Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB1498 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1498 Introduced , by Rep. Chris Miller SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.110 ILCS 5/9-8.1015 ILCS 205/6.7 new Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year. LRB104 06583 SPS 16619 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1498 Introduced , by Rep. Chris Miller SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.110 ILCS 5/9-8.1015 ILCS 205/6.7 new 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10 15 ILCS 205/6.7 new Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year. LRB104 06583 SPS 16619 b LRB104 06583 SPS 16619 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1498 Introduced , by Rep. Chris Miller SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.110 ILCS 5/9-8.1015 ILCS 205/6.7 new 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10 15 ILCS 205/6.7 new
4	4	10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1
5	5	10 ILCS 5/9-8.10
6	6	15 ILCS 205/6.7 new
7	7	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year.
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13	13	1 AN ACT concerning elections.
14	14	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
15	15	3 represented in the General Assembly:
16	16	4 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
17	17	5 Sections 4-14.1 and 9-8.10 as follows:
18	18	6 (10 ILCS 5/4-14.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1)
19	19	7 Sec. 4-14.1. Cancelation of deceased voter's registration.
20	20	8 (a) Upon establishment of an electronic reporting system
21	21	9 for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act,
22	22	10 the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided,
23	23	11 as indicated on the decedent's death certificate, shall may
24	24	12 issue certifications of death records from that system and
25	25	13 shall may use that system to cancel the registration of any
26	26	14 person who has died during the preceding month. Regardless of
27	27	15 whether or not such a system has been established, it is the
28	28	16 duty of the county clerk to examine, monthly, the records
29	29	17 deposited in his or her office pursuant to the Vital Records
30	30	18 Act that relate to deaths in the county, and to cancel the
31	31	19 registration of any person who has died during the preceding
32	32	20 month. The county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for
33	33	21 a county or any other individual responsible for certification
34	34	22 of death under Section 18 of the Vital Records Act shall
35	35	23 promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within
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39	39	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1498 Introduced , by Rep. Chris Miller SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
40	40	10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.110 ILCS 5/9-8.1015 ILCS 205/6.7 new 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10 15 ILCS 205/6.7 new
41	41	10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1
42	42	10 ILCS 5/9-8.10
43	43	15 ILCS 205/6.7 new
44	44	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year.
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53	53	10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1
54	54	10 ILCS 5/9-8.10
55	55	15 ILCS 205/6.7 new
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74	74	1 7 days after the death of the decedent. The county clerk and
75	75	2 coroner shall report quarterly to its affiliated county board
76	76	3 and certify its full compliance with this Section and accuracy
77	77	4 of the voter rolls.
78	78	5 (b) Any person may request a copy of the report required in
79	79	6 subsection (a). Failure to provide an accurate report by the
80	80	7 county clerk within 5 business days, or 48 hours if 30 days
81	81	8 before an election, may file suit for injunction or
82	82	9 declaratory relief to enforce subsection (a) or this
83	83	10 subsection (b).
84	84	11 (c) The circuit court shall have the jurisdiction to
85	85	12 order: (i) production of deposits of records; (ii) production
86	86	13 of required reports; and (iii) compliance with subsection (a),
87	87	14 including establishing the accuracy of the voter registration
88	88	15 rolls.
89	89	16 (d) If a person seeking the right to receive a copy of the
90	90	17 documents pursuant to subsection (a) or enforce the provision
91	91	18 of subsection (a) prevails in a proceeding under this Section,
92	92	19 the court shall award such person reasonable attorney's fees
93	93	20 and costs. In determining what amount of attorney's fees is
94	94	21 reasonable, the court shall consider the degree to which the
95	95	22 relief obtained relates to the relief sought.
96	96	23 (e) If the court determines that a public body willfully
97	97	24 and intentionally failed to comply with this Section, or
98	98	25 otherwise acted in bad faith, the court shall also impose upon
99	99	26 the public body a civil penalty of not less than $2,500 nor
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110	110	1 more than $5,000 for each occurrence. In assessing the civil
111	111	2 penalty, the court shall consider in aggravation or mitigation
112	112	3 the budget of the public body and whether the public body has
113	113	4 previously been assessed penalties for violations of this
114	114	5 Section. The court may impose an additional penalty of up to
115	115	6 $1,000 for each day the violation continues if:
116	116	7 (1) the public body fails to comply with the court's
117	117	8 order after 30 days;
118	118	9 (2) the court's order is not on appeal or stayed; and
119	119	10 (3) the court does not grant the public body
120	120	11 additional time to comply with the court's order to
121	121	12 disclose public records.
