Bills of Interest Recently Signed Into Law
HB 3144, Grocery Tax Changes was signed into law. This bill amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Exempts from taxation under the Act: (1) food for human consumption that is to be consumed off the premises where it is sold (other than alcoholic beverages, food consisting of or infused with adult use cannabis, soft drinks, candy, and food that has been prepared for immediate consumption) and (2) food prepared for immediate consumption and transferred incident to a sale of service by an entity licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the ID/DD Community Care Act, the MC/DD Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, or the Child Care Act of 1969, or by an entity that holds a permit issued pursuant to the Life Care Facilities Act. In the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, makes changes in a provision concerning prepaid telephone calling arrangements. Amends the Prepaid Wireless 9-1-1 Surcharge Act. Provides that, from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2029, a home rule municipality having a population in excess of 500,000 may impose a prepaid wireless 9-1-1 surcharge not to exceed 9% per retail transaction sourced to that jurisdiction and collected and remitted in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Amends the Counties Code. Authorizes the corporate authorities of any county, by ordinance or resolution that takes effect on or after January 1, 2026, to impose a 1% tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling groceries in the county but outside of a municipality. Adds provisions concerning the administration of that tax. Authorizes the county board of Sangamon County, by ordinance, to impose a tax upon all persons engaged in the county in the business of renting, leasing, or letting rooms in a hotel that is subject to a specified hotel tax under the Illinois Municipal Code, at a rate not to exceed 3% of the gross rental receipts from renting, leasing, or letting, excluding, however, from gross rental receipts, the proceeds of the renting, leasing, or letting to permanent residents of that hotel. Requires the revenues generated to be used for specified purposes. Adds provisions concerning the use of project labor agreements on certain facilities that receive revenue from the county hotel tax. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, in Cook County, the rate of the Regional Transportation Authority Retailers' Occupation Tax on sales of food for human consumption that is to be consumed off the premises where it is sold (other than alcoholic beverages, food consisting of or infused with adult use cannabis, soft drinks, candy, and food that has been prepared for immediate consumption) is 1.25%. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Authorizes the corporate authorities of any municipality, by ordinance or resolution that takes effect on or after January 1, 2026, to impose a 1% tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling groceries in the municipality. Adds provisions concerning the administration of that tax. Removes a requirement that the imposition of certain non-home rule use and occupation taxes is subject to referendum approval.
HB 3763, Records Review-Neutral was signed into law. This bill amends the Personnel Record Review Act to provide that every employee has a legal right to inspect and copy personnel-related documents. Requires an employee to make a written request to the employer before having a legal right to inspect, copy, and receive copies of specified documents, including any employment-related contracts or agreements that the employer maintains are legally binding on the employee. Modifies how requests must be made and the requirements of written requests. The right of the employee or the employee's designated representative to inspect personnel records does not apply to an employer's trade secrets, client lists, sales projections, and financial data. Modifies provisions on how the Act is administered and enforced, including requirements for commencing an action in circuit court. Prohibits an employer from including the imputed costs of time spent duplicating the information, purchasing or renting a copying machine, purchasing or renting computer equipment, or purchasing, renting, or licensing software in a fee for providing a copy of the documents. An employee may bring an action in circuit court regardless of whether that employee has filed a complaint concerning the same violation with the Department of Labor. Authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Department regardless of whether the employee pursued or is pursuing an action for the same violation in circuit court.
HB 4848, Load Covers was signed into law. This bill provides that no person shall operate or cause to be operated, on a highway, a commercial motor vehicle, with the exception of a highway maintenance vehicle, transporting garbage or refuse unless the tailgate on the vehicle is in good working repair, good operating condition, and closes securely, with a cover or tarpaulin of sufficient size attached so as to prevent any load, residue, or other material from escaping. Provides that a violation of the provisions shall be a petty offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $150.Provides that a person, firm, or corporation convicted of 4 or more violations within a 12-month period shall be fined an additional amount of $150 for the fourth and each subsequent conviction within the 12-month period.
SB 2573, Insurance Coverage/Wigs was signed into law. This bill provides that a group or individual plan of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2026 must provide coverage for, no less than once every 12 months, one wig or other scalp prosthesis worn for hair loss caused by alopecia, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions.
SB 2672, Insurance Coverage/Generic Drugs was signed into law. This bill provides that if a generic drug or a therapeutic equivalent is unavailable due to a supply issue and dosage cannot be adjusted, a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for a brand name eligible prescription drug until supply of the generic drug or a therapeutic equivalent is available.
SB 2702, Fire Sprinkler Inspectors was signed into law. This bill requires that a fire sprinkler inspector be employed by a single fire sprinkler contractor at a time to perform fire sprinkler inspections (rather than be employed by a fire sprinkler contractor). Adds language that provides that nothing in the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act shall be construed to prohibit an individual who is licensed as a fire sprinkler inspector from being employed by another employer or self-employed to perform duties that would not require a fire sprinkler inspector license.
SB 2979, BIPA Changes was signed into law. This bill provides that "written release" includes an electronic signature. Provides that a private entity that more than once collects or discloses a person's biometric identifier or biometric information from the same person in violation of the Act has committed a single violation for which the aggrieved person is entitled to, at most, one recovery. |
