Chicago City Wire

A new bill authored by State Rep. Kam Buckner in the Illinois House seeks to enhance transparency by mandating regular reporting and public availability of correctional data in Illinois, according to the Illinois State House.

The bill, introduced as HB4135 on Sep. 23, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, was summarized by the state legislature as follows: "Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois Correctional Data and Transparency Act. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that beginning March 1, 2026 and every March 1 thereafter, the Department of Corrections shall submit to the General Assembly a recidivism report which the Department shall post on its website and make publicly available. Establishes the information contained in the report. Provides that the release rates shall be published on a public dashboard. Provides that within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections must file and post a recidivism IT remediation plan, consisting of timelines, milestones, and responsible staff. Provides that until the first new report is posted, the Department must file monthly status updates with the House Appropriations-Public Safety Committee and the Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall enter into standing memoranda of understanding, which shall be updated at least annually, providing periodic feeds needed to compute recidivism, with privacy protections, between the Department and: (1) the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts concerning court dispositions; (2) the Illinois State Police concerning arrest and identifier data submitted to the Illinois State Police under the Criminal Identification Act; and (3) county sheriffs and jail administrators concerning booking information and returns of persons previously committed to county jails. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall publish aggregate and de-identified data with small-cell suppression. Provides that unit-record identifiable data shall not be disclosed to the public. Provides that research access to the data shall be only available by approved agreements with the Department of Corrections. Provides that if the annual report is filed more than 60 days after the March 1 due date, the Director of Corrections or his or her designee must appear before designated committees of the General Assembly with a remediation plan. Subject to appropriation, the Auditor General may conduct a performance audit of data processes. 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, known as the Illinois Correctional Data and Transparency Act, mandates the Illinois Department of Corrections to submit and publish an annual recidivism report starting March 1, 2026, and subsequently every March 1. The report will detail release rates categorized by offense class, age, gender, county of commitment, facility, sentence type, and release type. A public dashboard will feature these release rates. Within 60 days of this act becoming effective, the Department must develop an IT remediation plan and provide monthly status updates until the first new report is available. The bill requires data-sharing agreements with state agencies and jail administrators, ensuring privacy protections. Research access to unit-record data is restricted to approved agreements. If reports are overdue, the Director of Corrections must present a remediation plan to the General Assembly. The bill is effective immediately upon becoming law.

Buckner has proposed another 28 bills since the beginning of the 104th session, with one of them being adopted.

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.

Buckner graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a BA and again from DePaul University College of Law with a JD.

Buckner, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2019 to represent the state's 26th House District, replacing previous state representative Christian Mitchell.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB4135	09/23/2025	Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Illinois Correctional Data and Transparency Act. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that beginning March 1, 2026 and every March 1 thereafter, the Department of Corrections shall submit to the General Assembly a recidivism report which the Department shall post on its website and make publicly available. Establishes the information contained in the report. Provides that the release rates shall be published on a public dashboard. Provides that within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Corrections must file and post a recidivism IT remediation plan, consisting of timelines, milestones, and responsible staff. Provides that until the first new report is posted, the Department must file monthly status updates with the House Appropriations-Public Safety Committee and the Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall enter into standing memoranda of understanding, which shall be updated at least annually, providing periodic feeds needed to compute recidivism, with privacy protections, between the Department and: (1) the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts concerning court dispositions; (2) the Illinois State Police concerning arrest and identifier data submitted to the Illinois State Police under the Criminal Identification Act; and (3) county sheriffs and jail administrators concerning booking information and returns of persons previously committed to county jails. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall publish aggregate and de-identified data with small-cell suppression. Provides that unit-record identifiable data shall not be disclosed to the public. Provides that research access to the data shall be only available by approved agreements with the Department of Corrections. Provides that if the annual report is filed more than 60 days after the March 1 due date, the Director of Corrections or his or her designee must appear before designated committees of the General Assembly with a remediation plan. Subject to appropriation, the Auditor General may conduct a performance audit of data processes. Effective immediately.
