East Central Reporter

Charles Meier introduced HB2828 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 Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires eligible school districts to report to the Department of Revenue (i) the total amount of veterans' homestead exemptions granted for the 2024 levy year for property located in the eligible school district and (ii) the total amount of veterans' homestead exemptions granted for the current levy year for property located in the eligible school district. Provides that the Department shall certify the difference, if any, between the current levy year exemption amount and the levy year 2024 exemption amount for each eligible school district. Provides that those amounts shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund. Provides that an "eligible school district" is a school district that contains residential property that is located within 45 miles of a United States military base. Creates the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund. Provides that moneys in the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund shall be used to make grants to eligible school districts."

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 Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, requiring eligible school districts—which have residential property located within 45 miles of a U.S. military base—to report the total amount of veterans' homestead exemptions for the 2024 levy year and the current levy year. The Department of Revenue will then certify any difference between these amounts and ensure that this difference is transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the newly created Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund. The funds will be used to provide grants to eligible school districts, with the grants corresponding to the certified difference in exemption amounts. This process begins by March 1, 2026, and continues annually, facilitating financial support to school districts near military bases.

Charles Meier has proposed another 40 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Charles Meier is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 109th House District. He replaced previous state representative David Reis in 2023.

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
HB2828	02/05/2025	Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires eligible school districts to report to the Department of Revenue (i) the total amount of veterans' homestead exemptions granted for the 2024 levy year for property located in the eligible school district and (ii) the total amount of veterans' homestead exemptions granted for the current levy year for property located in the eligible school district. Provides that the Department shall certify the difference, if any, between the current levy year exemption amount and the levy year 2024 exemption amount for each eligible school district. Provides that those amounts shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund. Provides that an "eligible school district" is a school district that contains residential property that is located within 45 miles of a United States military base. Creates the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund. Provides that moneys in the Support our Veterans and Neighbors Fund shall be used to make grants to eligible school districts.
HB2829	02/05/2025	Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, $0.25 of every $1 of the remainder of the tax imposed by the Act on wine that was manufactured in this State shall be deposited into the Illinois Wine Promotion Fund. Creates the Illinois Wine Promotion Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to be used by the Department of Agriculture only for the purpose of distributing grants to wine manufacturers and grape growers located in a wine trail from appropriations made from the Illinois Wine Promotion Fund for that purpose and administering and maintaining the Illinois Winery Advisory Council. Establishes the Illinois Winery Advisory Council to oversee and provide advice to the Department of Agriculture regarding the distribution of grants from the Illinois Wine Promotion Fund. Sets forth provisions concerning the membership of the Advisory Council, quarterly meetings, reimbursement of expenses, and vacancies. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.
HB2830	02/05/2025	Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Prohibits persons who fail to report to the Department of Public Health individuals who commit certain violations from being involved in direct care for clients, patients, or residents, or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical, or personal records of clients, patients, or residents unless they have been issued a waiver under the Act. Provides that reports of violations shall be made no later than 5 days after the incident constituting the violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when the person battered, other than by the discharge of a firearm, is known to be a patient at a Department of Human Services facility and the person who commits the battery is an employee of the Department of Human Services; and a recipient at a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, who is battered by an employee of the community-integrated living arrangement. Provides that the offense is a Class 2 felony.
HB2831	02/05/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that cable or video providers shall issue a customer a pro rata credit if that customer requests service disconnection during the first 2 weeks of a monthly billing period.
HB2832	02/05/2025	Creates the Short Line Railroad Infrastructure Modernization Act. Provides that (i) any railroad company that is located wholly or partly within the State and that is classified by the United States Surface Transportation Board as a Class II or a Class III railroad and (ii) any owner or lessee of a rail siding, industrial spur, or industry track located on or adjacent to any railroad in the State may apply to the Department of Transportation for an income tax credit. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be equal to 50% of the qualified railroad reconstruction or replacement expenditures incurred by the eligible taxpayer during the taxable year, but not to exceed certain specified limitations. Provides that the credit may be transferred to an eligible transferee. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB2833	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. In provisions concerning small business set-asides, provides that the maximum number of employees and the maximum dollar volume that a small business may have shall mirror the United States Small Business Administration's Table of Small Business Size Standards. Effective immediately.
HB2834	02/05/2025	Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall require facilities under its jurisdiction to consider the class or school schedule of employees who are continuing their education before mandating overtime work hours.
HB2835	02/05/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Department of Agriculture.
HB2869	02/05/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to submit the necessary application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the State's home and community-based services waiver programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities to provide coverage under the Home-Based Services Program for any therapeutic recreation programs offered by park districts, health clubs, and community colleges.
