PENSION CODE – VARIOUS
Aims to overhaul the Tier 2 pension system, which includes the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Introduces several key changes to the pension benefits for educators and other public employees including reducing the retirement age – members can retire at age 62 if they have reached 75% of their final average salary. Also, lowers the downstate police and fire retirement age from 55 to 52 with 20 years of service, and benefits are calculated based on four years of salary.

LOCAL FIRST RESPONDER INSURANCE
Provides that deputy county medical examiners and deputy coroners (in addition to county medical examiners and coroners) are first responders for the purposes of provisions requiring a county to provide health insurance coverage for its employees who are first responders without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement.

JUDGES / 6TH AN 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUITS
When a vacancy occurs in an at-large judgeship of the 6th judicial circuit, the at-large judgeship shall be coverted to a resident judgeship for either Champaign County or Macon County, depending on which of those counties the incumbent at-large circuit judge resided in when the incumbent judge was elected. Requires one additional associate judge to be appointed in the 7th circuit.

COUNTIES CODE – BUILDING INSPECTORS
Requires building inspectors to hold specified credentials through a nation ally or state-recognized inspection certification or apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Dept. of Labor in the discipline the inspector is inspecting or examining. In the Counties Code, provides that a "building inspector" does not include an employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal acting in the em ployee's capacity as an employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

HUMAN CARE FOR ANIMALS ACT
Upon receipt of a petition for forfeiture prior to trial seeking the permanent for feiture of a seized companion animal, the court shall set a hearing on the petition. The permanent forfeiture of the companion animals seized shall be con ducted within 14 days after the filing of the petition, or as soon thereafter as practic able, but not more than 45 days after the filing of the petition.

PROTECTION FROM VEHICLE IMPACTS ACT
Aims to enhance safety in public spaces by providing that the owner or operator of a residential care facility, restaurant, or day care facility shall install and maintain vehicle impact protection devices in front of all public entrances of the facility. The devices must have a minimum height of 3 feet and must be spaced 48 inches from inside edge to in side edge of the device. A municipality or a county may, by ordinance, require vehicle impact protection devices in stalled to be manufactured from finished metal or have a decorative cover that is complementary to the design of the associated building, storefront, outdoor dining area, or day care center. NOTE: Senate Amendment No. 1 made the ordinance provision permissive thereby removing the IACBM’s opposition to the bill as an unfunded mandate.

COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES
Provides that county law libraries shall be open whenever the courthouse is open, unless the law library is closed based on operational necessity or as determined by the county board. Authorizes other appropriate county offices (rather than only the county treasurer) to retain fees and charges of the clerk in a County Law Library Fund and disburse those funds when ordered to do so.

CREDIT CARD AGREEMENTS
Amends the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act. Provides that no agreement or contract with a local governmental entity may prohibit or discriminate against the use of the State Treasurer's E-Pay program under the State Treasurer Act or any other payment processing system that the local governmental entity has procured.

CORRECTIONS – SENTENCE CREDIT
Allows individuals held in county jails prior to trial to receive sentence credit for completing certain programming such as work assignments, parenting programs, volunteer activities, and supervised community work.

APPOINTED BOARDS OF REVIEW
In provisions of the Property Tax Code concerning appointed boards of review in counties under township organization with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, provides that 3 citizens of the State shall comprise the board of review (currently, 3 citizens of the county).

COUNTY OFFICERS SALARY
Mandates the compensation of elected and appointed supervisors of assessment and the compensation of a coroner, a county treasurer, a county clerk, a recorder, an auditor, and a clerk of a circuit court be paid equal to 80% of the amount paid to the State's Attorney of the county. Increases county officials stipends in the amount of $12,800, adjusted annually. NOTE: Funds will be paid out of the Personal Property Replacement Tax Fund – a significant revenue source for local governments, particularly for counties, municipalities, townships and school districts. Counties will also see added pension costs of covering annual stipend benefit increases.

STATE'S ATTORNEY SALARY
Increases each state's attorneys salary to the rate of 100% of the mean of the amount paide to the resident circuit judges in the county courthouse for the state's attorney. Mandates 66 2/3% of the total annual compensation to be paid from the Personal Property Replacement Tax Fund. NOTE: The county shall be responsible for the State and federal income tax reporting and withholding and the employer contributions under the Illinois Pension Code.

JURISDICTIONAL VETERANS ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONS
Expands the Military Veterans Assistance Act to permit the creation of Jurisdictional Veterans Assist ance Commissions (JVAC) in counties that did not have a Veterans Assistance Commission prior to January 1, 2026, and in which there exists a judicial circuit whose jurisdictional boundaries include multiple counties. If a supervisor of general assistance or county board fails or refuses to provide assistance recommended by the assistance committee of a veterans service organization, VAC, or JVAC, then the veterans service organization, VAC, or JVAC may request that all parties involved enter into an arbitration agreement. Permits any person who is eligible for assistance under the Act to bring a civil action against the county for failing or refusing to provide such assistance. NOTE: The bill has been flagged for potential amendments due to county governments concerns over litigation exposure and financial liability.

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS REGULATION
Prohibits counties or municipalities from adopting or enforcing any ordinance or measure that would regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system, including on buildings with shared roofs. Such systems can range from small, portable units to larger installations and noise levels are a significant concern, as some may require sound barriers depending on the location. NOTE: This bill preempts local control over energy policy.

BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT
Allows broadband grant recipients to enter and deploy broadband infrastructure on property owned by property owners located within the highway right-of-way. Property owners must notify the broadband grant recipient in writing if they intend to demand just compensation for the deployment.