Rockford Sun

State Senator Dave Syverson and State Representative Jeff Keicher have announced their support for a lawsuit filed in Sangamon County. The legal action aims to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Three Reading Rule concerning Senate Bill 328.

Senator Syverson criticized the Democrats, stating, “Once again, Democrats are forcing a reckless bill through the legislature and ignoring the Constitution to do it.” He emphasized that bypassing legislative rules has consequences for Illinois families. “If we don’t push back, they’ll keep crossing the line,” he added.

The Three Reading Rule mandates that every bill must be read on three separate days in each chamber of the legislature. However, according to Syverson and Keicher, this step was skipped with SB 328, which was passed just hours after its final language was filed.

House Republican Conference Chairman Jeff Keicher highlighted the importance of transparency in legislation: “The Three Reading Rule is meant to guarantee that the people, and the legislators they elect to represent them, have an open and transparent process in place to review legislation.” He expressed concern over what he perceives as a degradation of trust due to procedural shortcuts by Illinois Democrats.

SB 328 has been described by Republican lawmakers as problematic because it allegedly allows individuals nationwide to sue companies registered in Illinois without any direct connection to disputes within the state. This could lead to increased legal congestion and economic issues such as job losses.

In response to these concerns, Republican leaders have initiated a lawsuit intended to uphold constitutional principles and protect residents from potential negative impacts of SB 328. They suggest Governor Pritzker could resolve this issue by vetoing the bill.

A petition is available for those who wish to encourage Governor Pritzker's veto. The lawmakers argue that such actions are necessary for maintaining fair governance and judicial processes in Illinois.