HB3121

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ETHICS-REP CASE AND RECUSAL

What this bill does

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Modifies the definition of "representation case" to include matters before units of local government. Provides that no legislator or employee of a governmental entity may accept or participate in any way in any representation case if the State or unit of local government is an adverse party or if the result is an adverse effect on State or local revenue, State or local finances, or the health, safety, welfare, or relative tax burden of any State resident. Prohibits (rather than allows) participation in a representation case by a person with whom a legislator maintains a close economic association. Provides that no legislator or employee of a governmental entity may derive any income, compensation, or other tangible benefit from providing opinion evidence as an expert against the interests of the State or a unit of local government in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding before any administrative agency or court. Provides that a legislator shall officially recuse himself or herself from any legislative matter in which the legislator or his or her spouse or immediate family member has a financial interest and shall include in the recusal a written explanation for the recusal. Makes conforming and other changes.

Sponsor: Blaine Wilhour Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-02-06
Stuck
P(Advance)
7.5%
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
0.7%
Low P(law) at intro — sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 92%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 366 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

Hearings

This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.

Witness slips

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

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
Dean Fletcher na Proponent Ethics & Elections 2025-03-11
Michael Luebbers Illinois Freedom Civic Coalition dba Illinois Freedom Alliance On behalf of IFCC dba IFA Proponent Ethics & Elections 2025-03-11

Action History

12 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-08 — Added Co-SponsorRep. Jason R. Bunting. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-02-06 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Blaine Wilhour House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-02-18 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.
2025-02-18 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.
2025-03-04 Committee Assignment
Assigned toEthics & Elections 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.
2025-03-20 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Dave Severin Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-20 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. David Friess Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-21 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.
2025-03-25 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Dan Ugaste Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-25 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Travis Weaver 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 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Charles Meier 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 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Kevin Schmidt Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-08 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Jason R. Bunting Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-02-06 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Blaine Wilhour House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing
2025-02-18 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing
2025-02-18 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment
2025-03-04 House Assigned toEthics & Elections Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment
2025-03-20 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Dave Severin Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-20 House Added Co-SponsorRep. David Friess Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-21 House Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee House Rule 19(a); Senate analog: Rule 3-9(a) Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −
2025-03-25 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Dan Ugaste Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-25 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Travis Weaver Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-26 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Charles Meier Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-26 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Kevin Schmidt Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-08 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Jason R. Bunting Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +