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HB 364

CRIMINAL LAW-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Welch

Illinois bill modernizing criminal law to address technology-enabled offenses; passed committee with unanimous support but faces ongoing legislative review.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 364

Legislative bill overview

HB 364 is an Illinois criminal law bill focused on technology-related offenses that passed the Executive Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation in March 2025. The bill has been re-referred to the Rules Committee as of May 31, 2025, and appears to address criminal conduct involving technological means or digital crimes.

Why is this important

Technology-related criminal statutes are increasingly necessary as crimes evolve—from identity theft and cyberstalking to unauthorized access and deepfakes. Modernizing Illinois criminal law to address tech-enabled offenses protects citizens while establishing clear legal standards for law enforcement and prosecutors handling digital crime cases.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition precision: Tech-focused criminal statutes risk being either too vague (failing to adequately criminalize harmful conduct) or too broad (potentially capturing legitimate activity or speech)
  • First Amendment balance: Laws addressing digital harassment, impersonation, or synthetic media must carefully distinguish criminal conduct from protected speech and expression
  • Enforcement capability: Police and prosecutors may lack sufficient training or resources to investigate and prosecute technology crimes effectively, creating uneven application

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

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