122	122	13 (Source: P.A. 96-1484, eff. 1-1-11.)
123	123	14 (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)
124	124	15 Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other
125	125	16 reporting organization funds.
126	126	17 (a) A political committee shall not make expenditures:
127	127	18 (1) In violation of any law of the United States or of
128	128	19 this State.
129	129	20 (2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the
130	130	21 services, materials, facilities, or other things of value
131	131	22 received in exchange.
132	132	23 (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other
133	133	24 than loans made to the committee or to the public official
134	134	25 or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment of
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145	145	1 goods and services purchased by the committee under a
146	146	2 credit agreement. Nothing in this Section authorizes the
147	147	3 use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. The
148	148	4 repayments shall be made by check written to the person
149	149	5 who made the loan or credit agreement. The terms and
150	150	6 conditions of any loan or credit agreement to a committee
151	151	7 shall be set forth in a written agreement, including but
152	152	8 not limited to the method and amount of repayment, that
153	153	9 shall be executed by the chair or treasurer of the
154	154	10 committee at the time of the loan or credit agreement. The
155	155	11 loan or agreement shall also set forth the rate of
156	156	12 interest for the loan, if any, which may not substantially
157	157	13 exceed the prevailing market interest rate at the time the
158	158	14 agreement is executed.
159	159	15 (4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or
160	160	16 for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal
161	161	17 residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral
162	162	18 for home mortgages.
163	163	19 (5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses, except
164	164	20 clothing items rented by the public official or candidate
165	165	21 for his or her own use exclusively for a specific
166	166	22 campaign-related event, provided that committees may
167	167	23 purchase costumes, novelty items, or other accessories
168	168	24 worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.
169	169	25 (6) For the travel expenses of any person unless the
170	170	26 travel is necessary for fulfillment of political,
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181	181	1 governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or
182	182	2 purposes.
183	183	3 (7) For membership or club dues charged by
184	184	4 organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily
185	185	5 engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational
186	186	6 services; provided, however, that funds received under
187	187	7 this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities
188	188	8 for a specific campaign-related event.
189	189	9 (8) In payment for anything of value or for
190	190	10 reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has
191	191	11 been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes
192	192	12 of this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a
193	193	13 reimbursement.
194	194	14 (9) For the lease or purchase of or installment
195	195	15 payment for a motor vehicle unless the political committee
196	196	16 can demonstrate the vehicle will be used primarily for
197	197	17 campaign purposes or for the performance of governmental
198	198	18 duties. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits a political
199	199	19 committee from using political funds to make expenditures
200	200	20 related to vehicles not purchased or leased by a political
201	201	21 committee, provided the expenditure relates to the use of
202	202	22 the vehicle for primarily campaign purposes or the
203	203	23 performance of governmental duties. Persons using vehicles
204	204	24 not purchased or leased by a political committee may be
205	205	25 reimbursed for actual mileage for the use of the vehicle
206	206	26 for campaign purposes or for the performance of
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217	217	1 governmental duties. The mileage reimbursements shall be
218	218	2 made at a rate not to exceed the standard mileage rate
219	219	3 method for computation of business expenses under the
220	220	4 Internal Revenue Code.
221	221	5 (10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other
222	222	6 educational expenses, except for governmental or political
223	223	7 purposes directly related to a candidate's or public
224	224	8 official's duties and responsibilities.
225	225	9 (11) For payments to a public official or candidate or
226	226	10 his or her family member unless for compensation for
227	227	11 services actually rendered by that person. The provisions
228	228	12 of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a
229	229	13 political committee for expenses related to providing
230	230	14 childcare for a minor child or care for a dependent family
231	231	15 member if the care is reasonably necessary for the public
232	232	16 official or candidate to fulfill political or governmental
233	233	17 duties. The provisions of this item (11) do not apply to
234	234	18 expenditures by a political committee in an aggregate
235	235	19 amount not exceeding the amount of funds reported to and
236	236	20 certified by the State Board or county clerk as available
237	237	21 as of June 30, 1998, in the semi-annual report of
238	238	22 contributions and expenditures filed by the political
239	239	23 committee for the period concluding June 30, 1998.