HB4029	03/26/2025	Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education shall (rather than may), by majority vote, appoint a general superintendent of schools to serve pursuant to a performance-based contract for a term ending on June 30 of the third calendar year after the appointment. Provides that the general superintendent shall have all of the powers and duties of a chief executive officer as set forth in the Article. Effective immediately.
HB4023	03/12/2025	Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that no State agency shall enter into a contract with a business, person, or other entity that has been found to have committed insurrection or advocated the overthrow of the federal or State government. Requires units of local government to adopt an ordinance or resolution that regulates contracts between those units of local government and businesses, persons, or other entities that have been found to have committed insurrection or advocated the overthrow of the federal or State government. Provides that a business, person, or entity is found to have committed insurrection or advocated the overthrow of the federal or State government if such business, person, or entity is found guilty under specified provisions. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.
HB3473	02/07/2025	Amends the Video Gaming Act. Provides that an applicant or licensee under the Act is not in violation of the Act or specified rules and shall not be subject to disciplinary action for operating a gaming device if operation of the gaming device is in compliance with and not considered gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the Gaming Disparity Task Force to conduct a disparity and availability study. Provides that the Task Force shall compile, collect, or otherwise gather data necessary for the determination of the impact on minorities within the video gaming industry. Allows the Task Force to impose fees for the Task Force's operation collected by the Illinois Gaming Board on terminal operations that general more than $5,000,000, including for specified payments to a minority business enterprise-owed terminal operator. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of "gambling device" to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that is connected directly or indirectly to the Internet, either by cellular modem, hard wire, or wireless connection, or to a set of interconnected networked devices in order to participate in the game or contest or to receive or retrieve any data related to the device unless the connected device is a redemption vault and does not operate with a self-contained fill system that permits the operation of the device solely determined on a fee basis or the amount of revenue generated, but does not include a system based on time, number of spins or spin equivalent, or other nonrevenue based system, and automatically ceases to operate upon the completion of a pre-determined cycle. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by law. Provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.
HB3512	02/07/2025	Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires hospitals licensed under the Act to employ and schedule enough hospital workers to provide quality patient care and ensure patient safety. Establishes requirements concerning the reporting of staffing metrics for hospitals and the Department of Public Health. Sets forth provisions concerning competency validation credentials for each hospital worker hired; assignment despite objection forms and procedures; and an assignment despite objection resolution process. Provides that a hospital may not assign a certified nursing assistant or patient care technician to more than 7 patients at a time during a day or evening shift or more than 11 patients at a time during a night shift. Sets forth provisions concerning direct-care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and deviations from the ratio; complaint procedures; the Department's duties concerning complaints; meal and rest periods; investigations for violating staffing requirements; penalties and violations; recordkeeping requirements of a hospital; and rulemaking by the Department.
HB3530	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB3552	02/07/2025	Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Provides that, for the purposes of the Act, a regulation is considered to have the effect of prohibiting an accessory dwelling unit if it: (1) explicitly disallows the construction of accessory dwelling units; (2) imposes fees other than building permit review; (3) applies standards that would render such units inconsistent with other local land use laws; (4) imposes design, bulk, and density standards that would physically preclude the project; (5) requires off-street parking spaces; or (6) requires corrections of nonconformities of the principal dwelling unit. Provides that that a unit of local government shall approve or deny an application for a permit to create or serve an accessory dwelling unit by right and without discretionary review. Requires the unit of local government to either approve or deny the application to create or serve an accessory dwelling unit within 60 days from the date the unit of local government receives a completed application if there is an existing single-family or multi-family dwelling on the lot. Provides that, if the unit of local government has not approved or denied the completed application within 60 days, then the application shall be deemed approved unless the Act provides for additional time. Provides that, if a unit of local government denies an application for an accessory dwelling unit, then the unit of local government shall return a full set of comments to the applicant in writing with a list of items that are defective or deficient and a description of how the application can be remedied by the applicant. Provides that a unit of local government shall not deny an application for a permit to create an accessory dwelling unit due to the correction of nonconforming zoning conditions, building code violations, or unpermitted structures that do not present a threat to public health and safety and are not affected by the construction of the accessory dwelling unit. Defines terms. Limits home rule powers.
HB3585	02/07/2025	Reappropriates the sum of $30,000,000 from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Woodlawn Central LLC for pre-development, engineering, and construction. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB3594	02/07/2025	Creates the Extreme Weather Recovery Act. Creates a private cause of action for a harmed party against a responsible party in which the amount in controversy is $10,000 or more. Authorizes a harmed party who has suffered damages in that amount that is alleged to have been caused by climate disaster or extreme weather attributable to climate changes or both to sue a responsible party. The Act's covered period is from 1965 to the effective date of the Act. Prohibits the State or unit of local government or an agent or employee of these governmental units from commencing an action under the Act. Makes legislative findings. Makes definitions. Creates a 3-year statute of limitation in which a harmed party must file or commence an action under the Act. Authorizes the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to adopt rules implementing the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB3631	02/07/2025	Amends the Capital Development Board Act and the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board may issue direct payment to subcontractors for work performed on State-funded projects if: (1) the subcontractor has submitted an affidavit and supporting documentation verifying the amount due for work performed, including a copy of the subcontract agreement and evidence of work completion; (2) the prime contractor has failed to pay the subcontractor within 30 days after the prime contractor receives payment from the Board; and (3) the subcontractor has provided written notice of non-payment to the Capital Development Board and the prime contractor and has allowed the prime contractor a 10-day response period.
HB3632	02/07/2025	Creates the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act. Provides for the review of the case file of open unresolved murders. Defines "open unresolved murder" as any criminal activity in which death occurred more than 3 years prior to the date of the application for review of the case file under the Act, for which all probative investigative leads have been exhausted, and for which no likely perpetrator has been identified. Provides that the person or persons performing the review shall not have previously investigated the murder. Provides that only one case review shall be undertaken at any one time with respect to the same murder victim. Provides that each law enforcement agency shall develop a written application to be used for persons to request a case file review. Provides that the applicable agency shall conduct a full reinvestigation of the murder if the review of the case file concludes that a full reinvestigation of the murder would result in probative investigative leads. Provides for the compilation and publication of specified information and statistics regarding open unresolved murders by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides that each law enforcement agency shall employ or designate a minimum number of family liaison officers proportionate to the average number of homicides in the agency's jurisdiction within the previous 5 years of the date of employment with the maximum ratio of 40 homicides per each family liaison officer employed or designated. Each agency may establish a lower ratio for hiring or designating of family liaison officers. Establishes the duties and training for family liaison officers. Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act to make conforming changes.
HB3656	02/07/2025	Creates the Municipal Home Rule Charter Act. Provides that any home rule municipality with a population over 500,000 people may adopt a charter to govern municipal affairs. Provides that a charter shall be its organic law. Provides that a charter must be consistent with the Illinois Constitution and U.S. Constitution. Provides that, unless a State law specifically applies to home rule or charter municipalities, language in charters shall be considered supreme when in conflict with a State law. Provides that a qualifying municipality may create a charter commission by a vote of two-thirds vote of the entire legislative body of the municipality. Provides that, within one year of the first organizing meeting of the commission, the commission shall prepare a charter to be approved by a majority of commissioners. Provides that, upon adoption of a charter by the charter commission, it shall go before voters at the next regular general election. Provides that, upon receiving 60% of the vote, the charter is considered adopted. Provides that, if the charter fails, then the process is dead and a municipal legislative body must pass a new ordinance for a new commission in order to adopt a charter. Provides that, if the charter commission fails to adopt a charter, then the commission shall expire.
HB3670	02/07/2025	Creates the Pharmacy Accountability and Access Act. Requires any owner of a pharmacy licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act to provide written notice to specified governmental authorities no later than 180 calendar days before any pharmacy may be closed. Provides that the notice shall be physically posted at the affected location and prominently posted on the company's website for the entire 180-day period. Requires a report detailing the justification for closure, including any documentation of financial losses, operational inefficiencies, or how closure would otherwise align with the social responsibility commitments of the corporation. Sets forth provisions concerning public meetings, community transition plans, and repayment of tax incentives, subsidies, and other financial benefits provided to that pharmacy. Requires the Department of Public Health to review closures of pharmacies in medically underserved areas. Imposes penalties for failure to comply with the Act.
HB3751	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may enter into contracts, including, but not limited to, making grants and loans, with employment social enterprises. Defines terms.
HB2973	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Defines "public sector attorney" as any of the following attorneys who are not managerial employees: Assistant State's Attorneys, Assistant Public Defenders, Assistant Appellate Defenders, Assistant Appellate Prosecutors, and attorneys in the office of the Cook County Public Guardian. Provides that public sector attorneys may not strike. Provides that, if there is an impasse between a unit of public sector attorneys and a public employer, the parties shall submit the dispute to interest arbitration. Effective December 1, 2026.
HB3047	02/06/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Voting Rights Act of 2025. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 Article. Provides that a political subdivision, State agency, or any other government official or entity responsible for election administration shall not implement or enforce any election policy or practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action that results in, is likely to result in, or is intended to result in disparate outcomes. Creates the Language Access in Elections Article. Provides that a local election authority shall provide language assistance for elections conducted in a political subdivision if that political subdivision meets specified conditions. Creates the Voting Rights Act of 2025 and the Language Access in Elections Articles in the Code. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB3164	02/06/2025	Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act. Provides that, until December 31, 2027 (currently, December 31, 2025), a municipality with a population over 500,000 may not impose a monthly surcharge in excess of $5 per network connection. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2028 (currently, January 1, 2026), a municipality with a population over 500,000 may not impose a monthly surcharge in excess of $2.50 per network connection. Provides that, until December 31, 2027 (currently, December 31, 2025), a municipality with a population over 500,000 may by ordinance continue to impose and collect a monthly surcharge per commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) connection or in-service telephone number billed on a monthly basis that does not exceed $5. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2028 (currently, January 1, 2026), a municipality with a population over 500,000 may continue imposing and collecting its wireless carrier surcharge subject to certain limitations. Effective immediately.
HB3256	02/06/2025	Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.
HB3288	02/06/2025	Creates the Affordable Communities Act. Defines "zoning unit" as a county, municipality, or township that has adopted zoning regulations, and defines other terms. Provides that, on and after June 1, 2026, for a zoning unit with a population equal to or greater than 100,000, regulations may not prevent the development of any middle housing types permitted in the zoning unit through unreasonable costs, delay, or procedural requirements. Allows zoning units to regulate middle housing to comply with protective measures adopted under statewide land use planning goals. Requires adoption of zoning ordinances and zoning maps consistent with the Act by June 1, 2026 for zoning units with a population equal to or greater than 100,000. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall develop a model middle housing ordinance that must be used if a zoning unit fails to adopt the required ordinance or zoning map. Allows the Authority to grant exceptions to compliance under specified situations. Requires the Authority to adopt rules regarding the form and substance of a zoning unit's application for an extension, and allows the Authority to adopt other rules relating an extension. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Authority emergency rulemaking authority to implement the Affordable Communities Act. Effective immediately.
HB2434	02/03/2025	Creates the Compassionate Support for Bereaved Mothers Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Heal Your Heart Act. Defines a bereaved mother as a mother whose child was, more likely than not, knowingly killed by an unknown or other person. Provides that the Act applies to any bereaved mother whose child was, more likely than not, knowingly killed within the State and whose child was a resident of the State at the time of death. Provides that a bereaved mother shall be entitled to free mental health counseling and psychiatric services for a period of up to one year following the death of the bereaved mother's child. Provides that a bereaved mother is entitled to take paid leave after the death of the bereaved mother's child. Provides that, as federal law permits, a bereaved mother living in subsidized housing, scatter site housing, or public housing units shall be eligible for relocation to another unit if the bereaved mother feels threatened or unsafe. Provides that the Act is repealed 5 years after becoming law. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB1868	01/29/2025	Amends the Hospital Provider Funding Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create a pool of funding of at least $50,000,000 annually to be disbursed among safety-net hospitals that maintain perinatal designation from the Department of Public Health, provides that no safety-net hospital eligible for funds shall receive less than $5,000,000 annually.
HB1894	01/29/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person is not prohibited from photographing his or her own ballot at any time during the voting process or from viewing a photograph of a completed or partially completed ballot. Provides that any person who gives, promises to give, or receives any money or other valuable consideration in connection with the dissemination or viewing of a photograph of a completed or partially completed ballot is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.
HB1708	01/24/2025	Amends the Ballots Article of the Election Code. Provides that the governing body of a municipality may adopt, upon submission of a written statement by the municipality's election authority attesting to the administrative ability of the election authority to administer an election using a ranked ballot to the municipality's governing body, an ordinance requiring a ranked vote by mail ballot for municipal and township office candidates to be voted on in the consolidated election or consolidated primary election (rather than only the consolidated election). Provides that the governing body of a municipality may adopt an ordinance allowing any qualified voter to use a ranked vote by mail ballot for any municipal and township election. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked ballots for nonpartisan primary elections. Removes language providing that a ranked ballot shall be for use only by a qualified voter who either is a member of the United States military or will be outside of the United States on the consolidated primary election day and the consolidated election day. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB1709	01/24/2025	Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Defines terms. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.
HB1710	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act and the Uniform Crime Reporting Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the Illinois State Police shall submit to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, or provide to the Authority through a web-based portal, specified information concerning homicides on a quarterly basis. Requires the Authority to study and compile the information and, on a quarterly basis, publish the information on the Authority's public website in a form determined by the Authority.
HB1611	01/23/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a no-knock search warrant shall not be issued when the only offense alleged is possession of a controlled substance unless there is probable cause to believe that the controlled substance is for other than personal use. Provides that when an officer, having a warrant for the search of a dwelling, executes the search warrant, the officer shall: (1) execute the warrant between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. unless the judge, for good cause, expressly authorizes execution at another time; (2) be readily identifiable as a law enforcement officer in uniform or wearing a visible law enforcement badge that clearly identifies the person as a law enforcement officer; (3) In counties of 90,000 or more inhabitants, be a member of a special weapons and tactics team or special response team, or another established team or unit trained and tasked with resolving high-risk situations and incidents, who has received appropriate training in the execution of arrest and search warrants authorizing entry without notice; (4) wear and activate a body-worn camera as required by the use of force in execution of a search warrant when entering a premises for the purpose of enforcing the law; (5) have a certified or licensed paramedic or emergency medical technician in proximity and available to provide medical assistance, if needed; (6) be prohibited from pointing firearms at individuals under 18 years old, unless there is clear and present danger to the officer or another person; and (7) knock and announce the officer's presence at a volume loud enough for the officer to reasonably believe the occupants inside can hear, allow a minimum of 30 seconds of time before entering given the size of the dwelling for someone to get to the door, and delay entry if the officer has reason to believe that someone is approaching the dwelling's entrance with the intent of voluntarily allowing the officer to enter the dwelling; except that this provision does not apply if the circumstances known to the officer at the time provide an objectively reasonable basis to believe that a no-knock entry or not waiting a reasonable amount of time is necessary because of an emergency threatening the life of or grave injury to a person, provided that the imminent danger is not created by the law enforcement officers executing the search. Makes other changes.
HB1612	01/23/2025	Creates the Illinois Appliance Standards Act. Directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt minimum efficiency standards for covered products. Provides for testing, certification, and labeling of covered products. Contains provisions concerning enforcement of the Act's requirements. Provides for administrative rulemaking by the Agency. Makes findings. Defines terms.
HB1423	01/16/2025	Appropriates $5,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for a grant to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA for program and operating expenses for youth-development based sports initiatives. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1292	01/13/2025	Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that post-traumatic stress disorder is to be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and to be causally connected to the hazards of employment of a person employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic.