Appropriates $250,000 to the Department of Transportation for expenses relating to the operations of the Ste. Genevieve – Modoc River Ferry. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Disability Benefits Maximization Program. Provides that, within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Central Management Services, in conjunction with the 5 State-funded retirement systems, may enter into a contract with an administrator to establish and conduct a Disability Benefits Maximization Program to identify relevant individuals eligible for Medicare but not enrolled in Medicare, and to assist those individuals with enrolling in Social Security and Medicare. Provides that the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall conduct an annual audit of the State health benefits program for everyone covered under the State Employees Group Insurance Program, the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program, and the College Insurance Program for the purpose of identifying participants and their dependents who are eligible for Medicare under federal law and shall also ensure that those annuitants, retirees, benefit recipients, survivors, or dependents who are eligible for Medicare are enrolled in Medicare with Medicare as their primary health care benefits coverage and the State Health Benefits Program being the secondary provider of their health care benefits coverage. Provides that the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall assist any annuitant, retiree, benefit recipient, survivor or their dependents who becomes disabled, and is not enrolled in Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare, with enrolling in and obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. Provides that the administrator of the Disability Benefits Maximization Program shall provide the Department, the 5 State-funded retirement systems, and the General Assembly with an annual report. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any person who files or causes to be filed a deed or instrument that is recorded in the grantor's index or the grantee's index that is fraudulent, unlawfully altered, or intended to unlawfully cloud or transfer the title of any real property may be held liable to the rightful property owner affected in an action brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to enforce the Code. Requires every county to establish and maintain a property fraud alert system. Requires every recorder to establish a fraud referral and review process to review deeds and instruments.

Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission Act. Creates the Illinois-Ireland Trade Commission. Establishes membership of the Commission. Provides that the President of the Senate shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among Commission members. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall meet at least twice per calendar year, beginning in 2025. Provides that the Commission may raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions. Provides that funds shall only be used to carry out the duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall file a report by the end of each calendar year detailing any actions made by the Commission, as well as new or expanded relations between Illinois and Irish entities, with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 that provides coverage for: habilitative services shall provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental; rehabilitative services shall provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering; or habilitative services and rehabilitative services shall provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, regardless of whether the stuttering is classified as developmental, and shall provide coverage for rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering. Sets forth requirements and limitations for the coverage. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval, beginning on January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for the support component of the nursing facility rate for facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act as skilled or intermediate care facilities and for facilities licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 shall be the rate in effect on June 30, 2024 increased by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index-U from September 2016 to September 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that all State agencies shall waive any fees assessed to a formerly incarcerated person for services provided by that State agency for a period of one year after the release of that person from a facility operated by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 concerning child pornography. Provides that if the creator of the images or materials is a minor and the sole subject of the depiction, the minor is not subject to criminal penalties under the statute. Deletes provision that "child pornography" does not include images or materials in which the creator of the image or materials is the sole subject of the depiction. Effective immediately.

Expresses support for the Southwest Connector Coalition's efforts to keep its expansion project moving forward and encourages its members to remain engaged in their efforts to improve Illinois.

Recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year to Asian American communities. Expresses the deepest respect for Asian Americans and people throughout Illinois and the world who celebrate the Lunar New Year. Wishes those who celebrate a happy and prosperous new year.

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) Act. Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program is inoperative after June 30, 2026 and is replaced by the Cash Assistance to Strengthen Households (CASH) program. Contains provisions concerning persons eligible for CASH assistance, including pregnant persons without dependent children and assistance units headed by a caretaker relative, as defined; income thresholds; immigration status; the amount of aid paid to eligible assistance units; application requirements; income verification requirements; eligibility redeterminations; substitute payees; transitioning assistance units from TANF to CASH; and Department rules to implement the CASH program. Makes conforming changes in other Articles of the Code. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may not adopt any regulation that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the use of natural gas in new construction without a referendum. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, individuals seeking a short-term approval for school support personnel, as defined in rules, are not required to take the test of content area knowledge prior to the short-term approval being issued.

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.

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Changes from 3 years to 5 years the added sentence for the knowing manufacture or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance when the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl. Provides that excluding violations of the Act when the controlled substance is fentanyl, for any person sentenced to a term of imprisonment with respect to violations of the knowing possession of a controlled substance, when the substance containing the controlled substance contains any amount of fentanyl, 3 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court, and the maximum sentence for the offense shall be increased by 3 years.