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HB5101

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SUP CT VACANCIES

What this bill does

Amends the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 and the Judicial Vacancies Act. Provides that if a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court, an appointment must be made as provided in the Act to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that justice's term of office. Creates a judicial nomination commission to be comprised of the following members: (1) one nonlawyer appointed by the Governor who will serve as chair of the commission; (2) one nonlawyer appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (4) one nonlawyer appointed by the Speaker of the House; (5) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; (6) one nonlawyer appointed by the Attorney General; and (7) 5 lawyers to elected by secret ballot by the members of the Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, and Will County Bar Association. Provides that the judicial nomination commission is to review, investigate, and nominate to the Governor a list of 3 applicants to fill each vacancy, and the Governor will then appoint one of the 3 applicants to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the vacating justice's term. Requires that any vacancy must be filled by a member of the same political party as the vacating justice's political party.

Sponsor: Fred Crespo Chamber: House Introduced: 2026-02-05
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).
Confidence: 92% FORECAST

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 58 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

3 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-10 — Referred toRules Committee. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2026-02-05 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Fred Crespo House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2026-02-10 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.
2026-02-10 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.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2026-02-05 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Fred Crespo House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-10 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-10 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —