Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the prohibition against a licensee carrying a firearm into any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government does not apply to any rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation or to buildings located in rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm in any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Garden Act. Provides that a person may save the seeds grown in a vegetable garden for personal consumption or non-commercial sharing. Provides that a unit of local government may not adopt a regulation or ordinance that precludes saving seeds grown in vegetable gardens.

Calls on school districts and school boards to pass resolutions that (1) Designate Illinois schools to be a safe haven for all students, school staff, and families threatened by immigration enforcement, discrimination, and stop and frisk policies to the fullest extent permitted by law, (2) Prevent the release of information or assist ICE and/or local law enforcement, (3) Require agencies it holds intergovernmental agreements with to uphold the determinations outlined in this resolution, (4) Abstain from using Illinois school resources for detecting or assisting in the apprehension of persons who may be targeted in immigration enforcement, (5) Deny the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's access to school databases, facilities, equipment, personnel, and other resources for purposes of implementing registries, (6) Reject any effort to create religious litmus tests or screenings for individuals or families to navigate the immigration process and, most importantly, reject any federal or state effort to create a registry of individuals based on religion or ethnicity, and (7) Oppose any existing or future federal mandates to implement stop and frisk policies in and around schools.

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall establish and administer the Invest in Illinois Higher Education Program for the purposes of expanding access to higher education through scholarships awarded from the Invest in Illinois Higher Education Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Invest in Illinois Higher Education Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to any donations made by the taxpayer to the Invest in Illinois Higher Education Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may notify a license holder's current or most recent employer, if the employer is a public school or school district, charter school, special education cooperative, nonpublic school, nonpublic special education facility, or public school residential facility, that the license holder is being investigated for an alleged act of misconduct that constitutes a threat to the safety of students.

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Provides that residents of nursing home facilities have the right to outdoor access. Provides that residents of nursing home facilities and consumers served by mental health rehabilitation facilities shall be free to enter and leave the facilities as they choose. Provides that a facility may suspend this right only if the resident's or consumer's physician examines the resident or consumer and determines that leaving the facility would pose a danger to other residents or consumers or an immediate and substantial danger to the resident's or consumer's safety and well-being, which shall be explained to the resident or consumer and documented in the resident's or consumer's medical chart.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, upon receiving an election authority's request, if a school district demonstrates to the election authority that the use of a school as a polling place would interfere with scheduled programming or pose a threat to the safety of staff or students, the election authority and the school district shall work cooperatively to find an alternative location to serve as a polling place. Provides that, if the school district and the election authority are unable to identify a mutually agreeable alternative location, the school district and the election authority shall submit a report to the Board of County Commissioners that includes specified information. Provides that, after receiving the report, the Board of County Commissioners shall determine a location to be used as a polling place as soon as practicable to avoid further delay in determining a polling place.

Creates the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act. Creates the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of holding bitcoin as a financial asset. Provides that the State Treasurer may accept gifts, grants, and donations of bitcoin from Illinois residents and governmental entities for deposit into the Fund. Provides that the State Treasurer shall hold all bitcoin deposited into the Fund for a duration of at least 5 years from the date that the bitcoin enters the State's custody. Allows the State Treasurer, after this period, to transfer, sell, appropriate, or convert to another cryptocurrency any bitcoin in the Fund. Adds provisions concerning the management and security of the Fund; reporting requirements; and voluntary donations of bitcoin by Illinois residents. Provides that the State Treasurer may adopt rules necessary to administer the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University shall have the power and duty to borrow money for any lawful purpose from the WIU Foundation or any financial institution, as long as such money is repaid within 5 years from the time the money is borrowed. Provides that the amount outstanding from time to time may not exceed $2,000,000. Requires the chairperson, comptroller, or treasurer of the Board to execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the prohibition against a licensee carrying a firearm into any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government does not apply to any rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation or to buildings located in rest areas under the control of the Department of Transportation. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds. Eliminates a provision that a licensee shall not knowingly carry a firearm in any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to name the chairperson of the Program Board. Requires the Program Board to name the vice chairperson of the Program Board and make any necessary subcommittee appointments. Provides that the members of the Program Board shall serve 2-year terms and shall continue to serve until a replacement or reappointment is determined. Adds additional responsibilities of the Program Board. Requires institutions of higher education to verify that student applicants meet the eligibility requirements for DFI grants. Adds eligibility requirements for an award under the Act. Sets forth responsibilities for DFI institutions and DFI representatives. Requires a student to apply directly to the qualified institution of higher education that he or she plans to attend. Provides that in determining the recipients of awards, the Program Board shall favor recipients who received awards in previous years and who maintain conditions of eligibility and have made satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, as long as no student receives assistance for more than 4 years. Adds an additional condition for acceptance of a DFI award. Provides that if the obligation of the award is not met, repayment of the funds awarded shall (rather than may) be required according to procedures developed by the Board of Higher Education (rather than the Program Board). Provides that all grants are subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall first apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. Repeals a provision concerning continuing participants. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act regarding the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Changes the name of the scholarship program to the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to determine how to verify whether an applicant is a qualified student and to award teacher scholarships to qualified students who demonstrate that they satisfy requirements. Requires the annual teacher scholarship amount to be computed by the institution. Provides that each teacher scholarship awarded shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the total cost of attendance (rather than tuition and fees and room and board costs). Requires applicants to submit an application annually, as well as complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Adds additional factors for the Commission to consider when prioritizing the allocation of funds. Removes language providing that at least 35% of the funds appropriated for awarded scholarships in each fiscal year shall be reserved for qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified Black male applicants, and if the Commission does not receive enough applications from qualified male minorities, then the Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to qualified female minority applicants. Requires each recipient of a teacher scholarship to sign and submit a teaching agreement or promissory note to the Commission. Provides that recipients of a teacher scholarship are also required to provide the Commission with evidence of compliance with program requirements. Provides that if a recipient of a teacher scholarship fails to fulfill the teaching obligation, the scholarship converts to a loan with a repayment period of 10 years. Requires the State Board of Education to furnish all appropriate data referenced within the definition of a qualified student on a timely basis to the Commission. Provides that institutions shall also submit eligibility information for qualified students in sufficient time for the Commission to make award announcements. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall first apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. Amends the Transitions in Education Act to make a related change. Makes other changes, and adds a severability clause. Effective immediately.

Creates the Citizens Empowerment Act. Provides that electors may petition for a referendum at the next general election to dissolve a unit of local government. Sets forth the requirements for the petition, together with the form and requirements for the ballot referendum. Provides for the transfer of all real and personal property and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit of local government to the receiving unit of local government. Amends the Election Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that State and public funds that have been deposited may not be withdrawn from a financial institution prior to the date of maturity solely on the basis of a less than satisfactory rating under the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Creates the University Library & Professional Librarian Access & Transparency Task Force to examine the current state of libraries and professional librarianship on Illinois public university campuses and present a recommendation to the General Assembly to ensure that public academic libraries and the educational services provided by professional librarian faculty remains a viable and healthy benefit to Illinois students.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides immunity for any licensed engineer or licensed architect or other person working under the direct supervision of the licensed person who provides services without compensation in emergency response activities.