103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0114

 

Introduced 1/24/2023, by Sen. Ann Gillespie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
25 ILCS 130/9-2.5

    Amends the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984. Provides that newsletters and other materials printed by the Legislative Printing Unit and intended for distribution to constituents may deal with such matters as (i) reports on public and official actions taken by the General Assembly and the members requesting the newsletters; (ii) discussions of proposed or pending legislation or governmental actions; and (iii) the position of the members requesting the newsletter and the arguments for or against such matters. Provides that newsletters and other materials may contain fair comment on the positions taken by a constitutional officer, legislative leader, or legislative caucus but shall not include past or future campaign activities or campaign positions. Provides that newsletters and other materials may refer to each caucus, members thereof, and voting records, with specified limitations. Provides that newsletters and other materials shall not contain appeals for campaign contributions or other funds and shall not be used to announce or advertise campaign activities. Effective immediately.


LRB103 25874 JDS 52225 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0114LRB103 25874 JDS 52225 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Legislative Commission Reorganization Act
5of 1984 is amended by changing Section 9-2.5 as follows:
 
6    (25 ILCS 130/9-2.5)
7    Sec. 9-2.5. Newsletters and brochures.
8    (a) The Legislative Printing Unit may not print for any
9member of the General Assembly any newsletters or brochures
10during the period beginning February 1 of the year of a general
11primary election, except that in 2022 the period shall begin
12on May 15, 2022, and ending the day after the general primary
13election and during a period beginning September 1 of the year
14of a general election and ending the day after the general
15election. A member of the General Assembly may not mail,
16during a period beginning February 1 of the year of a general
17primary election, except that in 2022 the period shall begin
18on May 15, 2022, and ending the day after the general primary
19election and during a period beginning September 1 of the year
20of a general election and ending the day after the general
21election, any newsletters or brochures that were printed, at
22any time, by the Legislative Printing Unit, except that such a
23newsletter or brochure may be mailed during those times if it

 

 

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1is mailed to a constituent in response to that constituent's
2inquiry concerning the needs of that constituent or questions
3raised by that constituent.
4    (b) Newsletters and other materials printed by the
5Legislative Printing Unit and intended for distribution to
6constituents may deal with such matters as: (i) reports on
7public and official actions taken by the General Assembly and
8the members requesting the newsletters; (ii) discussions of
9proposed or pending legislation or governmental actions; and
10(iii) the position of the members requesting the newsletter
11and the arguments for or against such matters.
12    (c) Newsletters and other materials printed by the
13Legislative Printing Unit may contain fair comment on the
14positions taken by a constitutional officer, legislative
15leader, or legislative caucus, but such commentary shall not
16include past or future campaign activities or campaign
17positions.
18    (d) Newsletters and other materials printed by the
19Legislative Printing Unit may refer to each caucus as a group,
20whether as "majority" or "minority" or by party name. No ad
21hominem or personal criticisms are permitted. Individual names
22of any other member of the General Assembly, or any language
23that can be used to specifically identify any member, except
24as listed as a cosponsor of a bill with the member requesting
25the newsletter, are prohibited unless written permission has
26been obtained from the other member or members before

 

 

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1printing. The voting record of other individual members of the
2General Assembly may be included only with the prior written
3consent of the other member or members.
4    (e) Newsletters and other materials printed by the
5Legislative Printing Unit shall not contain appeals, direct or
6indirect, for campaign contributions or other funds and shall
7not be used to announce or advertise campaign activities.
8(Source: P.A. 102-668, eff. 11-15-21; 102-692, eff. 1-7-22.)
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.