South Central Reporter

Steve McClure introduced SB1481 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 31, 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 Code. Provides that, if a district board's membership has been expanded or reduced by referendum or resolution, the additional members will be elected not earlier than 225 days (rather than 197 days) after the referendum or resolution, and a reduction of board members will not affect the terms of any commissioners holding office at the time of the referendum or any commissioners to be elected within 225 (rather than 197) days after the referendum. Provides that, if the terms of a district's board members have increased or decreased after referendum or resolution, the terms will commence with the first regular park district election at least 225 days (rather than 197 days) after the date on which the terms were increased or reduced by referendum or resolution. Provides that, if a vacancy in the governing board of a park district occurs with more than 28 months left in the term, but less than 151 days (rather than 123 days) before the next regularly scheduled election for this office, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold his or her office until the second regularly scheduled election for the office following the appointment, at which a member shall be elected to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. 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 Code to modify when changes to a district board's membership and terms can be implemented after a referendum or resolution. Specifically, any changes such as expansion or reduction in members, as well as term adjustments, will now take effect not earlier than 225 days post-referendum or resolution rather than the previous 197 days. The bill also details the process for filling vacancies on the board. If a vacancy occurs with more than 28 months left in the term but less than 151 days before the next election, the appointee will hold office until the second subsequent election. The bill is effective immediately upon becoming law.

Steve McClure has proposed another 15 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

McClure graduated from Arizona State University in 2006 with a BA and again in 2011 from Valparaiso University School of Law with a JD.

Steve McClure is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 54th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Sam McCann 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
SB1481	01/31/2025	Amends the Park District Code. Provides that, if a district board's membership has been expanded or reduced by referendum or resolution, the additional members will be elected not earlier than 225 days (rather than 197 days) after the referendum or resolution, and a reduction of board members will not affect the terms of any commissioners holding office at the time of the referendum or any commissioners to be elected within 225 (rather than 197) days after the referendum. Provides that, if the terms of a district's board members have increased or decreased after referendum or resolution, the terms will commence with the first regular park district election at least 225 days (rather than 197 days) after the date on which the terms were increased or reduced by referendum or resolution. Provides that, if a vacancy in the governing board of a park district occurs with more than 28 months left in the term, but less than 151 days (rather than 123 days) before the next regularly scheduled election for this office, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold his or her office until the second regularly scheduled election for the office following the appointment, at which a member shall be elected to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Effective immediately.
SB1417	01/31/2025	Creates the New Salem Preservation Commission Act. Provides that the New Salem Preservation Commission is created within the Department of Natural Resources for certain purposes related to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site. Provides for 13 members, including members of the General Assembly and others, with the President of the New Salem Lincoln League as chairperson. Provides that the Department shall provide support to the Commission. Provides that the members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the volunteer coordinator at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site shall submit an annual report to the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall convene and meet at the call of the chairperson and shall meet once a year to tour and assess the Site. Provides that the Commission shall compile an annual report for the General Assembly. Makes findings. Effective immediately.
SB1496	01/31/2025	Appropriates $5,000,000 from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for capital improvements consisting of reconstruction of the Grist Mill at the New Salem State Historic Site, repair and maintenance of all structures and perimeter fencing within the New Salem State Historic Site, including illumination of all outdoor statues and flags at the Site, as well as repair of the Wagon Wheel structure at the entrance of the Site. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0285	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a violation of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, or intoxicating compounds, or any combination thereof, involving a motor vehicle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or watercraft accident that results in the death of one person and great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement of one or more other persons is a Class 2 felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 4 years and not more than 20 years. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Lindsey's Law.
SB0286	01/24/2025	Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes in the definition of "sex offense" under the Act, home invasion in which the defendant commits against any person or persons within the dwelling place criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
SB0287	01/24/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Precludes the court from ordering the automatic expungement of the juvenile court and law enforcement records of a delinquent minor based on an attempt to commit a disqualified offense.
SB0288	01/24/2025	Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a licensee requesting a new license because of a change of name or change of address, or because the person's license was lost, destroyed, or stolen shall submit $5, which shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Services Fund.
SB0289	01/24/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly transmits or causes to be transmitted in any manner a threat of destruction of a child care institution or day care center building or property, or a threat of violence, death, or bodily harm directed against persons at a child care institution or day care center, a child care institution or day care center function, or a child care institution or day care center event, whether or not the child care institution or day care center is in session. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.
SB0290	01/24/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Increases the penalties for violation of an order of protection by one class. Effective immediately.
SB0292	01/24/2025	Amends the University of Illinois Act. In provisions concerning scholarships for the children of veterans, provides that an honorary scholarship may also be given to the children of persons who served at any time during the invasion of Panama between December 20, 1989 and January 31, 1990.
SB1207	01/24/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that no interest or penalties shall be imposed with respect to property that is included in a decedent's probate estate at the time of a delinquency if the representative of the decedent's estate applies with the county treasurer for a waiver of those amounts and is granted that waiver. Provides that the waiver shall apply beginning on the date of the decedent's death until the earlier of either: (i) the date on which the property is sold, transferred, or conveyed or (ii) the date on which the estate is closed.
SB1241	01/24/2025	Amends the Township Code. Provides that, if a township owns or controls a cemetery lying within or without, or partly within and partly without, the territory of the township, and if the township has no township collector, then the township supervisor may appoint a cemetery board of managers (now, only the township collector may appoint a cemetery board of managers).
SB1256	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a permanently disabled applicant is issued registration plates or a parking decal or device under the Code, the applicant shall submit proof of the applicant's permanent disability once every 5 years. Defines "proof of the applicant's permanent disability".
SB1257	01/24/2025	Amends the Toll Highway Act. Requires the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to establish an option to pay with tangible legal United States currency at every toll plaza and toll location point.
SB0098	01/17/2025	Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.
SB0109	01/17/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the expiration date of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act must be boldly and conspicuously displayed on the face of the card. Provides that the expiration date of a combined Firearm Owner's Identification Card and concealed carry license issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act must be boldly and conspicuously displayed on the face of the card and must clearly identify the expiration date of the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the expiration date of the person's concealed carry license.
SB0059	01/13/2025	Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2026, the Secretary of State shall establish and maintain a secure database that is accessible to local election officials and that indicates whether the particular person to whom a driver's license or State identification card has been issued is a United States citizen. Amends the Election Code. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2026, before an applicant is registered to vote, the registration officer shall verify the applicant's citizenship status using the secure database maintained by the Secretary of State. Provides that, if the information in the database indicates that the applicant is not a United States citizen, then the applicant's card shall be marked with the word "incomplete", and the registration officer shall notify the applicant in writing that (i) the application is incomplete and (ii) the applicant may not vote unless the applicant appears before the county clerk to present evidence that the applicant is a United States citizen. Effective immediately.