20-03-2025
Illinois police advocate for and against bills at State Capitol on Lobby Day
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Association Chiefs of Police gathered for Lobby Day on March 18 to talk with lawmakers in Springfield about bills they support — and oppose.
Chief Dwayne Wheeler represented Taylorville in Springfield this year. Taylorville Lieutenant Michael Toberman told WCIA that Wheeler advocated for several bills which he hopes will make the Taylorville community safer.
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Toberman said that on Lobby Day, the IACP gives the attendees a list of bills with information on how it might impact their jobs. Then, the police chiefs engage in conversation with lawmakers.
Senate Bill 2192 would create the Preventing Targeted Violence Act. It would create a community support team, made up of law enforcement, mental health experts, threat assessors, and various community organizations, to prevent targeted violence.
The team would review potential threat cases, serve as a centralized information hub for local, state and federal resources and educate the community in identifying concerning behaviors.
The team members would sign agreements, making the information in case reviews protected from being disclosed in legal proceedings or public record. It also grants immunity to team members who act in 'good faith' of the protocols established with this law.
Senate Bill 1557 would amend the Illinois Municipal Code, giving municipalities the right to use a utility pole within public rights-of-way for safety purposes. This could include placing equipment 'associated with public safety,' like emergency communication equipment, surveillance cameras, or other safety-related technology.
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The bill also requires the fee charged for the use of the pole to be at the lowest rate charged by the entity
Senate Bill 1796 would amend the the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act and the Criminal Code.
It expands the list of individuals who can request body camera footage to include:
The subject captured on the recording
The legal representative of the subject
The officer who wore the camera
The legal representative of the officer who wore the camera
A person who has written permission from the subject of the encounter
A person who has written permission from the officer who wore the camera
And, it allows body camera recordings to last after 90 days (the previous language stated that the footage must be destroyed after 90 days, unless the recording was flagged for whatever reason). It also exempts recordings (which follow the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act) from Illinois' eavesdropping regulations.
House Bill 1072 would create the Mobile Panic Alert System Act. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, public schools would be required to implement a mobile panic alert system, which can connect to multiple first responder agencies.
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And, in fiscal year 2026, the State Board of Education would be required to begin to solicitate a system that can be used by each school district.
Senate Bill 0042 would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by removing the requirement that cannabis in a motor vehicle must be in an odor-proof container. It would still require that cannabis is stored in a secured, sealed or re-sealable child-resistant container.
Law enforcement would not be allowed to stop, detain or search a vehicle based only on the odor of burnt or raw cannabis, as long as the drivers and passengers are 21 or older.
House Bill 1611 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Courts would no longer be able to issue 'search 'no knock' warrant when the only known offense is possession of a controlled substance. However, police officers may enter a home without knocking when necessary to prevent injury to officers or others. And, the warrant must be executed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
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Officers also must be in uniform, wear a body-worn camera, and have a paramedic or emergency medical technician nearby.
When police are executing a warrant, they would also not be allowed to handcuff or restrain a child or a parent in the presence of children (unless they are in danger of harming themself or another).
You can read more about the bill here.
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