SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House passed a proposal Tuesday night to protect the safety and privacy of public officials.
Current and former state lawmakers, constitutional officers, state's attorneys, public defenders, and election officials would all have their personal information protected under the bill.
The legislation would allow officials to request that their personal information not be posted online by government agencies, people, businesses or associations. They could also request information be removed from a website if it has already been published.
Anyone who violates the proposed law could 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."
Sponsors said they filed this plan after multiple Illinois lawmakers have been doxed and received death threats.
House Bill 576 passed out of the House on a 110-1 vote. Only Rep. Chris Miller (R-Hillsboro) opposed the plan.
"To have a penalty aligned with having bad action is certainly important," said House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "As we are voting on a penalty enhancement for us as victims, I think this is the right thing. I just ask that as we continue on, especially going into the next year, to remember penalty enhancements are okay when someone commits a crime."
The measure now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
More Coverage:
Local business owner donates 528 lbs. of food to food pantry
Suspect denied pretrial release after 17-year-old shot and killed in Decatur
Illinois Power Agency says solar battery storage proposal could save ratepayers $13.4b over 20 years
IL Democrats plan to pass bill protecting immigrants from hostile ICE tactics
Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
