WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 405

CRIMINAL LAW-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Welch

Illinois HB 405 updates criminal law to address technology-related offenses, advancing through committee with bipartisan support and currently awaiting rules review.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 405

Legislative bill overview

HB 405 is an Illinois criminal law bill focused on technology-related provisions, sponsored by Representative Chris Welch. Based on the legislative history showing it passed Executive Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation and proceeded through multiple readings, it addresses criminal statutes involving technological elements or digital crimes.

Why is this important

Technology-related criminal law is increasingly critical as cyber fraud, identity theft, and digital crimes expand. Updating Illinois criminal code to address modern tech-facilitated offenses helps law enforcement prosecute emerging crimes while potentially protecting citizen privacy and digital rights.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of surveillance/digital evidence authority - Bills addressing tech crimes often expand police powers for digital searches or data access, raising Fourth Amendment privacy concerns
  • Definition precision - Overly broad language in tech-crime statutes can criminalize legitimate activities or create enforcement disparities
  • Implementation feasibility - Law enforcement agencies may lack training or resources to enforce new technology-specific criminal provisions effectively

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.