Published on June 23, 2025 3:12 pm
Last Updated on June 23, 2025 3:12 pm
(McCLURE)
Despite constitutional requirements designed to protect the transparency of the legislative process, numerous bills pass the General Assembly in last-minute backroom deals with little to no oversight. State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield), along with Republican members of the Illinois Senate and House have joined to file a lawsuit challenging the practice on an especially egregious bill.
“Legislation should be reviewed, scrutinized, and debated in a reasonable and transparent manner before it becomes law,” said Senator McClure. “The Illinois Constitution requires every bill to be read three times in each chamber before being passed. The only reason to violate this requirement is to force embarrassingly bad bills through the General Assembly with little to no oversight or transparency.”
The state lawsuit, filed in Sangamon County on June 18th, challenges the constitutionality of the passage of Senate Bill 328. That bill had its original intent gutted and was amended into a completely different piece of legislation mere hours before being passed after midnight on the final night of legislative session.
McClure said the legislation would make major changes to the state’s judicial system, turning Illinois into “a dumping ground for out-of-state frivolous lawsuits.”
Numerous business organizations have said that it would scare companies out of investing in Illinois, kill jobs, and hurt the state’s economy.
“Ignoring rules for transparency nearly always leads to terrible bills like this one,” added McClure. “This is why we are taking this fight to the courts, to restore transparency and accountability to the legislative process.”
McClure also urges Governor Pritzker to veto the controversial bill. Concerned citizens can fill out a petition on McClure’s website calling on the Governor to protect Illinois from the dangerous legislation at: https://senatormcclure.com/sb328-petition/
