South Cook News

Patrick J. Joyce introduced SB2661 in the Illinois Senate on May 14, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois State Senate.

According to the Illinois State Senate site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that, if an applicant for an owners license or a host municipality has entered into a revenue-sharing agreement with one or more communities other than the host municipality, the parties to the agreement must file with the Illinois Gaming Board (i) a copy of the revenue-sharing agreement, (ii) a copy of all amendments or other modifications that are made to the revenue-sharing agreement, and (iii) proof of having provided notice to all communities that may be affected in any way by the amendments or modifications to the revenue-sharing agreement. Specifies that, in determining whether to grant or renew an owners license to an applicant, the Board shall consider, among other things, whether the applicant has complied with these requirements. 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 Illinois Gambling Act to require that if an applicant for an owners license or a host municipality enters into a revenue-sharing agreement with communities other than the host, the agreement and any modifications must be filed with the Illinois Gaming Board. It mandates proof of notification to all communities affected by changes to the agreement. Compliance with these requirements will be a factor in the Board's consideration of granting or renewing owners licenses. The effective date of the bill is immediate upon becoming law.

Patrick J. Joyce has proposed another 31 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Joyce graduated from Illinois State University with a BA.

Patrick Joyce is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 40th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Toi Hutchinson in 2019.

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
SB2661	05/14/2025	Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that, if an applicant for an owners license or a host municipality has entered into a revenue-sharing agreement with one or more communities other than the host municipality, the parties to the agreement must file with the Illinois Gaming Board (i) a copy of the revenue-sharing agreement, (ii) a copy of all amendments or other modifications that are made to the revenue-sharing agreement, and (iii) proof of having provided notice to all communities that may be affected in any way by the amendments or modifications to the revenue-sharing agreement. Specifies that, in determining whether to grant or renew an owners license to an applicant, the Board shall consider, among other things, whether the applicant has complied with these requirements. Effective immediately.
SB2630	03/06/2025	Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for grants to Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to fund wetland protection, enhancement, and restoration projects in the State of Illinois, to fund education and outreach for media, volunteers, members, and the general public regarding waterfowl and wetlands conservation in the State of Illinois, and to cover reasonable cost for Ducks Unlimited plate advertising and administration of the wetland conservation projects and education program.
SB2160	02/07/2025	Amends the Human Services Act. Provides for grants to food banks for venison. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides for an optional Hunter Food Bank Stamp to have hunters help end hunger in Illinois. In a provision regarding a separate harvest period for deer, directs the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules that will cause a county to be open for hunting during the special harvest period if more than 5 deer removal permit requests were made in the county in the preceding year. Provides that, at the request of a landowner or tenant, the Department shall transfer to that individual an unused firearm deer permit from the regular season for the taking of deer to be used during the separate harvest period to hunt upon the individual's land only and for the taking of antlerless deer only, and that transferred permit shall be transferable in the same manner as permits under certain provisions regarding special deer, turkey, and combination hunting licenses for landowners. In a provision regarding authority to kill wildlife responsible for damage, provides that the holder of a deer removal permit issued by the Department may transfer the permit to any individual meeting certain requirements. Provides that the Department shall make publicly available on its website applications for deer removal permits and instructions on how to apply for those permits. Provides that the Department shall acknowledge receipt of each application for a deer removal permit within one business day, complete any investigation required, and issue or deny the requested deer removal permit within 5 business days. Provides that, in the event of failure to deny an application for a deer removal permit within 5 business days, the application shall be deemed approved. Provides that a deer removal permit issued by the Department is valid from the date of its issuance until December 31 of the same calendar year. Makes technical changes. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act.
SB2161	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law. Requires the Department of Central Management Services to develop a fire engine bid specification, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Fire Advisory Commission, to provide necessary bidding information. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning the fire truck revolving loan program, provides that a loan for the purchase of fire trucks or brush trucks may not exceed $500,000 (instead of $350,000) to any fire department or fire protection district.
SB2422	02/07/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that deer, turkey, and combination permits shall be issued to specified Illinois resident landowners and tenants without charge. Provides that the total number of deer, turkey, and combination permits that may be issued by the Department of Natural Resources shall be set by rule. Defines terms and adds tenants, bona fide current income beneficiaries of a trust, and bona fide landowners to certain provisions. Requires permits under the amendatory Act to be on a hunter's person at all times while hunting.
SB2488	02/07/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department-set daily time limits for hunting wild turkey shall be the same for youths and adults and shall begin no later than sunrise and end no earlier than sunset. Provides that unfilled Wild Turkey Hunting Permits from one season may be carried over to any other wild turkey season in the same year. Requires the Department to adopt rules to implement the amendatory Act.
SB1874	02/06/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions regarding a certificate of public convenience and necessity, makes changes to the limitations on the construction of a nuclear power reactor. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, construction may commence on an advanced nuclear reactor (rather than a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts of electricity or less) within the State under specified conditions. Defines "advanced nuclear reactor". Makes other changes.
SB1978	02/06/2025	Creates the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Act. Provides that an individual who: (i) is domiciled in this State; (ii) is eligible for and receives either the general homestead exemption the general alternative homestead exemption; (iii) has experienced property tax bill spikes; and (iv) has an income that meets a specified income eligibility limitation is eligible for a grant of a portion of their bill spike. Provides that the maximum amount of grant to which a claimant is entitled is the one-half of the claimant's tax bill spike. Creates the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Fund for the purpose of making grants to claimants. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB1532	02/04/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority shall allow any voter who is in line to vote at the time an early voting polling place closes to cast a ballot.
SB1533	02/04/2025	Amends the Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act. Provides that each person, other than a seller or holder, who signs a retail installment contract may be held liable only to the extent that he actually receives the motor vehicle described or identified in the contract, except that a parent or spouse or any other person who co-signs such retail installment contract (rather than any other person listed as an owner of the motor vehicle on the Certificate of Title issued for the motor vehicle who co-signs such retail installment contract) may be held liable to the full extent of the deferred payment price notwithstanding such parent or spouse or any other person listed as an owner has not actually received the motor vehicle described or identified in the contract and except to the extent such person other than a seller or holder, signs in the capacity of a guarantor of collection.
SB1534	02/04/2025	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.
SB1552	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board may not charge retired law enforcement officers more than $30 annually to complete the annual certification of retired law enforcement officers qualified under federal law to carry a concealed weapon.
SB1553	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Schedules xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance. Provides for penalties for the knowing manufacture or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver xylazine. Provides that, notwithstanding the scheduling of xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, the prohibition on delivery or possession with intent to deliver xylazine does not apply to licensed veterinarians who lawfully prescribe, dispense, administer, acquire, or use any controlled substance, including xylazine, while acting in the course of their professional practice, in good faith, and in accordance with generally accepted medical standards.
SB1557	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may use an existing utility pole within its public rights-of-way for municipal public safety purposes, including, but not limited to, the placing of equipment associated with public safety. Provides that any fee charged for the use of a utility pole shall be at the lowest rate charged by the entity owning the utility pole and shall not exceed the entity's actual costs.
SB1558	02/04/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits residential burglary when he or she knowingly and without authority enters on the property of another, or any part thereof, with the intent to commit therein a theft of a motor vehicle. Effective immediately.
SB1598	02/04/2025	Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides that, whenever any person shall be entitled to a warrant or other payment from the treasury or other funds held by the State Treasurer, on any account, against whom there shall be any then due and payable account or claim in favor of a public agency or association organized under an intergovernmental agreement in accordance with the provisions of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, including an intergovernmental risk management association or self-insurance pool, the Comptroller shall ascertain the amount due and payable to the public agency or association organized under an intergovernmental agreement and draw a warrant on the treasury or on other funds held by the State Treasurer. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB1407	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes language providing that an owner may only apply for and receive 5 farm truck registrations, and only 2 of those 5 vehicles shall exceed 59,500 gross weight in pounds per vehicle. Provides instead that an owner may apply for and receive a total of 8 farm truck registrations; however, only 2 farm truck registrations may be registered as exceeding 77,001 lbs. under provisions regarding farm truck registration (with a fee of $1,590 per vehicle registered) and the other 6 farm truck registrations must be registered as exceeding 77,001 lbs. under provisions regarding flat weight taxes (with a fee of $2,890 per vehicle registered).
SB1408	01/31/2025	Amends the Governmental Account Audit Act. Provides that any governmental unit receiving revenue of less than $1,500,000 (rather than $850,000) for any fiscal year shall, in lieu of causing an annual audit of the accounts of the unit to be made, either (i) cause an audit of the accounts of the unit to be made once every 4 years and file with the Comptroller an annual financial report containing information required by the Comptroller or (ii) file with the Comptroller an annual financial report containing information required by the Comptroller, a copy of which has been provided to each member of that governmental unit's board of elected officials, presented either in person or by a live phone or web connection during a public meeting, and approved by a 3/5 majority vote. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB1409	01/31/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, within one year of the effective date of the amendatory Act, to the extent permitted by federal law, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt or amend rules effectuating an increased shooting time for waterfowl of 30 minutes after sunset on at least one day per week during seasons for the hunting of waterfowl. Provides that hunting hours between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise may be established by administrative rule for waterfowl, to the extent permitted by federal law.
SB1410	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that during the period where authorized payments are required, Des Plaines commits to share 40% of the gaming tax revenue that remains after the authorized payment, less the amounts received by the named municipalities from the proceeds of a specified casino, with the following municipalities: Chicago Heights; Dixmoor; Ford Heights; Harvey; Hodgkins; Markham; Phoenix; Riverdale; Robbins; and Summit. Provides that the amount received by each named municipality shall be allocated proportionally to the population of each municipality and reduced by the amount received by that municipality from the proceeds of the specified casino. Defines "authorized payments".
SB1473	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Removes provision stating that no organization licensee conducting its race meeting in a county bordering the Mississippi River and having a population greater than 230,000 may be a host track for its race meeting. Makes changes in provisions regarding organizations that may not conduct a horse race meeting, the standardbred racetrack in Cook County, the application for an organization license, and wagering. Adds provisions concerning the standardbred racetrack in Macon County. Effective immediately.
SB1360	01/29/2025	Amends the Illinois State Police Radio Act. In provisions about public safety radio interoperability, defines interoperability and includes legislative findings. Provides that the Illinois Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) shall oversee advisory boards in the governance, interoperability, and land mobile radio standards for Illinois' land mobile radio communications system and shall collaborate with the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator and the Homeland Security Advisory Council to strengthen Illinois' emergency communications ecosystem. Modifies the membership of the SIEC. Provides that the advisory boards of the SIEC shall include, but are not limited to, the Governance Advisory Board, the Statewide Interoperability Advisory Board, and the STARCOM21 Advisory Board. Removes references to the STARCOM21 Oversight Committee. Requires the SIEC to adopt bylaws for its effective operation, as well as that of its advisory boards, and allows the SIEC to appoint advisors from the public safety communications community to serve on its advisory boards at the pleasure of the SIEC. Requires the SIEC to establish, no later than July 1, 2026, standards necessary to ensure land mobile radio equipment interoperates throughout Illinois; compliance with these standards shall be implemented as funding becomes available; planning, training, and evaluation standards necessary to enhance public safety communications operational readiness; and standards necessary for the unification of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System statewide. Requires the SIEC to, no later than July 1, 2026, develop and recommend a plan to sustainably fund radio infrastructure, radio equipment, and interoperability statewide. Allows the Illinois State Police to use any money appropriated to it for the purpose promoting public safety radio interoperability if the use of the funds is consistent with any standards set forth by the SIEC and to adopt emergency rules or jointly adopt emergency rules with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1229	01/24/2025	Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that the Directory published each year by the Department of Public Health for each public health region listing facilities shall contain the facility website address, if any.
SB1230	01/24/2025	Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2026, and every year thereafter, the Capital Development Board shall submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor concerning all upcoming and proposed projects constructed by or under the supervision of the Board.
SB0217	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning creation of a firefighters' pension fund.
SB0218	01/22/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated assault of a teacher upon school grounds or grounds adjacent to a school or in any part of a building used for school purposes is a Class 4 felony (rather than a Class A misdemeanor).
SB0258	01/22/2025	Amends the Personnel Code. Provides that, if requirements exist under federal law, regulation, or rule for administration of programs by methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis on January 1, 2025, those requirements shall remain in place for the purpose of administration of those programs by the State. Effective immediately.
SB0151	01/17/2025	Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB0152	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB0153	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB0154	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning creation of a firefighters' pension fund.
SB0155	01/17/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that an elected or appointed member of a public body of a township may satisfy specified training requirements of the Act by participating in a course of training sponsored or conducted by an organization that represents townships created under the Township Code. Specifies the contents of the course of training. Provides that if an organization that represents townships provides a course of training, it must provide a certificate of course completion to each elected or appointed member of a public body who successfully completes that course of training.