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SB3291

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WILL DEPOSITORY-CIRCUIT CLERK

What this bill does

Amends the Clerks of Court Act. Authorizes a circuit court clerk of any county to develop and maintain a will depository. Provides a procedure for the clerk to accept for safekeeping a testamentary instrument executed in compliance with the Probate Act of 1975, including a will, codicil, trust, or trust and one or more trust amendments. Allows a depositor to deposit a will with the clerk if the depositor certifies in writing that the depositor is unable to locate the testator after a diligent search. Creates a procedure for the clerk to follow in accepting, keeping, and returning these documents. Allows the clerk to charge a fee of $25 for each will deposited, and the clerk may not collect a separate fee for additional documents concurrently deposited in relation to a single testator or for a single joint will prepared for a husband and wife.

Sponsor: Bill Cunningham Chamber: Senate Introduced: 2026-02-03
Stuck
P(Advance)
14.0%
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: 86% FORECAST

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 50 days ago · PENDING

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.

Action History

12 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-18 — Added as Co-SponsorSen. Adriane Johnson. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2026-02-03 Introduction & Filing
Filed with Secretary bySen. Bill Cunningham Rule 2-7(b)
Bill officially submitted to the Senate Secretary during the session.
2026-02-03 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.
2026-02-03 Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments 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.
2026-02-05 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Michael E. Hastings Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator takes on the chief co-sponsor role, a stronger commitment than regular co-sponsorship.
2026-02-17 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Co-SponsorSen. Mike Porfirio Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator added as co-sponsor.
2026-02-17 Committee Assignment
Assigned toJudiciary 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.
2026-02-17 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Co-SponsorSen. Christopher Belt Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator added as co-sponsor.
2026-02-17 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Mattie Hunter Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator takes on the chief co-sponsor role, a stronger commitment than regular co-sponsorship.
2026-02-17 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Laura Fine Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator takes on the chief co-sponsor role, a stronger commitment than regular co-sponsorship.
2026-02-17 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Co-SponsorSen. Javier L. Cervantes Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator added as co-sponsor.
2026-02-18 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Co-SponsorSen. Robert F. Martwick Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator added as co-sponsor.
2026-02-18 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Co-SponsorSen. Adriane Johnson Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator added as co-sponsor.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2026-02-03 Senate Filed with Secretary bySen. Bill Cunningham Rule 2-7(b) Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-03 Senate First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-03 Senate Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —
2026-02-05 Senate Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Michael E. Hastings Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-17 Senate Added as Co-SponsorSen. Mike Porfirio Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-17 Senate Assigned toJudiciary Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment —
2026-02-17 Senate Added as Co-SponsorSen. Christopher Belt Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-17 Senate Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Mattie Hunter Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-17 Senate Added as Chief Co-SponsorSen. Laura Fine Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-17 Senate Added as Co-SponsorSen. Javier L. Cervantes Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-18 Senate Added as Co-SponsorSen. Robert F. Martwick Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2026-02-18 Senate Added as Co-SponsorSen. Adriane Johnson Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +