McLean County Times

Sally J. Turner introduced SB1364 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 29, 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 Property Owned By Noncitizens Act. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in public or private land in the State. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity in violation of the provisions has 2 years to divest of the public or private land, and if a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity does not divest the public or private land, the Attorney General shall commence an action in the circuit court within the jurisdiction of the public or private land. Provides that a prohibited foreign party shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in agricultural land in the State regardless of whether the prohibited foreign party intends to use the agricultural land for nonfarming purposes. Provides that a prohibited foreign party who is a resident alien of the United States shall have the right to acquire and hold agricultural land in the State upon the same terms as a citizen of the United States during the continuance of his or her residence in the State, but if a prohibited foreign party is no longer a resident alien, he or she shall have 2 years to divest of the agricultural land, and that if the prohibited foreign party does not divest of the agricultural land as required, the Attorney General shall commence an action in circuit court within the jurisdiction of the agricultural land. Provides that violation of the provisions by either a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity or a prohibited foreign party owning agricultural land shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 4 felony punishable by not more than 2 years imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections or a $15,000 fine, or both. Creates the Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to collect and analyze information concerning the unlawful sale or possession of agricultural land by prohibited foreign parties and administer and enforce the provisions of the Act."

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 Property Owned By Noncitizens Act, prohibiting businesses controlled by foreign parties from acquiring interests in public or private land in Illinois. These entities have two years to divest properties, or legal action will ensue to enforce judicial foreclosure. Similar restrictions apply to foreign parties acquiring agricultural land, with exceptions for resident aliens, who must divest if residency changes. Violations are punishable as Class 4 felonies with penalties up to two years imprisonment or a $15,000 fine. The bill establishes the Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to monitor and enforce compliance, including reporting violations to the Attorney General. This office can employ peace officers to execute its duties.

Sally J. Turner has proposed another 22 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Sally J. Turner is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 44th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Bill Brady in 2021.

