Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB1565 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 SB1565 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110210 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110310 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110510 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110710 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108 Provides that the amendatory Act to be referred to as the Truth in Politics Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Prohibitions and Penalties Article of the Election Code. Creates prohibitions against (i) false statements to affect a vote, (ii) unlawful attempts to affect the outcome of a campaign, (iii) distribution of materials intending to mislead people on a candidate's incumbency status, and (iv) libel and defamation in political advertising. Provides that, if a person violates the provisions, the person can be enjoined civilly. Provides that a violation of the provisions are Class A misdemeanors. Amends the Fair Campaign Practices Article of the Election Code. Requires (rather than allows) candidates and the chairs of political committees to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Makes changes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Requires a candidate to include in all of the candidate's campaign literature and advertising the following statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message." Provides penalties for failure to timely file a signed Code of Fair Campaign Practices and for violations of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices or other provisions of the Article. Effective February 1, 2026. LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1565 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110210 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110310 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110510 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110710 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108 10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102 10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103 10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105 10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107 10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108 Provides that the amendatory Act to be referred to as the Truth in Politics Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Prohibitions and Penalties Article of the Election Code. Creates prohibitions against (i) false statements to affect a vote, (ii) unlawful attempts to affect the outcome of a campaign, (iii) distribution of materials intending to mislead people on a candidate's incumbency status, and (iv) libel and defamation in political advertising. Provides that, if a person violates the provisions, the person can be enjoined civilly. Provides that a violation of the provisions are Class A misdemeanors. Amends the Fair Campaign Practices Article of the Election Code. Requires (rather than allows) candidates and the chairs of political committees to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Makes changes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Requires a candidate to include in all of the candidate's campaign literature and advertising the following statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message." Provides penalties for failure to timely file a signed Code of Fair Campaign Practices and for violations of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices or other provisions of the Article. Effective February 1, 2026. LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1565 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110210 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110310 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110510 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110710 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108 10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102 10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103 10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105 10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107 10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108
4	4	10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new
5	5	10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new
6	6	10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new
7	7	10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new
8	8	10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102
9	9	10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103
10	10	10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105
11	11	10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107
12	12	10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108
13	13	Provides that the amendatory Act to be referred to as the Truth in Politics Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Prohibitions and Penalties Article of the Election Code. Creates prohibitions against (i) false statements to affect a vote, (ii) unlawful attempts to affect the outcome of a campaign, (iii) distribution of materials intending to mislead people on a candidate's incumbency status, and (iv) libel and defamation in political advertising. Provides that, if a person violates the provisions, the person can be enjoined civilly. Provides that a violation of the provisions are Class A misdemeanors. Amends the Fair Campaign Practices Article of the Election Code. Requires (rather than allows) candidates and the chairs of political committees to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Makes changes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Requires a candidate to include in all of the candidate's campaign literature and advertising the following statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message." Provides penalties for failure to timely file a signed Code of Fair Campaign Practices and for violations of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices or other provisions of the Article. Effective February 1, 2026.
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15	15	LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b
16	16	A BILL FOR
17	17	SB1565LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b SB1565 LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b
18	18	SB1565 LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b
19	19	1 AN ACT concerning elections.
20	20	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
21	21	3 represented in the General Assembly:
22	22	4 Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Truth in
23	23	5 Politics Act.
24	24	6 Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
25	25	7 finds:
26	26	8 (1) Misinformation occurs when people distribute
27	27	9 information based on incorrect factual beliefs and do so
28	28	10 confidently.
29	29	11 (2) Misinformation has distorted people's views about
30	30	12 consequential issues in politics. The American political
31	31	13 system and many campaigns are fraught with misinformation.
32	32	14 (3) Broadcasters have little power of censorship over
33	33	15 legally qualified candidates for public office, so local
34	34	16 broadcast television stations have difficulty rejecting
35	35	17 these types of advertisements, even if they are blatantly
36	36	18 false.
37	37	19 (4) Social media has affected the distribution of
38	38	20 information and has become a viable tool for
39	39	21 misinformation and manipulation in campaigns.
