Class 3 felony. Grants the Commission authority to assess a civil penalty not greater than $25,000 nor less than $1,000 per violation where the violation consists of acting as a broker of household goods. Prohibits the Commission from accepting reasonable monetary settlement, suspension or revocation of a license or registration, or any other reasonable terms stipulated between the respondent and staff where the violation consists of acting as a broker of household goods. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person who violates the provisions of the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law that make it unlawful for any person to act as a broker of household goods commits an unlawful practice and engages in an unfair competition within the meaning of the Act.
HB2551	02/04/2025	Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Reinstates the First Responders Suicide Task Force. Adds to the reconstituted Task Force one member who represents an organization that provides mental health training and support for first responders in State of Illinois, appointed by the President of the Senate. Provides that members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Directs the Task Force to issue a final report to the General Assembly on or December 31, 2026. Provides for the repeal of the Task Force on January 1, 2027.
HB2703	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning Chicago firefighters.
HB2704	02/04/2025	Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles, but only with respect to a person who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, is entitled under the Chicago Police or Chicago Firefighter Article to begin receiving a retirement annuity or survivor's annuity and who elects to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.
HB2705	02/04/2025	Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Chicago Firefighter Article, but only with respect to a person who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, is entitled under the Chicago Firefighter Article to begin receiving a retirement annuity or survivor's annuity and who elects to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.
HB2709	02/04/2025	Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that school districts that offer a 457(b) plan through a single vendor may use their single-vendor plan to satisfy the requirements of Public Act 102-540. Limits the number of school districts that may use their single-vendor plan to 10% of school districts statewide. Sets forth requirements for a single-vendor plan. Provides that when choosing a single vendor for the pilot program, the overriding consideration with respect to all decisions made by the plan sponsor concerning the plan is that the decisions be made solely in the best interests of the plan's participants and beneficiaries. Sets forth other requirements for the single-vendor plan. Provides that no vendor may offer a plan under the provisions if an individual employed by, compensated by, or working for that vendor offers or gives anything of value to any employee who participates in the selection of the 457(b) plan vendor in the school district. Provides that an employee who participates in the selection of the single vendor must avoid outside business interests with any vendor chosen or under consideration for being chosen for the school district; disclose all outside business interests with a vendor chosen or under consideration for being chosen for the school district; not accept any gifts, preferential treatment, or benefits that might affect or appear to affect his or her ability to make sound judgments on selection of a vendor; act honestly and ethically in the best interests of the plan participants in all dealings with chosen vendor; and not obtain employment with any vendor chosen or in consideration for being chosen to offer a plan at the school district for the duration of an interested party's employment or involvement with the school district for a period of one year thereafter. Specifies that the provisions are inoperable on and after January 1, 2031.
HB2710	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who have an approved NFPA 13D residential fire sprinkler system installed in a new or existing residential dwelling in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the credit shall be in an amount equal to 50% of the total cost of the installation but not to exceed $10,000 per taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that credit awards under the amendatory Act shall be limited to the lesser of 2,000 credit awards per year or $8,000,000 in total credits per year. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provisions. Effective immediately.
HB2711	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes changes to Tier 2 benefits, including changing the amount of the automatic annual increase to 3% of the originally granted retirement annuity or 3% of the retirement annuity then being paid for the General Assembly and Judges Articles, changing the limit on the amount of salary for annuity purposes to the Social Security wage base, changing the calculation of final average salary to the Tier 1 calculation for persons who are active members on or after January 1, 2026, and changing the retirement age. Establishes an accelerated pension benefit payment option for the General Assembly, Chicago Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Code. Provides that, with regard to persons subject to the Tier 2 provisions, a security employee of the Department of Human Services, a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an investigator for the Department of the Lottery, or a State highway worker is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions of the State Employee Article of the Code. Authorizes the conversion of service to eligible creditable service. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles. Authorizes SLEP status under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for a person who is a county correctional officer or probation officer and for a person who participates in IMRF and qualifies as a firefighter under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. In the Downstate Firefighter Article, includes a de facto firefighter in the definition of "firefighter". Defines "de facto firefighter". Provides that the monthly pension of a firefighter who is receiving a disability pension shall be increased at the rate of 3% of the original monthly pension. Makes changes to the minimum retirement annuity payable to a firefighter with 20 or more years of creditable service, the minimum disability pension, and the minimum surviving spouse's pension. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.
