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HB 2297

CRIMINAL LAW-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Tony McCombie

Illinois bill HB 2297 establishes or modifies criminal penalties for technology-related offenses, currently in committee review with extended deadline.

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Bill Summary · HB 2297

Legislative bill overview

HB 2297 is an Illinois criminal law bill focused on technology-related offenses, introduced by Representative Tony McCombie. The bill has passed initial committee review with a "Do Pass" recommendation and is currently navigating the legislative process, with its third reading deadline extended to May 31, 2025.

Why is this important

Technology-related crimes are an evolving area of criminal law as digital activities—from cybercrime to deepfakes to unauthorized software access—create new legal gray areas. How Illinois defines and penalizes tech crimes affects both public safety enforcement and the rights of technology users and developers.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of criminal liability: Whether the bill casts too wide or too narrow a net in defining criminal tech offenses, potentially affecting legitimate cybersecurity researchers, software developers, or digital privacy advocates
  • Penalties and proportionality: Questions about whether criminal penalties match the severity of tech offenses compared to traditional crimes
  • Definitional clarity: Technical terminology in cybercrime legislation can be vague, creating enforcement inconsistencies or unintended legal consequences for borderline activities

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

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