HB4681 — FOIA-MASS REQ & VEXATIOUS REQ
Last action — Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ryan Spain
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1Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.
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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Introduced
Current position in the legislative process.
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3 sponsors
1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "commercial purpose". Defines "business day" or "working day", as well as "mass requester" and "vexatious requester". Requires a public body to respond to a request for records submitted by a mass requester within 21 days after receipt. Sets forth procedures and requirements regarding mass requesters. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to knowingly obtain a public record as a mass requester without disclosing the person's status as a mass requester, if requested to do so by the public body. Requires persons denied access to inspect or copy any public record to first notify the public body of intent to file suit and provide an opportunity to confer orally, within 10 business days after receipt of the notification, about curing or resolving the issue. Requires a court to award a public body attorney's fees and costs against a commercial purpose requester, a recurrent requester, a mass requester, or a vexatious requester. Allows a public body to petition the Public Access Counselor for relief from a requester that the public body alleges is a vexatious requester, including an order that the public body need not comply with the current request and other requests from the vexatious requester for up to one year. Sets forth procedures and requirements regarding vexatious requesters. Makes conforming changes.
Bill Text
We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.
Read HB4681 on the official Illinois source →Action History
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Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ryan Spain
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Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Kelly
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Referred to Rules Committee
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First Reading
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Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech
Sponsors
- Daniel Didech · Primary
- Michael J. Kelly · Cosponsor
- Ryan Spain · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 180 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Daniel Didech Democrat
Co-sponsors (2)
- Michael J. Kelly Democrat
- Ryan Spain Republican
Not signed on (180)
180 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 180 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB4681 do?
- Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "commercial purpose". Defines "business day" or "working day", as well as "mass requester" and "vexatious requester". Requires a public body to respond to a request for records submitted by a mass requester within 21 days after receipt. Sets forth procedures and requirements regarding mass requesters. Provides that it is a violation of the Act to knowingly obtain a public record as a mass requester without disclosing the person's status as a mass requester, if requested to do so by the public body. Requires persons denied access to inspect or copy any public record to first notify the public body of intent to file suit and provide an opportunity to confer orally, within 10 business days after receipt of the notification, about curing or resolving the issue. Requires a court to award a public body attorney's fees and costs against a commercial purpose requester, a recurrent requester, a mass requester, or a vexatious requester. Allows a public body to petition the Public Access Counselor for relief from a requester that the public body alleges is a vexatious requester, including an order that the public body need not comply with the current request and other requests from the vexatious requester for up to one year. Sets forth procedures and requirements regarding vexatious requesters. Makes conforming changes.
- Who sponsors HB4681 ?
- HB4681 is sponsored by Daniel Didech (Democrat), Michael J. Kelly (Democrat), and Ryan Spain (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB4681 ?
- This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track HB4681 ?
- Track HB4681 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
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