Ballot initiative measure process; revise the statutory provisions of.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tyler McCaughn

Would have funded FY2026 operations for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission with $13,876,400 from the Dram Shop Fund, plus $824,600 for refunds and education; bill died.

Died In Committee

#accountability #efficiency #transparency #constitution

SB 2572 — Summary (Introduced 2025)

Short title/subject: Listed as "Ballot initiative measure process; revise the statutory provisions of." — however, the bill text is an appropriations measure for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. (Record shows a mismatch between the bill title/subject and the body; see “Notes” below.)

Sponsor: Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
Companion bill: HB 953
Status: Died in committee (bill did not become law)

Main purpose

Although the bill’s caption references ballot-initiative statutes, the substance of SB 2572 (as introduced) is an appropriations act that would provide funding to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Total appropriation: $13,876,400 from the Dram Shop Fund (other state funds).

Key provisions and dollar amounts

Total appropriated from the Dram Shop Fund: $13,876,400.

$13,051,800 (or so much as necessary) appropriated for the Liquor Control Commission’s operational expenses.
Additional specified allocations (payable from the Dram Shop Fund) totaling $824,600:
Refunds: $5,000
Retailer Education Program: $517,800
Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) Program: $301,800

Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

Liquor Control Commission: direct operational funding for enforcement, administration, and program delivery.

Alcohol retailers and servers: continued or expanded education and training via the BASSET and Retailer Education programs paid from the Dram Shop Fund.

Entities entitled to refunds (small appropriation for refunds).

No General Revenue funds are used; funding comes from the Dram Shop Fund (fees/assessments related to liquor regulation).

Procedural/timeline notes

Introduced/Filed: Feb 25, 2025 (sponsor filing); received by Senate Secretary Mar 13, 2025.

Referred to committee(s): Assignments; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency; Constitution; later to State Affairs.

Read first time: Apr 3, 2025.

Final recorded status: Died In Committee (the bill did not advance to passage). Legislative action dates in the record contain inconsistencies (see below).

Notes / Record inconsistencies

The bill’s title/subject (ballot initiative/constitution/accountability) does not match the text, which is an appropriation to the Liquor Control Commission. This looks like a drafting or database labeling error.

Some legislative-action dates appear out of sequence (e.g., a “Died In Committee” date listed as 2025-02-04 before introduction dates). Those inconsistencies appear in the source record; the practical effect is that SB 2572, as introduced, did not become law.

If enacted, SB 2572 would have funded the Liquor Control Commission’s operations for FY 2026 (starting July 1, 2025) and sustained retailer/server education programs paid from the Dram Shop Fund.