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Bill

SB 497

ETHICS-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Don Harmon

SB 497 advances ethics standards for Illinois government technology use with unanimous committee support; currently in assignment stage pending third reading.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 497

Legislative bill overview

SB 497 appears to be an ethics reform bill focused on technology governance in Illinois, though the specific provisions are not detailed in the available legislative actions. The bill has progressed through committee with unanimous approval and is currently in the assignment stage after being re-referred on April 11, 2025.

Why is this important

Ethics legislation establishes accountability standards for public officials and can shape how government uses technology—affecting transparency, data privacy, and public trust. The unanimous committee vote suggests broad bipartisan support, though the specific mechanisms and scope of this bill remain unclear from the action history alone.

Potential points of contention

  • The bill's specific definitions of "ethics violations" related to technology and whether they adequately address emerging concerns like AI use in government decision-making
  • Enforcement mechanisms and whether penalties are sufficient to deter misconduct without being overly punitive
  • Scope of applicability—whether the bill covers only legislators, extends to executive agencies, and what disclosure requirements it imposes on tech vendors working with the state

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

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