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HB1737

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BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT

What this bill does

Creates the Broadband Deployment Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the use of existing electric easements and public road rights-of-way by a broadband provider to install, maintain, and use broadband infrastructure to provide broadband service. Provides that no additional compensation is required for the installation and maintenance of broadband infrastructure within an easement for electricity or along an existing public road right-of-way. Provides notice requirements for a specified entity that intends to provide broadband infrastructure for broadband services pursuant to an agreement to use existing or subsequently acquired utility easements. Sets forth provisions concerning a private right of action and damages for a property owner who is challenging the broadband provider's right to use an easement for broadband services or infrastructure. Requires coordination with the relevant local governmental unit to minimize potential future relocations. Effective immediately.

Sponsor: Jay Hoffman Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-01-24
Stuck
P(Advance)
26.7%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.0%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
0.5%
Low P(law) at intro — sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 73%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: Floor Vote · Last action 456 days ago · STAGNANT

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. Introduction of Bill

    A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber

    If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.

  6. Gubernatorial Action

    The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.

Sponsor Context

Public Engagement

12 witness slips filed 4 proponents / 8 opponents 9 organizations

Witness slips

12 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
Marc Poulos Local 150 Operating Engineers Local 150 Operating Engineers Proponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Alvaro Obregon AARP Illinois AARP Illinois Proponent Public Utilities 2025-03-11
Marc Poulos Local 150 Operating Engineers Local 150 Operating Engineers Proponent Public Utilities 2025-03-04
David Schwartz Self Self Proponent Public Utilities 2025-02-25
Chris Davis Illinois Farm Bureau Illinois Farm Bureau Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Jim Schwantz Village of Palatine Palatine Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Joe Handley Illinois Broadband & Cable Association Illinois Broadband & Cable Association Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Mark Fowler Northwest Municipal Conference Northwest Municipal Conference Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Michael Cassady Village of Mount Prospect Village of Mount Prospect Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Reid Ottesen Village of Palatine Village of Palatine Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Vivian Anderson Illinois Energy Association IL Energy Association Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-18
Reid Ottesen Village of Palatine Village of Palatine Opponent Public Utilities 2025-03-11

Roll-call votes

Total votes and outcome per event. Deciding vote = margin of 1; those voters on the winning side could have changed the outcome by flipping.

Date Chamber Type Description Yea Nay Present NV Outcome Margin Deciding voters
H Committee Public Utilities 12 7 0 2 Passed 5 —

Action History

14 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-11 — Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-01-24 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Jay Hoffman House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-01-28 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-01-28 Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-02-18 Committee Assignment
Assigned toPublic Utilities Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-03-11 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-11 Co-Sponsorship Mild −
Removed Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Co-sponsor removed their support. Mildly negative — someone withdrew.
2025-03-12 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-18 Committee Action Positive
Do Pass / Short DebatePublic Utilities Committee; 012-007-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b)
Committee recommends passage and places it on the Short Debate calendar (limited floor discussion time). Strong positive signal — committee believes bill has broad support.
2025-03-19 Floor Process Positive
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill placed on the Second Reading calendar. Positive — bill is queued for floor action.
2025-03-24 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-26 Floor Process Positive
Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1)
Bill reaches the floor amendment stage on Short Debate calendar. Major milestone — bill has passed committee and is on the floor.
2025-03-26 Floor Process
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill was ready for Second Reading but was paused/held by the sponsor. Usually indicates the sponsor is still negotiating amendments or gathering votes. NOT a negative signal — the sponsor controls the pace.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild −
Removed Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Co-sponsor removed their support. Mildly negative — someone withdrew.
2025-04-11 Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee House Rule 19(a); Senate analog: Rule 3-9(a)
MISSED COMMITTEE DEADLINE — bill did not get a committee vote before the deadline and is re-referred to Rules/Assignments. The bill is NOT dead but faces an uphill battle to be reassigned. Most bills that hit Rule 19(a) do not advance.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-01-24 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Jay Hoffman House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing —
2025-01-28 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2025-01-28 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —
2025-02-18 House Assigned toPublic Utilities Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment —
2025-03-11 House Added Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-11 House Removed Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild −
2025-03-12 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. John M. Cabello Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-18 House Do Pass / Short DebatePublic Utilities Committee; 012-007-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b) Committee Action Positive
2025-03-19 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 Floor Process Positive
2025-03-24 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-26 House Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1) Floor Process Positive
2025-03-26 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 Floor Process —
2025-04-10 House Removed Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild −
2025-04-11 House Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee House Rule 19(a); Senate analog: Rule 3-9(a) Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −