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Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Robert Martwick, both Chicago
Democrats, filed the legislation Monday, saying the current
inability to conduct business remotely has hindered lawmakers’
ability to respond to the health crisis.
“In March, we had no idea a pandemic would sweep the globe,
bringing life as we know it to a halt,” Williams said in a news
release. “While we were able to meet for a few days in May to
conduct urgent business, we continue to face a crisis of epic
proportions – both on the public health front and in terms of
our budget situation – that requires legislative attention.”
“The governor has emergency powers to secure the health of our
state,” Martwick said. “However, it is the Legislature’s
responsibility to enact the long-term policies, in accordance
with the needs of our unique and diverse constituencies, which
will chart the path forward as we recover from this pandemic.”
Business in the General Assembly halted in March, around the
same time Gov. JB Pritzker declared a statewide disaster.
Lawmakers held a brief special session in May, mainly to pass a
budget and a few other urgent pieces of legislation, but they
canceled their usual fall veto session and have not conducted
any official business since May 24.
During that special session, the Senate enacted a procedural
rule that allows its committees to meet remotely, but only for
informational meetings. They are not allowed to take recorded
votes. The only committee that has taken official action since
May has been the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which
has held monthly in-person meetings in Springfield.
A bill that would have allowed lawmakers to meet and vote on
legislation failed by a single vote in the House in May.
Under the proposed legislation, remote sessions and committee
meetings would be allowed “in times of pestilence or an
emergency resulting from a domestic or foreign terrorist attack”
if the speaker of the House and Senate president issue a joint
proclamation. The bill also contains a provision requiring the
meetings be accessible for the public to view.
The bill is House Bill 5868. As of Monday afternoon, the Senate
version had not been assigned a bill number.
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Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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