104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1357 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 140/10.5 new Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that an elected official of a unit of local government shall not use an alias, false identity, or any other deceptive means to submit a request for public records under the Act if the intent of the request is to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Sets forth penalties for a violation of this prohibition. Provides that, if an elected official of a unit of local government submits a request or series of requests resulting in unreasonable or excessive costs and if the use of an alias or false identity is discovered, then there is a rebuttable presumption that the request or requests were made to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Authorizes a unit of local government to seek reimbursement from elected officials who violate this requirement. Authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with units of local government, to investigate alleged violations and to take appropriate legal action against persons it alleges to have committed violations. LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1357 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 140/10.5 new 5 ILCS 140/10.5 new Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that an elected official of a unit of local government shall not use an alias, false identity, or any other deceptive means to submit a request for public records under the Act if the intent of the request is to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Sets forth penalties for a violation of this prohibition. Provides that, if an elected official of a unit of local government submits a request or series of requests resulting in unreasonable or excessive costs and if the use of an alias or false identity is discovered, then there is a rebuttable presumption that the request or requests were made to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Authorizes a unit of local government to seek reimbursement from elected officials who violate this requirement. Authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with units of local government, to investigate alleged violations and to take appropriate legal action against persons it alleges to have committed violations. LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1357 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5 ILCS 140/10.5 new 5 ILCS 140/10.5 new
5 ILCS 140/10.5 new
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that an elected official of a unit of local government shall not use an alias, false identity, or any other deceptive means to submit a request for public records under the Act if the intent of the request is to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Sets forth penalties for a violation of this prohibition. Provides that, if an elected official of a unit of local government submits a request or series of requests resulting in unreasonable or excessive costs and if the use of an alias or false identity is discovered, then there is a rebuttable presumption that the request or requests were made to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Authorizes a unit of local government to seek reimbursement from elected officials who violate this requirement. Authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with units of local government, to investigate alleged violations and to take appropriate legal action against persons it alleges to have committed violations.
LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
A BILL FOR
SB1357LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b SB1357 LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
SB1357 LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
1 AN ACT concerning government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
5 adding Section 10.5 as follows:
6 (5 ILCS 140/10.5 new)
7 Sec. 10.5. Abusive requests by elected officials using
8 aliases.
9 (a) As used in this Section, "unreasonable or excessive
10 costs" means costs that are incurred by a unit of local
11 government, that relate to the fulfillment of a request under
12 this Act, and that collectively exceed $100,000, including
13 copying fees, labor costs, legal fees, or any other associated
14 costs incurred by a unit of local government in processing a
15 request under this Act.
16 (b) An elected official of a unit of local government
17 shall not use an alias, false identity, or any other deceptive
18 means to submit a request for public records under this Act if
19 the intent of the request is to cause the unit of local
20 government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs.
21 (c) An elected official of a unit of local government who
22 violates subsection (b) of this Section is guilty of a Class A
23 misdemeanor and subject to penalties as prescribed by Illinois
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1357 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5 ILCS 140/10.5 new 5 ILCS 140/10.5 new
5 ILCS 140/10.5 new
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that an elected official of a unit of local government shall not use an alias, false identity, or any other deceptive means to submit a request for public records under the Act if the intent of the request is to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Sets forth penalties for a violation of this prohibition. Provides that, if an elected official of a unit of local government submits a request or series of requests resulting in unreasonable or excessive costs and if the use of an alias or false identity is discovered, then there is a rebuttable presumption that the request or requests were made to cause the unit of local government to incur unreasonable or excessive costs. Authorizes a unit of local government to seek reimbursement from elected officials who violate this requirement. Authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with units of local government, to investigate alleged violations and to take appropriate legal action against persons it alleges to have committed violations.
LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
A BILL FOR
5 ILCS 140/10.5 new
LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
SB1357 LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
SB1357- 2 -LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b SB1357 - 2 - LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
SB1357 - 2 - LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b
SB1357 - 2 - LRB104 07866 BDA 17912 b