West Cook News

Camille Y. Lilly introduced HB2681 in the Illinois House on Feb. 4, 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 Park District Aquarium and Museum Act. Changes the Act's short title to the Park District and Municipal Aquarium and Museum Act. Replaces the Act's existing references to "city" and "cities" with "municipality" and "municipalities". Provides that the board of park commissioners or corporate authorities of a municipality (currently, only boards of park commissioners) may levy a tax if the park district or municipality has control of a public park or parks within the park district or municipality in which an aquarium or museum is maintained. Makes other changes. Amends the Park District Code, Chicago Park District Act, Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, and Eminent Domain Act to make conforming changes. 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 Park District Aquarium and Museum Act to allow both municipalities and park districts to levy taxes for the operation and maintenance of aquariums and museums in parks under their control, expanding the previous tax levy authority limited to park districts. It updates references from "city" to "municipality" throughout the Act and makes conforming amendments to related statutes, including the Park District Code, Chicago Park District Act, Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, and Eminent Domain Act. The Act also reaffirms that aquariums and museums serve valuable public purposes, such as educational and recreational benefits. It stipulates that these facilities must offer free admission to Illinois schoolchildren and state residents on specified days. The bill is effective immediately upon becoming law.

Camille Y. Lilly has proposed another 15 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Lilly graduated from Drake University in Des Moines in 1983 with a BS.

Camille Y. Lilly is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 78th House District. She replaced previous state representative Deborah L. Graham in 2010.

