Air Rifles (SB 211/PA 96-0201): Imposes harsher penalties for misusing an air rifle, and creates penalties for using air rifles to assault law enforcement officials.

Annexation Statewide (HB 1003/PA 96-0188): Prohibits municipalities from entering into pre-annexation agreements with property owners that are not contiguous to the municipality, as a way to address situations where these pre-annexation agreements exempt the territory from county zoning ordinances.

 Biodiesel Blend (HB 2535/PA 96-0281): Increases the percentage of biodiesel blend from 2 percent to 5 percent that is required to be used by a state-owned diesel-powered vehicle.

Carnival Operators (SB 1408/PA 96-0151): Establishes civil penalties for violations made by carnival operators, owners, workers, etc., as related to licensure, record keeping and sex offender and criminal background check for workers.

Child Hunger (SB 1957/PA 96-0158): Widens the eligibility pool for the 10-cent reimbursement for each free, reduced-price and paid breakfast served over and above the number of breakfasts in the same month during the previous year, and makes other changes to the School Breakfast and Lunch and Child Hunger Acts.

Child Pornography (HB 2670/PA 96-0292): Allows an unlimited statute of limitations for the prosecution of child pornography that involves actual or simulated sexual act with children, and designates certain child pornography offenses as a crime of violence.

Concealed Firearms (HB 202/PA 96-0230): Allows parole agents and parole supervisors to carry concealed firearms at all times.

County Bidding (HB 585/PA 96-0170): Provides that counties (other than Cook) are not required to seek competitive bids for services, materials, equipment, supplies, or construction costing less than $30,000 (currently $20,000).

Credit Cards (HB 2352/PA 96-0261): Prohibits colleges from giving personal information about students to financial institutions for the purposes of issuing credit cards.

Disability Education (HB 1035/PA 96-0191): Mandates the Illinois State Board of Education and school districts must provide education about disability history and people with disabilities.

Disabled Workers (HB 818/PA 96-0181): Allows individuals enrolled in the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program, but who are found to have an improved disability, to remain eligible for Medicaid.

Dog Fight (HB 69/PA 96-0226): Increases the penalty for attending an illegal animal or dog fight, so the penalty is the same as that for a participant or a sponsor.

DUI (HB 1116/PA 96-0253): Allows a person charged with DUI to be eligible for supervision even if, within the last 12 months, the defendant has received supervision on two non-DUI Vehicle Code violations. (HB 2592/PA 96-0286): Adds an extra $20 dollar fee for DIU violations and for individuals placed on supervision for a serious traffic offense, to be placed in fire and ambulance funds.(HB 2649/PA 96-0289): Increases the penalty on an aggravated DUI if the person has been previously convicted of reckless homicide while under the influence. (HB 2650/PA 96-0290): Requires that defendants pay restitution if convicted of a DUI violation that involved injury to another person or damage to another person’s property.

Education Funding (SB 2051/PA 96-0152): Establishes that if a school district approves an increase in its limiting rate that affects its Base Tax Year, its Extension Limitation EAV will be equal to the product of the EAV last used to calculate GSA times an amount equal to (1 + “the % increase in CPI”), plus the EAV of any new property and minus the EAV of any disconnected property. 

Electronic Visitation (SB 1590/PA 96-0331): Allows for a child to “visit” with their non-custodial parent by electronic means, such as the Internet, telephone, video conferencing, etc.

Energy Assistance (SB 1629/PA 96-0157): Links the Rental Housing Support Program and Chicago public housing’s Section 8 program, to LIHEAP.

Energy Costs (HB 722/PA 96-0176): Allows a municipality to adopt an ordinance allowing it to buy power on behalf of its residents by grouping the consumers together, which lowers the cost. Also requires the Illinois Power Agency to help them accomplish that goal.

Energy Program Transfer (HB 796/PA 96-0154): Transfers the administration of the low-income energy assistance program (LIHEAP) and the weatherization assistance program from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and allows DCEO to increase eligibility levels from 150 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Family Preservation (HB 30/PA 96-0134): Calls for the development of a family preservation services program to support and reduce the stress on families that are experiencing extreme hardship due to the difficulty of caring for a child with developmental disabilities.

Farm Fresh Program (HB 78/PA 96-0153): Requires the creation of the Farm Fresh Schools program to promote consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables, and promote healthy living in Illinois schools.

Felon Dog Ownership (HB 934/PA 96-0185): Prohibits people who have been convicted of a felony violation for dog fighting from possessing an unsterilized or vicious dog for 10 years after conviction.

Fire Inspections (HB 1175/PA 96-0256): Requires a copy of the inspection of a business’ existing fire systems to be forwarded to the local fire department to ensure the department is aware of the fact the sprinkler system may not work.

First Amendment (HB 898/PA 96-0147): Allows for faculty and staff members at all public universities and community colleges to exercise their First Amendment rights without violating ethics laws, provided they don’t claim to represent or speak on behalf of the university or college.

Flags (SB 1753/PA 96-0344): Requires all United States flags purchased flown at state institutions and agencies to be made in the USA.

Forestry (SB 1413/PA 96-0217/HB 1087): Re-establishes the forestry development council that was repealed last year, to study Illinois’ forest resources and industry.

Foster Care (HB 726/PA 96-0247): Requires an annual report be given to the Governor and lawmakers on the estimated cost and additional funding required to establish the rate for each child up to 100 percent of the Foster Care Minimum Adequate Rates for Children.

Gangs (SB 141/PA 96-0199): Establishes the crime of criminal street gang recruitment of a minor.

Gas Tax Extension (HB 75/PA 96-0161): Extends two motor fuel taxes for 12 years in order to replenish revenues for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund that is used for environmental cleanup costs of leaking underground storage tanks.

Green Contracting (HB 4035/PA 96-0197): Requires preference be given to state contractors who will fulfill a contract using recycled products and supplies, and requires state agencies to use recycled supplies, provided neither presents an economic or practical hardship.

Grow Your Own Teachers Program (HB 392/PA 96-0144): Provides that the State Board of Education award grants to the Grow Your Own Teachers Initiative, for the development of community leaders and paraeducators to become certified teachers in hard-to-staff and low-income schools.

Homeless Identification Card (HB 897/PA 96-0183): Creates free identification cards to be given to homeless people, who often find it difficult to document their date of birth or address.

Identity Theft (HB 490/PA 96-0167): Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop a consumer fact sheet on identity insurance that can be given to consumers. (HB 597/PA 96-0243): Raises the penalty for aggravated identity theft relating to a senior citizen, disabled citizen or to further organized gang activity related to the intent of committing a felony.

Individual Education Plan (HB 979/PA 96-0187): Provides that a developmentally disabled child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) must include post-secondary transition goals to help disabled students more easily transition from the school system to the next stage of their lives.

Kinship Navigator Program (HB 2365/PA 96-0276): Creates a Kinship Navigator Program to help the state work toward its goal of preserving the family unit, and reduce the number of children who are currently living with relatives other than their mother and their father.

Lt. Governor Vacancy (HB 88/PA 96-0136): Clarifies the powers and duties of the Lt. Governor and his or her administration when the position is vacant.

Marketing Fines (HB 14/PA 96-0224): Requires 15 percent of fines imposed on a licensed gaming riverboat owner for knowingly sending marketing or promotional materials to a person placed on the self-exclusion list to be distributed to the unit of local government where the riverboat is located, which will then use the money to provide grants to non-profit entities that assist gambling addicts.

Medicaid Coverage (SB 1497/PA 96-0156): Authorizes Medicaid to cover dental procedures that include diagnostic, preventative or corrective procedures, aligning Illinois with federal guidelines.

Methamphetamine Disclosure (HB 214/PA 96-0232): Requires property owners to disclose that methamphetamine has been manufactured on the property when selling the property.

Missing Persons (SB 27/PA 96-0149): Creates the Endangered Missing Person Advisory to allow for the quick distribution of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be a "high-risk missing person,” such as someone with dementia.

Monitoring Device (HB 914/PA 96-0184): Expands the list of offenses that trigger the cancellation of a monitoring device driving permit to include aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Multiple Sclerosis (HB 244/PA 96-0139): Requires public employers to provide insurance coverage for medically necessary preventative physical therapy for patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Nursing Homes (SB 316/PA 96-0206): Requires DHFS to let the nursing home where a patient resides know if an individual application for medical assistance was accepted

Nursing Students (HB 1014/PA 96-0189): Allows advanced practicing nurses in certain circumstances to enjoy an expansion of prescriptive authority like that of a licensed physician, and provides that a registered practicing nurse lacking the proper degree may qualify as a certified registered nurse anesthetist if certain criteria are met. 

Obesity (HB 3767/PA 96-0155): Organizes at least six state agency hearings on the health effects and costs of obesity and the need to address the obesity epidemic.

Paternity Information (SB 1274/PA 96-0212): Requires paternity findings and exclusions entered in Juvenile Court proceedings related to abused, neglected or dependent minors to be disclosed when necessary to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Pharmaceutical Disposal (SB 1919/PA 96-0221): Prohibits health care facilities from flushing unused medications.

Political Freedom (HB 899/PA 96-0148): Bars public universities or community colleges from prohibiting faculty or staff from participating in certain political activities.

Renewable Fuels (HB 338/PA 96-0140): Allows renewable fuels facilities that produce at least five million gallons annually, down from 30 million gallons, to apply for the Renewable Fuels Development Program. (HB 680/PA 96-0173): Authorizes DCEO to award up to $4 million to grant applicants who install advanced technologies in water conservation, carbon footprint reduction, etc. at their renewable fuels facility, as a way to increase the efficiency of ethanol production.

Secret Compartment (SB 243/PA 96-0202): Addresses constitutional issues related to secret compartments in motor vehicles, to specify that the compartment must be intended or used for certain unlawful purposes.

Sex Offenders (HB 224/PA 96-0233): Lengthens the statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual relations between family members and broadens the definition of “family members.” (HB 327/PA 96-0236): Broadens the number of convicted sex offenders who must wear a GPS tracking device as a condition of parole of mandatory supervised release.

Stalking (HB 693/PA 96-0246): Allows protective orders for alleged victims of stalking prior to the offender being convicted, in an attempt to deter a potential stalker.

Stimulus Tracking (HB 571/PA 96-0169): Requires the governor’s office or a designated state agency to track and report the funding received and spent under the current and proposed federal stimulus packages.

Tobacco Possession (HB 799/PA 96-0179): Makes it illegal for a minor younger than 18 to possess tobacco, in addition to current prohibitions against buying or selling tobacco.

Torture (SB 48/PA 96-0223): Creates the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission to investigate claims of torture that resulted in a confession and conviction on a felony offense that were extracted by former Chicago police commander Jon Burge or police officers under his command.

Training Grants (HB 624/PA 96-0171): Forbids illegal immigrants from receiving training grants from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Uninsured Motorists (HB 370/PA 96-0143): Increases the penalty for individuals caught operating an uninsured motor vehicle, if that uninsured vehicle causes bodily harm to come to another person.

Urban Development Authority (HB 264/PA 96-0234): Creates the Illinois Urban Development Authority to fund projects intended to promote development in municipalities with a high poverty rate.

Victims Compensation (HB 2245/PA 96-0267): Identifies that pedestrians who are the victims of a hit and run incident involving a fatal or harmful motor vehicle accident can receive assistance from the Crime Victim Compensation Act.

Wildlife Funds Reinstatement (HB 36/PA 96-0160): Requires funds swept from the Wildlife & Fish Fund and other DNR funds to be returned and prohibits any additional transfers from these funds to prevent the loss of $16 million in federal funding.