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Read. Follow. Verify.Illinois House Bill 21 Excludes Unanswered Junk Mail from Freedom of Information Act and Local Records Act Public Records Definitions
Last action · March 21, 2025: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules CommitteeSponsor: Daniel Didech
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What This Bill Would Do
Illinois House Bill 21 excludes unsolicited commercial mail and electronic communications that are not answered by government officials from the legal definitions of "" under the Freedom of Information Act and the Local Records Act.
The measure determines whether state and local agencies must store, track, and produce unsolicited commercial messages upon public request, affecting administrative record-keeping obligations for public bodies.
- The Freedom of Information Act and the Local Records Act govern public access to government records and agency retention duties in Illinois. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
public bodies
Key Facts
- Defines "junk mail" under the Freedom of Information Act as any unsolicited commercial mail or electronic communication sent to a public body that is not responded to by an official, employee, or agent.
- Defines "junk mail" under the Local Records Act identically to the Freedom of Information Act definition.
- Amends Section 2 of the Freedom of Information Act to specify that public records do not include junk mail.
- Amends Section 3 of the Local Records Act to exclude junk mail from the definition of public records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 21 classify as "junk mail"?
Does this bill apply to local records as well as state records?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
5 actions- Mar 21, 2025HouseCommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeAssigned to Executive Committee
- Jan 9, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Rules Committee
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst Reading
- Dec 5, 2024HouseIntroducedPrefiled with Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
ftp.ilga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance35How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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