Illinois Sen. Villivalam’s eminent domain and public officer disclosure bill passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. Ram Villivalam aims to update Illinois laws on public officer disclosures and eminent domain procedures, streamlining contract disclosures and authority for property transactions, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 75 Democrats and nine Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 30 Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 37 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Villivalam introduced the bill in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 7, 2025 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as SB2253, was passed on May 28, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Authorizes an authorized representative to sign the disclosure required under the Act before any contract relating to the ownership or use of real property is entered into by the State or a unit of local government disclosing the interest of an owner or beneficiary in the real property. Authorizes disclosure by providing a copy of a proxy statement or other official corporate document filed with the federal Securities Exchange Commission or similar federal regulatory body within the previous calendar year disclosing the overall ownership of the limited liability company, corporation, or general partnership. Removes the requirement for additional disclosure for contracts for the ownership or use of real property for highway purposes by the Department of Transportation for any entity that is wholly or partially owned by another entity. Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Allows a party authorized to take property to file a complaint in circuit court if the owner is unable or unwilling to provide documentation required by the acquiring party to obtain sufficient title to the property, consummate the transaction, or comply with all legal requirements for the transaction. Eliminates the requirement that the Illinois Department of Transportation obtain Illinois Commerce Commission approval before bringing an action to acquire property needed for highway projects owned by utilities and railroads. Allows notice to property owners to be sent by entities other than the United States Postal Service if a company provides the same function as certified mail with return receipt. Effective immediately.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act and the Eminent Domain Act in Illinois. It allows an authorized representative to sign necessary disclosures for contracts related to real property transactions. It also simplifies disclosure by using proxy statements or SEC documents and removes the need for additional disclosure by entities partially owned by others for highway property contracts. The bill permits entities, other than the USPS, to send certified mail notifications. Under the Eminent Domain Act, authorized parties can file a complaint if property owners are unable to provide necessary documentation, eliminating the Illinois Department of Transportation’s requirement to obtain Illinois Commerce Commission approval for acquiring utility or railroad properties for highway projects. The act is effective immediately.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson (Democrat-30th District), Rep. Anthony DeLuca (Democrat-80th District), and Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (Democrat-46th District), along with seven other sponsors.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Villivalam graduated from George Washington University in 2009 with a BS.

Villivalam, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 8th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Ira Silverstein.

Some lawmakers were in the chamber but did not cast any vote, listed as “Not Voting”. Others were not present—either marked “Absent” without explanation or noted as having an “Excused Absence” due to personal or medical reasons.