Sen. Doris Turner's Sonya Massey bills pass committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) filed two bills as a promise for the Massey family. Her promise comes closer to being fulfilled, as those bills passed the Senate Executive committee Thursday.

Senate Bill 1953 which would require more comprehensive reviews of prospective officers to ensure physical and mental fitness, as well as expanding sheriff's merit boards, passed unanimously out of committee.

"I'm very proud of my community," Turner said. "One of the only good things to come out of this is that the community has coalesced and come together around what we can do to make the community a better place."

Senate Bill 1954 would give County's the option to recall an elected official outside the County board or Treasurer. Each County, if their board approves it, would have the option to add the recall law to their County in the 2026 election as a referendum. If it doesn't receive approval or isn't voted in by the people, the law wouldn't be added

That bill saw more of a heated discussion. State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said this plan, while in good faith, could give too much power to certain groups.

"I have concerns of a chilling affect on a public officials on their day to day duties," Tracy said. The GOP Senator voted in favor of Senate Bill 1953 but voted against Senate Bill 1954.

Both of these plans are in response to Sonya Massey's death, when last year she was shot and killed in her home by former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson.

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said that while Illinois doesn't usually approve of recall laws, the circumstances behind the bill demand it.

"The genesis of the bill is a tragedy," Harmon said. "I know many members are concerned about [it], but the unique nature of the underlying events here warrants an extraordinary remedy."

State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) raised similar concerns as her Republican colleagues, but voted in favor of the plan and said she will talk with Turner about those issues behind closed doors.

Senate Bill 1954 passed out of the Senate Executive committee on a partisan 9-4 vote. Both bills will now head to the Senate floor where lawmakers could talk about it in the near future.