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Republican lawmakers cited Senate Bill 328 when they alleged
that the Democratic supermajority short-circuits the
legislature’s three-readings rule by gutting bill language and
replacing it just before passage.
State Rep. Travis Weaver, R-Peoria, called SB 328 “just the
worst example” of Illinois Democratic Party leaders violating
the three readings rule.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lou Sandoval said
the measure broadens lawyers’ ability to use Illinois for
general jurisdiction lawsuits.
“We don’t want that here. There needs to be balance. When we
talk about markets, go-to-market strategies, it really puts an X
on Illinois as a no-go state because of the litigious climate
that’s there,” Sandoval told The Center Square.
Sandoval said Pennsylvania is the only state with a similar law
in place.
“As you drive through Philly, you see nothing but billboards and
it’s billboard after billboard of ambulance chasers. You know,
‘Call this lawyer for this. Workplace slip and fall, come here.’
Whatever the issue is, it’s there,” Sandoval said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a similar measure due to
potential to drive businesses away.
During a conversation about the recent legislative session in
Illinois, Sandoval said the state often punishes good businesses
instead of rewarding them.
The Chamber of Commerce leader noted that businesses don’t get
carveouts like other organizations for doing the right thing.
“Whether it be paid leave, whether it be workplace temperature,
offering PPE or proper amenities to their employees, there’s
never a carveout for them in that. It’s always punitive,”
Sandoval said.
The $55.2 billion state budget signed earlier this month by Gov.
J.B. Pritzker includes more than $480 million in tax hikes.
Sandoval said business owners assess the net costs of operating
in Illinois.
“You’re looking across state lines and you’re saying, 'Well,
just to the east of us or just to the north or just to the west
of us, they don’t have those issues.’ It really hurts some of
our edge locations on the borders of our state,” Sandoval said.
The ALEC-Laffer Rich States, Poor States Report released in
April ranked Illinois 46th out of 50 for 2025 economic outlook
and 47th out of 50 for economic competitiveness over the past 10
years.
Greg Bishop and Kevin Bessler contributed to
this story.
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