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
SB1364	01/29/2025	Amends the Property Owned By Noncitizens Act. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in public or private land in the State. Provides that a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity in violation of the provisions has 2 years to divest of the public or private land, and if a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity does not divest the public or private land, the Attorney General shall commence an action in the circuit court within the jurisdiction of the public or private land. Provides that a prohibited foreign party shall not acquire by grant, purchase, devise, descent, or otherwise any interest in agricultural land in the State regardless of whether the prohibited foreign party intends to use the agricultural land for nonfarming purposes. Provides that a prohibited foreign party who is a resident alien of the United States shall have the right to acquire and hold agricultural land in the State upon the same terms as a citizen of the United States during the continuance of his or her residence in the State, but if a prohibited foreign party is no longer a resident alien, he or she shall have 2 years to divest of the agricultural land, and that if the prohibited foreign party does not divest of the agricultural land as required, the Attorney General shall commence an action in circuit court within the jurisdiction of the agricultural land. Provides that violation of the provisions by either a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business entity or a prohibited foreign party owning agricultural land shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 4 felony punishable by not more than 2 years imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections or a $15,000 fine, or both. Creates the Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to collect and analyze information concerning the unlawful sale or possession of agricultural land by prohibited foreign parties and administer and enforce the provisions of the Act.
SB1362	01/29/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that, once per legislative term, each member of the General Assembly shall participate in a law enforcement educational program, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, a ride-along program and a simulation training program, as organized by a body of law enforcement of that member's legislative district or representative district.
SB1363	01/29/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Requires each officer, member, and employee to complete, at least annually, a cybersecurity training program, with certain requirements. Requires each ultimate jurisdictional authority to submit to the applicable Ethics Commission, at least annually, a report regarding that training, with certain requirements.
SB1365	01/29/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that the owner of a commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility must compensate landowners if the facility adversely affects the flow of water within the landowner's land, including, but not limited to, by affecting a drainage tile.
SB1366	01/29/2025	Creates the State Government AI Act. Provides that, before January 1, 2028, the Department of Innovation and Technology shall adopt rules establishing policies and procedures concerning the development, procurement, deployment, use, and assessment of artificial intelligence by agencies of State government. Prohibits the deployment and use of artificial intelligence by agencies of State government, unless permitted by rules adopted by the Department. Requires certain impact assessment reports. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
SB1367	01/29/2025	Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall: (1) review the condition of all State-owned buildings annually; (2) report to the General Assembly on the condition of all State-owned buildings annually; (3) identify the necessary costs to repair and maintain all State-owned building and report those costs to the General Assembly annually; and (4) adopt rules creating and overseeing a repair and maintenance schedule for all State-owned vacant buildings.
SB1287	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Provides that any person providing home services, home health services, or home nursing services who is not a member of the patient or consumer's family or providing services under the Community Care Program shall prominently display a photo identification badge containing the name of the person providing the services, the name of the organization the person represents, the occupation of the person, and a recent photograph of the person.
SB1288	01/28/2025	Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that each food handler covered by the Act, whether or not employed by a restaurant as defined in the Act, shall complete a training program on celiac disease and the safe handling of gluten-free foods. Provides that the training program shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following topics: (1) the nature and symptoms of celiac disease; (2) the importance of gluten-free food handling for individuals with celiac disease; (3) methods to prevent cross-contamination with gluten-containing foods; (4) the proper cleaning and sanitizing procedures to remove gluten residues from food preparation surfaces and equipment; and (5) the labeling and identification of gluten-free products.
SB0280	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it shall be a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Defines "electronic communication device".
SB0281	01/24/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the authority of the Illinois State Police to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act to a person who is not a resident of the State of Illinois does not apply to an applicant who is an Illinois resident in the United States Military permanently assigned out of state. Effective immediately.
SB1232	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall set aside from any moneys appropriated to it for the making of grants under the Act an amount it determines is sufficient to ensure that municipalities with a population that is less than or equal to 5,000 people have ready access to funds for disaster recovery disbursements. Provides that moneys set aside shall be used by the Agency for municipalities with a population that is less than or equal to 5,000 and that are otherwise eligible for grant funding under the Act. Provides that the Agency shall disburse the funds reserved to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System covering a municipality having a population less than or equal to 5,000 affected by a disaster. Provides that the EMS System shall distribute the funds to pay for the costs the affected municipality incurs during a disaster to provide for debris removal and other necessary disaster services. Requires the municipality to demonstrate to the EMS System that services are necessary for recovery from the disaster. Effective immediately.
SB1242	01/24/2025	Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department, at least annually, to review State facilities that are no longer in service, determine the status of those facilities, and determine which of those facilities need to be demolished. Requires the Department of Central Management Services to annually submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding estimated costs for the demolition and removal of State facilities no longer in service.
SB1244	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act. Provides that any person providing home services, home health services, or home nursing services who is not a member of the patient or consumer's family or providing services under the Community Care Program shall prominently display a photo identification badge containing the name of the person providing the services, the name of the organization the person represents, the occupation of the person, and a recent photograph of the person.
SB1248	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026 registration year, for an electric motorcycle, an owner shall be charged a $50 (rather than $100) surcharge in addition to the applicable registration fee.
SB1250	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires the Department of Transportation, in each road district, to erect signage stating that there is loose gravel ahead at any entrance to a road consisting mainly of loose gravel.
SB0207	01/22/2025	Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that an immediate family member of a retail licensee may be issued a wine manufacturer's license if the family member is not named on the retail license and does not have any ownership or other interest in that family member's licensed business. Provides that an individual shall not be deemed to have an ownership or other interest in the licensed business of a spouse if each spouse's ownership is independent and each spouse does not exercise control over or have a financial interest in the other's operations in a manner inconsistent with this Act. Provides that a holder of a wine manufacturer license and a holder of a retail license who are married shall not be deemed to be accepting, receiving, borrowing, or exchanging anything of value solely based on their marital status so long as (i) each spouse independently operates his or her licensed business separately in compliance with the 3-tier regulatory system, (ii) each spouse's ownership is independent, and (iii) neither spouse exercises control or has a financial interest over the other's operations in a manner inconsistent with the Act or the 3-tier regulatory system. Effective immediately.
SB0244	01/22/2025	Creates the Weather Radar Interference Mitigation Act. Provides that, if a National Weather Service Forecast Office issues a winter storm advisory, a winter storm watch, a winter storm warning, a blizzard warning, a severe thunderstorm watch, a severe thunderstorm warning, a tornado watch, or a tornado warning for an area within the State and if a wind turbine operator owns, operates, or manages a wind turbine located within 40 miles of the weather radar station operated by that National Weather Service Forecast Office, then the wind turbine operator shall pause operation of that wind turbine during the inclement weather alert. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, no person shall construct a wind turbine within 7 miles of a weather radar station operated by a National Weather Service Forecast Office or a wind turbine with a height that is greater than 60 meters within 10 miles of a weather radar station operated by a National Weather Service Forecast Office. Provides that a wind turbine owner or operator who knowingly violates the Act after receiving a written warning is guilty of a business offense and subject to a fine in excess of $1,000 but not exceeding $5,000. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
SB0097	01/17/2025	Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning Substitute Teaching Licenses, requires an applicant who is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program to have either earned at least 75 credit hours or completed 3 semesters in an educator preparation program (rather than requiring the applicant to have earned at least 90 credit hours). Provides that a school district may not require an individual who retired within the last 5 years while holding a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher if substitute teaching for no more than one year. Provides that a retired educator may not be charged an application fee for a Substitute Teaching License if certain conditions are met.
SB0135	01/17/2025	Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that the recipient of a credit under the Act may apply for a certificate of transferability of credit from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the amount of the credit not previously claimed. Provides that the transferability certificate may be transferred or sold by the recipient to another Illinois taxpayer. Provides that unused Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credits may be carried forward for a period of 10 years (currently, 5 years). Makes other changes.
SB0184	01/17/2025	Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Adds fire investigators to the definition of "firefighter". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State.
SB0036	01/13/2025	Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of the Department of Natural Resources to the contrary, a State authorized veterans' organization seeking to hold a memorial service at a State Memorial Site shall not pay a fee and shall not be required to obtain liability insurance if the permit to hold such service is approved by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall be provided a list of State authorized veterans' organizations by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Defines "State authorized veterans' organization".
SB0038	01/13/2025	Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.
SB0039	01/13/2025	Amends the Electric Vehicle Charging Act. Exempts any tiny home for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of secure, long-term affordable housing, if that tiny home is constructed by a specified nonprofit organization that exclusively funds and administers tiny homes for veterans. Provides that every county and municipality that has the power to issue building permits and otherwise control the construction of buildings shall require by ordinance that an applicant seeking a building permit to construct tiny homes for at-risk veterans must include with the permit application a completed and signed affidavit stating that all buildings constructed under the permit are designated for the exclusive use of qualifying veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of secure, long-term affordable housing. Prohibits a county or municipality, including a home rule unit, from adopting any building code or ordinance that requires EV-capable parking spaces for tiny homes constructed for the purpose of providing affordable housing for at-risk veterans under the provisions. Effective immediately.