SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could protect the safety and privacy of public officials. Sponsors filed the plan following the assassinations of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark Hortman and conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Current and former state lawmakers, constitutional officers, state's attorneys, public defenders and election officials could all have their personal information protected under the legislation.
This bill would allow officials to request that their information not be posted online by government agencies, people, businesses, or groups. They could also request information be removed from a website if it has already been published.
Anyone who violates the proposed law would be charged with a Class 3 felony.
"There's two prongs to this," said Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville). "They know or reasonably should know that posting the personal information poses an eminent and serious threat to the health and safety of the official or immediate family members and that the violation is the approximate cause of bodily injury or death of a public official or their immediate family."
This comes as several lawmakers have been doxed and received death threats over the past two years. Still, Senate Republicans have concerns on how the state can enforce this type of law.
"Let's just say a person has a website in Germany and they're advocating for some global policy," said Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield). "They want people in the legislature to vote on it in Illinois, and they're posting addresses asking for people to send them letters or advocate for this particular policy. How would one go about contacting this person who has a website in Germany?"
Sponsors said it is up to the public official to track down the necessary information to submit a request to the person posting the private information. Officials would only be able to go to court for injunctive relief if the website owner fails to comply.
"It amends the election code and allows for expenditures of political committees for these expenses for elected officials to provide security enhancements," said Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).
The measure passed out of the House on a 110-1 vote with Rep. Chris Miller as the only opposing vote. It received a 48-11 vote in the Senate.
These changes would take effect on Jan. 1 if the governor signs the bill into law.
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