HB2426	02/03/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a prosecution for drug-induced homicide may be commenced within 10 years (rather than 3 years) after the commission of the offense.
HB2400	01/31/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the sentence for aggravated criminal sexual assault, which does not otherwise provide for an enhanced penalty, is a Class X felony for which 5 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court. Provides that the sentence for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, which does not otherwise provide for an enhanced penalty, is a Class X felony with a minimum term of imprisonment of 11 (rather than 6) years.
HB2401	01/31/2025	Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Daniel Capuano Memorial Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of first responder endangerment. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly creates a dangerous condition and intentionally conceals the dangerous condition in a commercial property under his or her management or operational control and the dangerous condition is found to be the primary cause of the death or serious bodily injury of a first responder in the course of his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Defines various terms.
HB2402	01/31/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Deletes a provision which provides that a person ordered to pretrial home confinement must, at a minimum, be provided with specified opportunities for movement on no fewer than 2 days each week.
HB2409	01/31/2025	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.
HB2335	01/30/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that "expanded-use antique vehicle" does not include a commercial vehicle or a farm truck. Provides that any entity or vendor providing services to or on behalf of the Secretary of State may also prescribe or provide suitable forms for applications, certificates of title, registration cards, driver's licenses, and such other forms requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the Act to the extent authorized by the Secretary and upon approval of the Secretary. Provides that, except for specified persons, an individual's photograph or image, signature, social security number, personal email address, and medical or disability information as may be submitted to the Secretary for purposes of a vehicle title and registration application shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed. Provides that the printed proof of registration is valid for 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker's or digital registration sticker's date or 30 days from the purchase date of the new registration sticker or digital registration sticker, whichever occurs later. Provides that the owner of an antique vehicle may register such vehicle for a fee not to exceed $6 per registration year (rather than $13 for a 2-year antique plate). Provides that if the Secretary determines that an owner has registered or maintained the registration of a motor vehicle without a liability insurance policy, the Secretary shall notify the owner that such owner's vehicle registration shall be suspended 30 (rather than 45) days after the date of the mailing of the notice unless the owner within 30 days furnishes proof of insurance in effect on the verification date or provides an exemption from the mandatory insurance requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB2336	01/30/2025	Amends the Fire Protection District Act and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that municipalities and fire protection districts may fix, charge, and collect reasonable fees from an individual, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home facility for all nonemergency lift-assist services rendered by a fire department, firefighter, an emergency response unit, public safety employee of a municipal department, or fire protection district in connection with providing nonemergency lift-assist services to a patient or other individual. Provides that the fees may not exceed the actual personnel and equipment costs for all services rendered by the municipality or fire protection district in connection with providing lift-assist services to a patient or other individual.
HB1447	01/17/2025	Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes formatting changes. Amends the Accountability for the Investment of Public Funds Act. Provides that each State agency shall make available on the Internet, and update at least monthly, no later than the end of each month (rather than by the 15th of the month), sufficient information concerning the investment of any public funds held by that State agency to identify specified information. Effective immediately.
HB1392	01/15/2025	Amends the Firemen's Disciplinary Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1393	01/15/2025	Amends the Public Employee Disability Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1394	01/15/2025	Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1395	01/15/2025	Amends the Line of Duty Compensation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1295	01/13/2025	Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Requires, on or before January 1, 2027, a manufacturer of a product sold, offered for sale, or distributed in the State that contains intentionally added PFAS to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency specified information. Allows the Agency to waive the submission of information required by a manufacturer or extend the amount of time a manufacturer has to submit the required information. Provides that, if the Pollution Control Board has reason to believe that a product contains intentionally added PFAS and the product is being offered for sale in the State, the Board may direct the manufacturer of the product to provide the Board with testing results that demonstrate the amount of each of the PFAS in the product. Provides that, if testing demonstrates that the product does not contain intentionally added PFAS, the manufacturer must provide the Board with a certificate attesting that the product does not contain intentionally added PFAS. Restricts the sale of specified products beginning January 1, 2026 if the product contains intentionally added PFAS. Allows the Agency to establish a fee payable by a manufacturer to the Agency upon submission of the required information to cover the Agency's reasonable costs to implement the provisions. Allows the Agency to coordinate with the Board, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health to enforce the provisions. Sets forth products that are exempt from the provisions.