240	240	24 (12) For payments to attorneys, expert witnesses,
241	241	25 investigators, or others to provide a defense in a
242	242	26 criminal case.
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253	253	1 (b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate,
254	254	2 upon receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the
255	255	3 provisions of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any
256	256	4 person who knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this
257	257	5 Section and on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and
258	258	6 false accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board may
259	259	7 act under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote of at
260	260	8 least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500 for each
261	261	9 expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the amount of
262	262	10 the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure greater than
263	263	11 $500. The Board shall also have the authority to render
264	264	12 rulings and issue opinions relating to compliance with this
265	265	13 Section.
266	266	14 (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits the expenditure of
267	267	15 funds of a political committee controlled by an officeholder
268	268	16 or by a candidate to defray the customary and reasonable
269	269	17 expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance
270	270	18 of governmental and public service functions.
271	271	19 (d) Nothing in this Section prohibits the funds of a
272	272	20 political committee which is controlled by a person convicted
273	273	21 of a violation of any of the offenses listed in subsection (a)
274	274	22 of Section 10 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act
275	275	23 from being forfeited to the State under Section 15 of the
276	276	24 Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
277	277	25 (Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)
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288	288	1 Section 10. The Attorney General Act is amended by adding
289	289	2 Section 6.7 as follows:
290	290	3 (15 ILCS 205/6.7 new)
291	291	4 Sec. 6.7. Office of Election Integrity.
292	292	5 (a) The Office of Election Integrity is created within the
293	293	6 Office of the Attorney General. The purpose of the Office is to
294	294	7 aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties
295	295	8 under the Election Code by:
296	296	9 (1) Receiving and reviewing notices and reports
297	297	10 generated by government officials or any other person
298	298	11 regarding alleged occurrences of election law violations
299	299	12 or election irregularities in this State.
300	300	13 (2) Initiating independent inquiries and conducting
301	301	14 preliminary investigations into allegations of election
302	302	15 law violations or election irregularities in this State.
303	303	16 (b) The Office may review complaints and conduct
304	304	17 preliminary investigations into alleged violations of the
305	305	18 Election Code or any rule adopted pursuant to the Election
306	306	19 Code and any election irregularities.
307	307	20 (c) The Attorney General in conjunction with the Chair of
308	308	21 the State Board of Elections shall appoint a Director of the
309	309	22 Office of Election Integrity.
310	310	23 (d) The Office shall be based in Springfield and shall
311	311	24 employ nonsworn investigators to conduct any investigations.
312	312	25 The positions and resources necessary for the Office to
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323	323	1 accomplish its duties shall be established through and subject
324	324	2 to the legislative appropriations process.
325	325	3 (e) The Office shall develop and create a voter fraud
326	326	4 hotline within 90 days after the effective date of this
327	327	5 amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
328	328	6 (f) The Office shall oversee the voter fraud hotline.
329	329	7 (g) This Section does not limit the jurisdiction of any
330	330	8 other office or agency of this State empowered by law to
331	331	9 investigate, act upon, or dispose of alleged election law
332	332	10 violations.
333	333	11 (h) By January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a
334	334	12 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
335	335	13 Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
336	336	14 Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of
337	337	15 Representatives detailing information on investigations of
338	338	16 alleged election law violations or election irregularities
339	339	17 conducted during the prior calendar year. The report shall
340	340	18 include the total number of complaints received and
341	341	19 independent investigations initiated and the number of
342	342	20 complaints referred to another State agency for further
343	343	21 investigation or prosecution. For each alleged violation or
344	344	22 irregularity investigated, the report shall include:
345	345	23 (1)the source of the alleged violation or
346	346	24 irregularity;
347	347	25 (2) the law allegedly violated or the nature of the
348	348	26 irregularity reported;
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