SB1181 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)
PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION
Last Action
08/21/2025 - Senate: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0431
Senate Sponsors
Sen. Steve Stadelman
House Sponsors
(Rep. Daniel Didech - Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz - Tracy Katz Muhl)
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Applies the Act to a civil cause of action, including an action in federal court under its supplemental or diversity jurisdiction, against a person based on the person's: (i) communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (ii) communication on an issue under consideration or review in any of these proceedings; or (iii) exercise of a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution on a matter of public concern. Provides that the Act does not apply to a cause of action asserted: (i) against a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting or purporting to act in an official capacity; (ii) by a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (iii) against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the person's sale or lease of the goods or services. Creates a procedure for a special motion for expedited relief for a party being sued for issues covered by the Act to dismiss or strike the action in whole or in part within 60 days of being sued. Requires the court to rule on a special motion for expedited relief within 60 days after a hearing, and the court must conduct a hearing not later than 60 days after the filing of such a motion unless it continues it for discovery under the Act or for other good cause. Makes other changes. Makes a conforming change in the Citizen Participation Act. Effective immediately.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2
Adds reference to:
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Citizen Participation Act to declare that it is the public policy of Illinois that press opining, reporting, or investigating matters of public concern is participating and communicating with the government and that the Act should be construed broadly in striking the balance of rights that the Act seeks to protect. Provides that for the Act's applicability the claim does not need to solely pertain to the moving party's constitutional rights as the Act applies regardless of the motives of the person who brought that the claim the moving party is seeking to dispose of. Imposes a stay on all proceedings on the filing of a motion seeking the protection of the Act. Provides that on a motion by the moving party, the court may stay a hearing or motion involving another party, or discovery by another party, if the hearing or ruling on the motion would adjudicate, or the discovery would relate to, an issue material to the motion to dispose of a claim under the Act. Allows exemptions from the stay on certain conditions. Effective immediately. Applies to actions commenced on or after January 1, 2026.
House Committee Amendment No. 1
Adds reference to:
Includes freedom of the press in the applicability provisions of the Act in addition to the other constitutional protections. Amends the attorney's fees provisions to require that a court award a responding party who prevails in a motion under the Act reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in connection with the motion if the court finds that the motion was frivolous or filed solely with intent to delay the proceeding.
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 01/24/2025 | Senate | Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman |
| 01/24/2025 | Senate | First Reading |
| 01/24/2025 | Senate | Referred to Assignments |
| 03/12/2025 | Senate | Assigned to Judiciary |
| 03/12/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman |
| 03/12/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments |
| 03/14/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman |
| 03/14/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments |
| 03/18/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8(b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments |
| 03/18/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Judiciary |
| 03/19/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted |
| 03/19/2025 | Senate | Do Pass as Amended Judiciary; 009-000-000 |
| 03/19/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025 |
| 03/20/2025 | Senate | Second Reading |
| 03/20/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 1, 2025 |
| 04/10/2025 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; 055-001-000 |
| 04/10/2025 | House | Arrived in House |
| 04/10/2025 | House | Chief House Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech |
| 04/11/2025 | House | First Reading |
| 04/11/2025 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 04/17/2025 | House | Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee |
| 05/01/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech |
| 05/01/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 05/06/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee |
| 05/07/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-004-000 |
| 05/07/2025 | House | Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-004-000 |
| 05/07/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
| 05/12/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz |
| 05/12/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl |
| 05/12/2025 | House | Alternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz |
| 05/12/2025 | House | Alternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl |
| 05/16/2025 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 05/16/2025 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 05/21/2025 | House | Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz |
| 05/21/2025 | House | Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl |
| 05/22/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate |
| 05/22/2025 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 075-038-000 |
| 05/22/2025 | Senate | Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 |
| 05/22/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 26, 2025 |
| 05/27/2025 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Steve Stadelman |
| 05/27/2025 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments |
| 05/27/2025 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Judiciary |
| 05/28/2025 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary; 008-000-000 |
| 05/31/2025 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 047-010-000 |
| 05/31/2025 | Senate | Senate Concurs |
| 05/31/2025 | Senate | Passed Both Houses |
| 06/27/2025 | Senate | Sent to the Governor |
| 08/21/2025 | Senate | Governor Approved |
| 08/21/2025 | Senate | Effective Date August 21, 2025 |
| 08/21/2025 | Senate | Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0431 |