HB1800	01/27/2025	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative purpose of the Act.
HB1452	01/21/2025	Amends the Eminent Domain Act concerning quick-take procedures. Provides that at any time after the plaintiff has taken possession of the property, but no later than 2 years after the plaintiff has taken possession of the property, the court shall notify the interested parties of their right to apply for authority to withdraw any just compensation due to them.
HB1557	01/21/2025	Amends the Charitable Trust Stabilization Act. Provides that, to receive a grant under the Act, an organization must (i) have a staff or board that is completely voluntary or has the equivalent of not more than one full-time paid employee and (ii) adopt a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, family status, or religion.
HB1558	01/21/2025	Appropriates $1,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for a comprehensive study of the Kaskaskia River watershed in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1559	01/21/2025	Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and implement uniform procedural rules for its districts. Provides that no district official or official acting on behalf of a district shall deviate from the procedural rules once established by the Department.
HB1560	01/21/2025	Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that a waiver shall be deemed granted if the Business Enterprise Council for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities does not make a determination on the waiver within 30 business days after the initial request for a waiver by the contractor. Effective immediately.
HB1561	01/21/2025	Amends the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002. Provides that any person or business that, as of January 1, 1995, was practicing as an appraiser in the State of Illinois and had a minimum of 2 years of experience practicing as an appraiser is exempt from the required licensure as a certified general real estate appraiser under the provisions regarding an application for a State certified general real estate appraiser license. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2029, no person or business organization shall be issued a certified general real estate appraiser license using the grandfather clause exemption.
HB1562	01/21/2025	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer, no later than January 1, 2026, a 5-year pilot program that integrates an occupational therapy component into the State's home-delivered meals program, commonly known as Meals on Wheels, authorized under the federal Older Americans Act. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall award grants funded under the Section 14(c) transition program to eligible community agencies for the purpose of training and employing qualifying workers with disabilities to accompany Meals on Wheels drivers on their regular delivery routes and assist in the delivery of meals to homebound meal recipients who opt to participate in the pilot program. Provides that at the option of a participating homebound meal recipient, a qualifying worker may remain with the recipient for up to 2 hours after meal delivery to provide an opportunity for social engagement and interaction. Provides that a direct support professional shall travel with and supervise all deliveries made by a worker whose disability makes the worker less independent. Sets forth qualification requirements under the program for workers with disabilities. Provides that all workers with disabilities selected to participate in the pilot program shall be compensated at a rate level consistent with those wage standards applied for workers engaged in competitive integrated employment as defined in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Requires community agencies selected to receive grant funding under the pilot program to have active or pending subminimum wage certificates authorized under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and meet any other eligibility requirements established by the Department by rule. Requires the Department to conduct annual surveys during the duration of the pilot program on participating homebound meal recipients and workers with disabilities to gauge such participants' overall satisfaction with the pilot program and to document any other additional benefits to program participants. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1563	01/21/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2026, the maximum income limitation for the senior freeze shall be $75,000 for all qualified property (currently, $65,000). Provides that the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted each year according to the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Effective immediately.
HB1564	01/21/2025	Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall require every applicant seeking employment as a mental health technician at a State-operated developmental center to: (i) complete the Test for Adult Basic Education and obtain a score that demonstrates the applicant's ability to read and write at a 5th grade level; and (ii) complete a series of basic physical agility tests, including a test that demonstrates the applicant's ability to lift at least 50 pounds, a one-mile walk test, a shuttle run, and a patient transfer test. Provides that such testing shall be in addition to any other testing or application requirements for employment as a mental health technician at a State-operated developmental center. Effective immediately.
HB0051	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Tax Act. Provides that 80% of the moneys received under the Act on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be paid into the Pension Stabilization Fund and 20% of those moneys shall be paid into the Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Illinois Commerce Commission to supervise and regulate the operations of the carbon dioxide pipeline industry in Illinois. Effective immediately.
HB0052	01/09/2025	Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that if a witness slip is filed in either chamber on a bill or amendment, and all of the text of that bill or amendment is subsequently incorporated into another bill or amendment, then that witness slip shall, with the consent of the person filing it, be associated in the database of witness slips maintained by the Legislative Information System with the bill or amendment into which the text is incorporated. Amends the Legislative Information System Act. Provides that the Legislative Information System shall establish and maintain a database for tracking witness slips.
HB0053	01/09/2025	Creates the Eviction Moratorium Clarification Act. Provides that in any eviction moratorium issued by the Governor through Executive Order or legislation passed by the General Assembly, the moratorium shall not prohibit the eviction of specified individuals. Provides that evictions may be filed, commenced, and enforced against the specified individuals, along with any individuals who otherwise fail to meet the stated requirements of an eviction moratorium. Provides that in a rental or lease agreement in which utility payments are included in the rent payment, the landlord or property manager shall not be responsible for a tenant's portion of a monthly utility payment for a tenant not paying rent who is protected by an eviction moratorium if the utility charges for that tenant are for more than 20% higher usage than any month in the previous year. Effective immediately.
HB0054	01/09/2025	Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that first full week of March each year is designated as Soil Health Week to be observed throughout the State as a week to celebrate and raise awareness regarding the importance of soil health to Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers. Effective immediately.
HB0055	01/09/2025	Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. Removes provisions allowing the Department of Human Services to conduct site visits to an agency licensed under the Act, or to any program or placement certified by the agency, and inspect the records or premises, or both, of such agency, program or placement as it deems appropriate, for the purpose of determining compliance with the Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and applicable Department rules and regulations. Requires the Department to establish a system of regular, ongoing, and unannounced on-site inspections, that shall occur at least annually, of each agency licensed under the Act or any program or placement certified by an agency licensed under the Act under the Department's jurisdiction. Provides that the inspections shall be conducted by the Department's central office to achieve specified goals.
HB0056	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Permits certain judicial officers, the Attorney General, assistant Attorneys General, State's Attorneys and assistant State's Attorneys, some with specified written consent, to carry a concealed firearm in any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government, any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court, or any building or portion of a building under the control of the Supreme Court and any building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government.
HB0057	01/09/2025	Amends the Essential Support Person Act. Changes the definition of "Department" to mean the Department of Public Health or, with respect to community-integrated living arrangements, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act, the Department of Human Services. Provides that "facility" does not include any facility that the Department of Public Health or the Department of Veterans' Affairs does not regulate, except that "facility" includes a community-integrated living arrangement, as defined in the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act.
HB1108	01/09/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in accordance with federal guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall exempt from electronic visit verification requirements all live-in caregivers who provide Medicaid-funded personal care services or home health care services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or a waiver of the plan, including personal care services and home health care services provided under various home and community-based services waiver programs authorized under the Social Security Act. Defines "live-in caregiver". Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
HB1109	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning the child care assistance program, expands the categories of families eligible for assistance to include, beginning January 1, 2026, all child care workers with incomes at or below 325% of the federal poverty level for each family size.
HB1122	01/09/2025	Amends the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act. In a provision requiring a facility licensed under the Act to notify the Department of Human Services when emergency calls are made from the facility, provides that the notification is required regardless of whether the Office of the Inspector General has substantiated the allegations or the call resulted in a criminal charge, arrest, or incarceration. Provides that the Department shall adopt by rule a definition for "emergency calls".
HB1123	01/09/2025	Amends the Hospital District Law. Provides that each director of a hospital district may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the director's duties. Effective immediately.
HB1124	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. In provisions concerning the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to display, in multiple, conspicuous public places within the facility accessible to both visitors and residents and in an easily readable format, the address and statewide toll-free telephone number (rather than phone number) of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Internet web address of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website. Requires each long term care facility, supportive living facility, assisted living establishment, shared housing establishment, and State-operated developmental center to post on the home page of the facility's website the statewide toll-free telephone number of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and a link to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program's website.
HB1126	01/09/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections shall immediately discharge from their employment: (1) any Department employee against whom a conviction is entered on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act for an offense of unauthorized bringing of contraband into a penal institution by an employee; unauthorized possessing of contraband in a penal institution by an employee; or unauthorized delivery of contraband in a penal institution by an employee; or (2) any Department employee who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act is determined by the respective Department to have violated the Department policy prohibiting: (A) facilitating the bringing or delivering of an item of contraband into a Department facility; (B) bringing or delivering an item of contraband into a Department facility; or (C) possessing an item of contraband in a Department facility. Provides that any employee discharged for a violation of these provisions shall not be eligible to be rehired by either the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Corrections. Defines various terms. Effective immediately.
HB1127	01/09/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that a Judge that could seek retention of the Judge's office may not resign and seek election to the same office unless the former Judge has not served as elected or appointed Judge for that office for at least 2 years. Makes other changes.
HB1128	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Lowers the age at which a person may apply for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card without parental or legal guardian consent from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. Makes corresponding changes.
HB1129	01/09/2025	Creates the Ultrasound Opportunity Act. Sets forth legislative findings and definitions. Provides that at any facility where abortions are performed, the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician, or another qualified person working in conjunction with either physician shall offer any woman seeking an abortion after 8 weeks of gestation an opportunity to receive and view an active ultrasound of her unborn child by someone qualified to perform ultrasounds at the facility, or at a facility listed in a listing of local ultrasound providers provided by the facility, prior to the woman having any part of an abortion performed or induced and prior to the administration of any anesthesia or medication in preparation for the abortion. Provides that the requirements of the Act shall not apply when, in the medical judgment of the physician performing or inducing the abortion, there exists a medical emergency. Effective immediately.
HB1130	01/09/2025	Amends the Jury Commission Act. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall notify the jury administrator or jury commissioners of each jury summons that is returned indicating a change of address. Provides that, not less often than every 3 months, the jury administrator or jury commissioners shall send the local election authority a list of each such change of address. Amends the Election Code. Contains provisions concerning the cancellation of voter registration if the county clerk is of the opinion that the person is not a qualified voter or has ceased to be a qualified voter. In provisions requiring election authorities to automatically register a voter who has moved to a new jurisdiction in Illinois or within the jurisdiction, requires the election authority to act within 90 days of receipt of information from the National Change of Address Linkage System. Requires county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to complete verifications of voter registrations after a consolidated election in an odd-numbered year but before the first day allowed for circulation of a petition for nomination for a candidate for the following primary election in an even-numbered year (rather than at least once in every 2 years). Requires the county clerks and the Board of Election Commissioners to certify to the State Board of Elections that the verification has been conducted and completed within 30 days of completion of the verification.
HB1131	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a licensee requesting a new license shall submit $5 (rather than $75, of which $60 shall be apportioned to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, $5 shall be apportioned to the Mental Health Reporting Fund, and $10 shall be apportioned to the State Crime Laboratory Fund). Provides that the fees collected under this provision shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund.
HB1132	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act. Provides that the fee amount for a certified licensee shall be based upon the number of firearms sold per year. Provides that if the certified licensee sells less than 150,000 firearms per year, the fee is $200. Provides that if the certified licensee sells 150,000 to 500,000 firearms per year, the fee is $500. Provides that if the certified licensee sells over 500,000 firearms per year, the fee is $1,000.
HB1133	01/09/2025	Creates the Spending Reduction and Revenue Control Act. Provides that the General Assembly shall not pass any bill that either (i) creates new State taxes or (ii) increases existing State taxes until an appropriation bill or bills are passed that, in the aggregate, represent a reduction in the spending levels from the previous fiscal year. Provides that every State agency shall submit to the General Assembly a recommended list of spending efficiencies and budget reductions they deem necessary in order to help the General Assembly comply with the provisions of the Act. Effective immediately.
HB1134	01/09/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the personal needs allowance for a qualifying medical assistance recipient who is a resident in a facility licensed under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act shall equal $100. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the personal needs allowance shall increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to take effect on January 1 of each year.
HB1135	01/09/2025	Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to permit any resident of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center at Anna to remain at the facility upon request of the resident or the resident's family or legal guardian if the resident maintains an Illinois home address in a county located within the geographically organized service region designated by the Department as Division of Mental Health Region 5, excluding the following counties: Madison, Bond, Fayette, Clay, Jasper, or Crawford.
HB1136	01/09/2025	Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary, a State-operated developmental center funded, certified, or licensed by the Department of Human Services shall readmit, upon request, any former resident who transferred to and currently receives services at a licensed community-integrated living arrangement, if the former resident consents or if the former resident has a guardian with placement authority and that guardian consents based on a determination that the former resident's medical needs cannot be met by the program of services administered by the community-integrated living arrangement.
HB1137	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that, notwithstanding whether the laws of the state or territory where the non-resident resides related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Act, the Illinois State Police shall, no later than 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, allow for a non-resident license application if the applicant is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State and lives in the State. Provides that a non-resident active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State and lives in the State shall apply to the Illinois State Police and must meet all of the qualifications under the Act and shall submit: (1) the application and documentation required and the applicable fee; (2) a photocopy of a valid military identification card or Official Proof of Service Letter; and (3) a photocopy of permanent change-of-station orders to an assignment in the State. Provides for emergency rulemaking to implement the amendatory Act. Establishes fees. Makes conforming changes to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.
HB1138	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security must adopt amendments to its rules governing the administration of the Emergency Management Performance Grant program to ensure that every county emergency services and disaster agency in the State receives a base allotment of no less than $25,000 per fiscal year, with the remaining allocation of funds to be distributed to county emergency services and disaster agencies as deemed appropriate by the Director of the Agency. Provides that, in distributing the remaining allocation of funds, the Director shall consider, among other things, any limitation on a county's tax base, the increased costs of accreditation requirements for smaller agencies, and the increase in the number of disasters that affect smaller counties in the State. Effective immediately.