SE Illinois News

State Representatives Patrick Windhorst and Paul Jacobs have joined other Republican lawmakers in a legal challenge against the process used by Democrats to pass Senate Bill 328. The lawsuit, filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, seeks enforcement of the Illinois Constitution’s Third Reading Rule, which is intended to ensure public transparency as legislation progresses through each chamber.

Senate Bill 328 allows out-of-state plaintiffs to sue out-of-state businesses in Illinois courts. The American Tort Reform Association has urged Governor Pritzker to veto the bill, describing it as one of the "single worst bills we have seen this year, nationwide." They warn that if enacted, it could lead to businesses leaving Illinois and a decrease in new business investments.

Rep. Windhorst, a former State’s Attorney and current House Republican Floor Leader, is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. He expressed hope that Gov. Pritzker would veto SB 328 but stated that if not, he hopes the court system will intervene. “What we’ve seen in recent Sessions has been Democrats, time and again, breaking the House Rules to get their way on any given piece of legislation,” said Windhorst.

Rep. Paul Jacobs also voiced concerns about the legislative process under Democratic leadership. He accused Democrats of rule-breaking practices dating back to Speaker Madigan's tenure and emphasized the need for transparency. “A practice that reaches back to Speaker Madigan, the Democrats’ continued rule breaking has become increasingly egregious," said Rep. Jacobs.

The Third Reading Rule is meant to provide legislators with sufficient time for review and debate by requiring bills to be read by title three times on different days. Republicans argue that Democrats have frequently bypassed this constitutional requirement.