SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State senators passed a bill Thursday to ensure people receive reminder notifications before court hearings.

This bill would require pretrial service agencies to send three reminder text messages to people on pretrial release before their required court dates. It also states pretrial service agencies must keep a copy of the message and a delivery receipt with their records.

Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) said research shows texts are very effective in helping people making their court dates.

"About 80% of the population of the state has local pretrial service agencies that already provide this service and are paying for it," Cunningham said. "There are other counties and pretrial services agencies that do not have this technology. There is a provision that they would be provided grants through the statewide office."

House Bill 4428 passed unanimously out of the Senate. The measure will now head back to the House due to amended language. It previously received unanimous support in the House.

"This is a great bill, and it's a step that I think will be not just be beneficial to defense, but also to courts, state's attorneys, and defense attorneys," Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said. "This is really a reform that is necessary and hopefully this will be very successful." 

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