40	40	22 (5) Irrelevant, misleading, and vitriolic campaign
41	41	23 communications are prevalent.
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45	45	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1565 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
46	46	10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110210 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110310 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110510 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 110710 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108 10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new 10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new 10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102 10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103 10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105 10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107 10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108
47	47	10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new
48	48	10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new
49	49	10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new
50	50	10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new
51	51	10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102
52	52	10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103
53	53	10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105
54	54	10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107
55	55	10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108
56	56	Provides that the amendatory Act to be referred to as the Truth in Politics Act. Includes legislative findings. Amends the Prohibitions and Penalties Article of the Election Code. Creates prohibitions against (i) false statements to affect a vote, (ii) unlawful attempts to affect the outcome of a campaign, (iii) distribution of materials intending to mislead people on a candidate's incumbency status, and (iv) libel and defamation in political advertising. Provides that, if a person violates the provisions, the person can be enjoined civilly. Provides that a violation of the provisions are Class A misdemeanors. Amends the Fair Campaign Practices Article of the Election Code. Requires (rather than allows) candidates and the chairs of political committees to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Makes changes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. Requires a candidate to include in all of the candidate's campaign literature and advertising the following statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message." Provides penalties for failure to timely file a signed Code of Fair Campaign Practices and for violations of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices or other provisions of the Article. Effective February 1, 2026.
57	57	LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b
58	58	LRB104 10231 SPS 20305 b
59	59	A BILL FOR
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65	65	10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new
66	66	10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new
67	67	10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new
68	68	10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new
69	69	10 ILCS 5/29B-5 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1102
70	70	10 ILCS 5/29B-10 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1103
71	71	10 ILCS 5/29B-20 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1105
72	72	10 ILCS 5/29B-30 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1107
73	73	10 ILCS 5/29B-35 from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch. 46, par. 1108
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92	92	1 (6) Mudslinging can result in disgusted and frustrated
93	93	2 voters, diminished civic engagement, and decreased voter
94	94	3 turnout in elections.
95	95	4 (7) Honesty, transparency, civility, and substance are
96	96	5 values integral to an ethical campaign. Campaigns for
97	97	6 public office should adhere to principles of honesty,
98	98	7 fairness, responsibility and respect.
99	99	8 (8) Campaign communications should present only fair,
100	100	9 relevant, and truthful information to the voters for their
101	101	10 consideration.
102	102	11 (9) Because voters must decide for themselves what
103	103	12 they believe about a particular candidate, safeguards
104	104	13 should be put into place to improve the integrity and
105	105	14 accuracy of statements made during campaigns.
106	106	15 Section 10. The Election Code is amended by changing
107	107	16 Sections 29B-5, 29B-10, 29B-20, 29B-30, and 29B-35 and by
108	108	17 adding Sections 29-1.1, 29-1.2, 29-20.1, 29-20.2, and 29B-6 as
109	109	18 follows:
110	110	19 (10 ILCS 5/29-1.1 new)
111	111	20 Sec. 29-1.1. False statement to affect a vote; violation.
112	112	21 (a) As used in this Section:
113	113	22 "Person" means any natural person, candidate, partnership,
114	114	23 committee, association, corporation, labor organization,
115	115	24 political party, or other organization or group of persons,
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126	126	1 including a political action committee.
127	127	2 "Recklessly" means when a person acts in conscious
128	128	3 disregard of the truth or falsity of the statement made,
129	129	4 published, broadcast, or circulated.
130	130	5 (b) No person shall intentionally or recklessly make,
131	131	6 publish, broadcast, or circulate, or intentionally or
132	132	7 recklessly cause to be made, published, broadcast or
133	133	8 circulated, in a campaign-related communication a false
134	134	9 statement designed to affect the vote on any public question
135	135	10 submitted to the electors at any election or relating to any
136	136	11 candidate for election to public office.
