Rockford Sun

The Illinois General Assembly has updated its website, www.ilga.gov, for the first time in nearly 20 years. The redesign aims to make the site more modern and accessible on mobile devices. However, it introduces changes that may impact how residents interact with the legislative process.

One significant feature of the site is the witness slip tool. This allows individuals to express their support or opposition to specific bills during committee hearings. Understanding this new process is crucial for those who want their opinions officially recorded.

To file a witness slip under the new system, users should:

1. Visit www.ilga.gov.

2. Navigate to either Senate Schedules or House Schedules.

3. Under Hearing Schedules, select Today, Week, or Month.

4. Click on Details for the relevant hearing.

5. Select Create Witness Slip.

6. Fill out and submit the required fields.

Senate Republicans have created a video walkthrough to assist users with this process.

Filing a witness slip is an effective way for constituents to voice their opinions in Springfield, whether they are supporting beneficial legislation or opposing harmful proposals.

Witness slips can only be submitted when a bill is scheduled for a committee hearing.