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HB 3115

ETHICS-LOBBYING RESTRICTION

104th Regular Session Introduced by David Friess and 7 co-sponsors

HB 3115 bans certain former Illinois officials from lobbying the General Assembly for 3 years after leaving office.

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Bill Summary · HB 3115

Summary — HB 3115 (2025) — "Ethics — Lobbying Restriction"

Status: Introduced Feb 2025; passed the Illinois House (May 21, 2025); received from the House (May 22, 2025). Primary sponsor: Rep. Blaine Wilhour. Added co‑sponsors include Reps. Dan Ugaste, Travis Weaver, Kevin Schmidt, Joe C. Sosnowski, David Friess, Dave Severin, and Charles Meier.

Purpose

HB 3115 amends Section 5-45 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to expand and clarify “revolving door” restrictions on post‑government lobbying. The bill seeks to limit former legislators and certain high‑level officials from immediately registering as lobbyists and lobbying the General Assembly after leaving office.

Key provisions

  • Amends 5 ILCS 430/5-45 to add a new prohibition: any member of the General Assembly, any person whose appointment requires the advice and consent of the Senate, or any head of a department/commission/board/division/bureau/authority (who takes office on or after the bill’s effective date) shall not, within the 3‑year period immediately following termination of that person’s most recent term of office, register as a lobbyist and engage in lobbying with members of the General Assembly.
  • Effective immediately upon enactment for persons who take office on or after that date.
  • The bill is drafted as an amendment to a section that already contains multiple revolving‑door, procurement, gaming, and cannabis‑related post‑employment limitations (these existing provisions remain part of the statutory section, though HB 3115’s primary change is the 3‑year lobbying ban described above).

Who is affected

  • Future members of the Illinois General Assembly (those who take office on or after the effective date).
  • Future appointees requiring Senate advice and consent.
  • Future heads of State departments, commissions, boards, divisions, bureaus, authorities, and similar administrative units.
  • Employers (law firms, lobbying firms, private businesses, trade associations) that hire former legislators or senior officials for lobbying roles — they cannot have such hires register and lobby the General Assembly for 3 years following the official’s departure.
  • Does not apply retroactively to officials who took office prior to the bill’s effective date.

Timing and procedural notes

  • Bill amends 5 ILCS 430/5-45 (State Officials and Employees Ethics Act).
  • Effective immediately upon enactment for persons who take office on or after that date.
  • House action: reported out of committee, placed on Local, Consent & Resolutions Calendar, read 2nd & 3rd times, passed (votes recorded May 21, 2025). Next step (per usual process) would be Senate consideration.

Potential impact

  • Lengthens the lobby‑ban cooling off period for key public officials interacting with the General Assembly from prior shorter limits (many existing revolving‑door rules used 6‑month or 1‑year periods) to 3 years for the specified categories.
  • Intended to reduce conflicts of interest and the influence of former officials on their recent colleagues; may affect hiring decisions by private sector entities and lobbying firms.

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

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