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
HB2681	02/04/2025	Amends the Park District Aquarium and Museum Act. Changes the Act's short title to the Park District and Municipal Aquarium and Museum Act. Replaces the Act's existing references to "city" and "cities" with "municipality" and "municipalities". Provides that the board of park commissioners or corporate authorities of a municipality (currently, only boards of park commissioners) may levy a tax if the park district or municipality has control of a public park or parks within the park district or municipality in which an aquarium or museum is maintained. Makes other changes. Amends the Park District Code, Chicago Park District Act, Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, and Eminent Domain Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB2680	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that any plan of health or accident insurance that provides coverage for prescription drugs and that is issued amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2027 must include any amount paid by the insured or paid on behalf of the insured by another person when calculating the insured's overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or other cost-sharing requirement. Provides an exception for a high-deductible health plan to the extent that providing coverage would disqualify that plan from eligibility for a health savings account.
HB2691	02/04/2025	Creates the Health and Wellness Impact Note Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to prepare health and wellness impact notes on bills introduced in the General Assembly.
HB2692	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Creates the State Procurement Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the underrepresentation of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, with regard to corporate diversity and State of Illinois procurement opportunities and awards. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Contains provisions concerning reports. Effective immediately.
HB2693	02/04/2025	Creates the State Agency and Grantee Bonus Prohibition Act. Provides that no State agency or hospital shall pay from State funds, in whole or in part, and no employee of a State agency or hospital may receive a bonus as all or part of his or her compensation, including such bonuses as may be received for work on capital projects. Provides that no grantee shall pay, and no employee or contract worker of a grantee may receive, a bonus paid from grant funds awarded for operational expenses as all or part of his or her compensation, including such bonuses as may be received for work on capital projects. Provides that State agencies who use bonuses paid to State employees shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly itemizing each bonus awarded, including the amount of the bonuses awarded, the purpose of the bonus, the position of the employees to whom bonuses were awarded, and the overall agency fiscal impact for the bonuses awarded in the prior fiscal year. Effective immediately.
HB2467	02/03/2025	Amends the Election Code. Allows polling places to offer mock elections for children to teach them the basics of the electoral process.
HB2475	02/03/2025	Creates the Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Act. Establishes the Illinois Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to be managed by the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of making grants to qualified easement holders for (1) the purchase of conservation easements on qualified land; (2) the costs of acquisition related to the purchase of conservation easements approved by the program; and (3) the costs of ecological management and maintenance activities. Requires the Department to adopt rules to implement the Act. Establishes the Legacy Act Technical Advisory Committee in the Department. Contains legislative findings. Defines terms. Repeals the Local Legacy Act. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
HB2363	01/30/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, is authorized to create and award capacity building grants to municipalities whose equalized assessed value, total State sales tax disbursements, or both combined, decreased at least 30% over the 10 years preceding the issuance of the grant. Provides for the adoption of rules. Effective immediately.
HB1923	01/29/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require all school districts to supply all active classroom instructors, all school staff and administration, and district leadership with an educational document explaining the values of good indoor air quality. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms that are not mechanically ventilated have at least 2 properly functioning windows, or one window in situations where only one is present, that can open and can safely stay open. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with a portable air cleaner that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to supply each school with 5 additional portable air cleaners and 5 additional air quality monitors to be used in school health offices, libraries, cafeterias, and other similar spaces. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer. Makes certain provisions subject to appropriation, and makes other changes.
HB1924	01/29/2025	Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority shall, subject to appropriation, no later than July 1, 2026, establish a program that allows persons 18 or younger who enrolled as a student in a participating institution to use the Authority's buses and trains for transportation to youth programs or youth services without charge. Effective immediately.
HB1925	01/29/2025	Creates the Education Prioritization Act. Beginning with fiscal year 2026, requires the General Assembly to appropriate for the evidence-based funding formula under the School Code an amount that is equal to or exceeds the sum of: (i) the total amount appropriated for the evidence-based funding formula during the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the appropriation is being made; and (ii) 51% of total new general funds available for spending from estimated growth in revenues and funds available because of budgeted program growth and decline in the fiscal year for which the appropriation is being made; but in no event shall the sum be less than a certain percentage required under the Act. Requires a continuing appropriation if the General Assembly fails to make sufficient appropriations to fund the evidence-based funding formula. Amends the School Code to make changes concerning a system for accounting for revenues and expenditures and evidence-based funding. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB1926	01/29/2025	Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. In provisions concerning postsecondary and career expectations, provides that, beginning in grade 6, students should be introduced to the importance of developing and applying a work ethic in a variety of contexts; sets forth what this introduction may include.
HB1927	01/29/2025	Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.
HB1928	01/29/2025	Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that October 25 of each year is designated as the Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day to honor the athletic accomplishments and to reflect on the legacy of Gene "Coach Ping" Pingatore. Effective immediately.
HB1929	01/29/2025	Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that a formerly convicted person may petition the Department of Human Rights for a grant of protected class status. Provides that the Department may grant protected class status to a formerly convicted person who meets the following conditions: the person has complied with each term and condition of the person's parole, mandatory supervised release, probation, or conditional discharge; the person has obtained a high school diploma or received a high school equivalency certificate; the person is employed or actively seeking employment or is enrolled in or has successfully completed a vocational training or college educational program; the person has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within the last 5 years; and the person has completed all sanctions imposed upon the person through due process of law. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules concerning what constitutes an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the formerly convicted person from meeting some of the conditions and who is qualified to diagnose such a person. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions. Provides that protected class status previously granted to a formerly convicted person shall be revoked by the Department after notice and a hearing, if the formerly convicted person is subsequently convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Provides that the revocation process shall be initiated by a petition that sets forth the date of the subsequent offense, description of the offense, date of conviction for the subsequent offense, and sentence imposed on the conviction. Provides that a copy of the petition and notice of the hearing date shall be served on the formerly convicted person.
HB1930	01/29/2025	Provides that specified amounts are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to specified units of local government for non-competitively awarded grants to community-based organizations that address violence prevention using a culturally competent approach and that are capable of decreasing violence in the specified representative districts. Provides for the types of prevention, services, and programs the grants shall support. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1931	01/29/2025	Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Insurance to conduct a study to better understand the gaps in health insurance coverage for uninsured residents, including the reasons why individuals are uninsured and whether insured individuals are insured through an employer-sponsored plan or through the Illinois health insurance marketplace. Requires the Department to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall provide health insurance coverage to all of their workforce.
HB1932	01/29/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant. Provides that, prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship must sign an agreement pledging that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall begin working as a nurse within the Department of Corrections for a period of not less than 3 years. Sets forth provisions concerning the scholarship amount, applicant eligibility, the selection of recipients, applications, the distribution of funds, the fulfillment of the agreement, funding, and rulemaking. Provides that the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Commission, shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly on effectiveness, including the number of recipients, their service periods, and any challenges faced. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.
HB1503	01/21/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish and implement a Veterans' Economic Center pilot program for the purposes of assisting veterans in finding employment and addressing the problem of veteran homelessness. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that a taxpayer who receives a credit under the Act for a taxable year ending on or before December 31, 2027 pursuant an Agreement entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act may apply only 98% of that credit amount against his or her State income tax liability in any taxable year. Provides that the remaining 2% of the total credit amount awarded shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund into the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Provides that moneys in the Veterans' Economic Center Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to administer the Veterans' Economic Center pilot program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Effective immediately.