137	137	12 (c) A violation of this Section may be enjoined in a civil
138	138	13 action brought by a candidate against whom a prohibited
139	139	14 statement is made, a registered voter who signed a petition
140	140	15 for the initiation of a public question against which a
141	141	16 prohibited statement is made, a member of the board that
142	142	17 approved a resolution or ordinance initiating the public
143	143	18 question against which a prohibited statement is made, or, for
144	144	19 public questions initiated by the General Assembly, a member
145	145	20 of the General Assembly. Any violation of this Section shall
146	146	21 be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
147	147	22 (d) Any person who violates this Section commits a Class A
148	148	23 misdemeanor.
149	149	24 (10 ILCS 5/29-1.2 new)
150	150	25 Sec. 29-1.2. Unlawful attempt to affect the outcome of a
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161	161	1 campaign; violation.
162	162	2 (a) As used in this Section:
163	163	3 "Person" means any natural person, candidate, partnership,
164	164	4 committee, association, corporation, labor organization,
165	165	5 political party, or other organization or group of persons,
166	166	6 including a political action committee.
167	167	7 "Recklessly" means when a person acts in conscious
168	168	8 disregard of the truth or falsity of the statement made,
169	169	9 published, broadcast, or circulated.
170	170	10 "Voting record" means the recorded "yes", "no", or
171	171	11 "present" vote, or a record from abstaining from a vote, on a
172	172	12 bill, ordinance, resolution, motion, amendment, or
173	173	13 confirmation.
174	174	14 (b) No person shall intentionally or recklessly do any of
175	175	15 the following to affect the outcome of a campaign for
176	176	16 political office:
177	177	17 (1) serve, or cause another person to serve, as an
178	178	18 agent or employee in the election campaign organization of
179	179	19 a candidate for the purpose of acting to impede the
180	180	20 conduct of the candidate's campaign for nomination or
181	181	21 election or for the purpose of reporting information about
182	182	22 the candidate without the knowledge of the candidate or
183	183	23 the candidate's organization; or
184	184	24 (2) promise, offer, or give any valuable thing or
185	185	25 valuable benefit to any person who is employed by or is an
186	186	26 agent of a candidate or a candidate's election campaign
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197	197	1 organization for the purpose of influencing the employee
198	198	2 or agent with respect to the improper discharge of the
199	199	3 employee's or agent's campaign duties or to obtain
200	200	4 information about the candidate or the candidate's
201	201	5 campaign organization.
202	202	6 (c) No person shall intentionally or recklessly do any of
203	203	7 the following to affect an outcome of a campaign for political
204	204	8 office:
205	205	9 (1) make a false statement concerning (i) the formal
206	206	10 schooling or training completed or attempted by a
207	207	11 candidate; (ii) a degree, diploma, certificate,
208	208	12 scholarship, grant, award, prize, or honor received,
209	209	13 earned, or held by a candidate; or (iii) the period of time
210	210	14 during which a candidate attended any school, college,
211	211	15 community college, technical school, or educational
212	212	16 institution;
213	213	17 (2) make a false statement concerning the
214	214	18 professional, occupational, or vocational licenses held by
215	215	19 a candidate or concerning any position the candidate held
216	216	20 for which the candidate received a salary or wages;
217	217	21 (3) make a false statement that a candidate or public
218	218	22 official has been indicted or convicted of a theft
219	219	23 offense, extortion, or other crime involving financial
220	220	24 corruption or moral turpitude;
221	221	25 (4) make a false statement that a candidate has been
222	222	26 indicted for any crime, that a complaint has been filed
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233	233	1 against the candidate with the State Board of Elections,
234	234	2 that the State Board of Elections has conducted or is
235	235	3 conducting an investigation of a candidate, or that a
236	236	4 candidate has been the subject of a finding by the State
237	237	5 Board of Elections without disclosing the outcome of any
238	238	6 legal proceedings resulting from the indictment,
239	239	7 complaint, investigation, or finding;
240	240	8 (5) make a false statement that a candidate or
241	241	9 official has a record of treatment or confinement for a
242	242	10 mental disorder;
243	243	11 (6) make a false statement that a candidate or
244	244	12 official has been subjected to military discipline for
245	245	13 criminal misconduct or dishonorably discharged from the
246	246	14 armed services;
247	247	15 (7) make a false statement identifying the source of a
248	248	16 statement, issue statements under the name of another
249	249	17 person without authorization, or falsely state the
250	250	18 endorsement of or opposition to a candidate by a person or
251	251	19 publication;
252	252	20 (8) make a false statement concerning the voting
253	253	21 record of a candidate or public official; or
254	254	22 (9) post, publish, circulate, distribute, or otherwise
255	255	23 disseminate a false statement concerning a candidate if
256	256	24 the statement is designed to promote the election,
257	257	25 nomination, or defeat of the candidate.
258	258	26 This subsection does not apply to publishing companies.
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269	269	1 (d) A violation of this Section may be enjoined in a civil
270	270	2 action brought by a candidate against whom a prohibited
271	271	3 statement is made. Any violation of this Section shall be
272	272	4 proven by clear and convincing evidence.
273	273	5 (e) Any person who violates this Section commits a Class A
274	274	6 misdemeanor.
275	275	7 (f) This Section does not apply to a member of the press.
276	276	8 (10 ILCS 5/29-20.1 new)
277	277	9 Sec. 29-20.1. Misleading statement of incumbent status;
278	278	10 violation.
279	279	11 (a) As used in this Section, "person" means any natural
280	280	12 person, candidate, partnership, committee, association,
281	281	13 corporation, labor organization, political party, or other
282	282	14 organization or group of persons, including a political action
283	283	15 committee.
284	284	16 (b) No person shall, with an intent to mislead a voter in
285	285	17 connection with the person's campaign for nomination or
286	286	18 election to a public office or in connection with the campaign
287	287	19 of another person for nomination or election to a public
288	288	20 office, assume, pretend, or imply, by his or her statements,
289	289	21 conduct, or campaign materials, that he or she is the
290	290	22 incumbent of a public office when that is not true.
291	291	23 (c) A violation of this Section may be enjoined in a civil
292	292	24 action brought by a candidate affected by the prohibited
293	293	25 statement of incumbency. Any violation of this Section shall
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304	304	1 be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
305	305	2 (d) Any person who violates this Section commits a Class A
306	306	3 misdemeanor.
307	307	4 (10 ILCS 5/29-20.2 new)
308	308	5 Sec. 29-20.2. Libel and defamation in political
309	309	6 advertising; violation.
310	310	7 (a) As used in this Section:
311	311	8 "Libel per se or defamation per se" means a false
312	312	9 statement imputing (1) the commission of a crime; (2)
313	313	10 infection with a loathsome communicable disease; (3) an
314	314	11 inability to perform or want of integrity in performing
315	315	12 employment duties; (4) a lack of ability or that otherwise
316	316	13 prejudice a person in the person's profession or business; or
317	317	14 (5) adultery or fornication.
318	318	15 "Person" means any natural person, candidate, partnership,
319	319	16 committee, association, corporation, labor organization,
320	320	17 political party, or other organization or group of persons,
321	321	18 including a political action committee.
322	322	19 "Recklessly" means when a person acts in conscious
323	323	20 disregard of the truth or falsity of the statement made,
324	324	21 published, broadcast, or circulated.
325	325	22 (b) No person shall intentionally or recklessly publish or
326	326	23 sponsor the publication in any political advertising or
327	327	24 electioneering communication of a statement constituting libel
328	328	25 per se or defamation per se.
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339	339	1 (c) A statement published or sponsored by a person against
340	340	2 himself or herself is not a violation of this Section.
341	341	3 (d) A violation of this Section may be enjoined in a civil
342	342	4 action brought by a candidate affected by the prohibited
343	343	5 statement. Any violation of this Section shall be proven by
344	344	6 clear and convincing evidence.
345	345	7 (e) Any person who violates this Section commits a Class A
346	346	8 misdemeanor.
347	347	9 (10 ILCS 5/29B-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 29B-5; formerly Ch.
348	348	10 46, par. 1102)
349	349	11 Sec. 29B-5. Purpose. The Legislature hereby declares that
350	350	12 the purpose of this Article is to require encourage every
351	351	13 candidate for public office in this State to subscribe to the
352	352	14 Code of Fair Campaign Practices. It is the intent of the
353	353	15 Legislature that every candidate for public office in this
354	354	16 State who subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices
355	355	17 must will follow the basic principles of decency, honesty and
356	356	18 fair play in order to encourage healthy competition and open
357	357	19 discussion of issues and candidate qualifications and
358	358	20 discourage practices that cloud the issues or unfairly attack
359	359	21 opponents.
360	360	22 (Source: P.A. 86-873; 87-1052.)
361	361	23 (10 ILCS 5/29B-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 29B-10; formerly Ch.
362	362	24 46, par. 1103)
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373	373	1 Sec. 29B-10. Code of Fair Campaign Practices. At the time
374	374	2 a political committee, as defined in Article 9, files its
375	375	3 statements of organization, the State Board of Elections shall
376	376	4 give the political committee a blank form of the Code of Fair
377	377	5 Campaign Practices and a copy of the provisions of this
378	378	6 Article. The State Board of Elections shall inform each
379	379	7 political committee that subscription to the Code is mandatory
380	380	8 voluntary. The text of the Code shall read as follows:
381	381	9 CODE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
382	382	10 There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair
383	383	11 play that every candidate for public office in the State of
384	384	12 Illinois has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in
385	385	13 order that, after vigorously contested but fairly conducted
386	386	14 campaigns, our citizens may exercise their constitutional
387	387	15 right to a free and untrammeled choice and the will of the
388	388	16 people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.
389	389	17 THEREFORE:
390	390	18 (1) I will conduct my campaign openly and publicly, and
391	391	19 limit attacks on my opponent to legitimate challenges to his
392	392	20 record.
393	393	21 (2) I will not use or permit the use of character
394	394	22 defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, or slander, or
395	395	23 scurrilous attacks on any candidate or his personal or family
396	396	24 life.
397	397	25 (3) I will not use or permit any appeal to negative
398	398	26 prejudice based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or
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409	409	1 national origin.
410	410	2 (4) I will not use campaign material of any sort that
411	411	3 misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts, nor
412	412	4 will I use malicious or unfounded accusations that aim at
413	413	5 creating or exploiting doubts, without justification, as to
414	414	6 the personal integrity or patriotism of my opposition.
415	415	7 (5) I will not undertake or condone any dishonest or
416	416	8 unethical practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our
417	417	9 American system of free elections or that hampers or prevents
418	418	10 the full and free expression of the will of the voters.
419	419	11 (6) I will defend and uphold the right of every qualified
420	420	12 American voter to full and equal participation in the
421	421	13 electoral process.
422	422	14 (7) I will immediately and publicly repudiate methods and
423	423	15 tactics that may come from others that I have pledged not to
424	424	16 use or condone. I shall take firm action against any
425	425	17 subordinate who violates any provision of this Code or the
426	426	18 laws governing elections.
427	427	19 I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public
428	428	20 office in the State of Illinois or chair of a political
429	429	21 committee in support of or opposition to a question of public
430	430	22 policy, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly
431	431	23 pledge myself to conduct my campaign in accordance with the
432	432	24 above principles and practices.
433	433	25 I, the undersigned, furthermore understand and confirm
434	434	26 that I will be subject to the penalties described in Section
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445	445	1 29B-35 for failure to sign and file this document in a timely
446	446	2 manner, and I understand that I may be subject to the penalties
447	447	3 listed in Article 29 for violating certain activities
448	448	4 prohibited by this Code.
449	449	5 .............. ...............................
450	450	6 Date Signature
451	451	7 (Source: P.A. 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)
452	452	8 (10 ILCS 5/29B-20) (from Ch. 46, par. 29B-20; formerly Ch.
453	453	9 46, par. 1105)
454	454	10 Sec. 29B-20. Acceptance of completed forms; retentions for
455	455	11 public inspection.
456	456	12 (a) A candidate for public office or the chair of a
457	457	13 political committee in support of or opposition to a question
458	458	14 of public policy shall file a completed copy of the Code of
459	459	15 Fair Campaign Practices with the election authority in which
460	460	16 the candidate or chair of a political committee resides. The
461	461	17 completed forms shall be completed and filed not later than 2
462	462	18 weeks after the submission of the candidate's nominating
463	463	19 petition or not later than 2 weeks after the chair has
464	464	20 certified to the State Board of Elections the chair's support
465	465	21 or opposition to a question of public policy under Section
466	466	22 28-13.
467	467	23 The election authorities shall accept State Board of
468	468	24 Elections shall accept, at all times prior to an election, all
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479	479	1 completed copies of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices that
480	480	2 are properly subscribed to by a candidate or the chair of a
481	481	3 political committee in support of or opposition to a question
482	482	4 of public policy, and shall retain them for public inspection
483	483	5 until 30 days after the election.
484	484	6 (b) Not later than 2 days after the date upon which the
485	485	7 completed copy of the Code is required to be filed, the
486	486	8 election authority shall notify those candidates or chairs who
487	487	9 have failed to file a completed copy of the Code and shall
488	488	10 include with the notice a copy of the Code required by this
489	489	11 Article. The notice shall be sent to the candidate or chairs by
490	490	12 certified mail, return receipt requested.
491	491	13 (Source: P.A. 103-600, eff. 7-1-24.)
492	492	14 (10 ILCS 5/29B-30) (from Ch. 46, par. 29B-30; formerly Ch.
493	493	15 46, par. 1107)
494	494	16 Sec. 29B-30. Support or opposition to a question of public
495	495	17 policy; campaign literature or advertising Subscription to
496	496	18 Code voluntary.
497	497	19 (a) The subscription by a candidate or the chair of a
498	498	20 political committee in support of or opposition to a question
499	499	21 of public policy is mandatory voluntary.
500	500	22 (b) A candidate, or the chair of a political committee,
501	501	23 who has filed a copy of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices may
502	502	24 so indicate on any campaign literature or advertising in a
503	503	25 form to be determined by the State Board of Elections.
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514	514	1 (c) A candidate must include in all of the candidate's
515	515	2 campaign literature and advertising the following statement:
516	516	3 "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the
517	517	4 accuracy of this message.".
518	518	5 (Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)
519	519	6 (10 ILCS 5/29B-35) (from Ch. 46, par. 29B-35; formerly Ch.
520	520	7 46, par. 1108)
521	521	8 Sec. 29B-35. Failure to comply.
522	522	9 (a) If a candidate fails to file a completed copy of the
523	523	10 Code with the election authority within 5 days of receipt or
524	524	11 refusal of the notice required under Section 29B-20, then the
525	525	12 candidate's name may not appear on the ballot.
526	526	13 This subsection does not apply to any candidate of an
527	527	14 office where the Illinois Constitution prescribes the
528	528	15 qualifications for candidates to that office but does not give
529	529	16 the General Assembly the authority to modify or add to those
530	530	17 qualifications.
531	531	18 (b) Any person who has signed and filed the Code of
532	532	19 Campaign Practices and who violates the provisions of the Code
533	533	20 of Campaign Practices or subsection (c) of Section 29B-30
534	534	21 commits a Class A misdemeanor.
535	535	22 (c) A violation of this Article may be enjoined in a civil
536	536	23 action brought by another candidate for the public office that
537	537	24 was affected by the violation, a registered voter who signed a
538	538	25 petition for the initiation of the public question, a member
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549	549	1 of the board that approved the resolution or ordinance
550	550	2 initiating the public question, or, if the public question was
551	551	3 initiated by the General Assembly, a member of the General
552	552	4 Assembly, as applicable. Any violation of this Article shall
553	553	5 be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
554	554	6 Any candidate or chairman of a political committee who
555	555	7 subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices and fails to
556	556	8 comply with any provision of the Code shall not be guilty of a
557	557	9 criminal offense and nothing in this Article or any other law
558	558	10 shall be construed to impose any criminal penalty for
559	559	11 noncompliance with this Article.
560	560	12 (Source: P.A. 86-1435; 87-1052.)
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