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HB 2888

FOIA-FEES AND COSTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Marti Deuter and 1 co-sponsor

HB 2888 modifies Illinois FOIA fee structures, potentially increasing government cost-recovery authority for processing public records requests, affecting access affordability.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2888

Legislative bill overview

HB 2888 modifies Illinois's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by adjusting how public bodies can charge fees and recover costs for processing FOIA requests. The bill appears to address the financial burden on government agencies when fulfilling information requests, though the specific fee structures or cost-recovery mechanisms aren't detailed in the available action history.

Why is this important

FOIA fees directly affect citizens' ability to access public records—higher fees can create barriers for journalists, watchdog groups, and ordinary residents seeking government transparency. The balance between reasonable cost recovery for agencies and affordable public access is a perennial tension in open records law, making this bill relevant to government accountability and transparency advocates alike.

Potential points of contention

  • Access vs. cost burden: Increasing allowable fees may deter legitimate FOIA requests from cash-strapped nonprofits, journalists, and citizens while protecting agency budgets
  • Undefined cost-recovery scope: Without seeing the bill text, it's unclear whether cost recovery applies broadly or narrowly, and what qualifies as recoverable expenses
  • Disparate impact: Higher fees may disproportionately affect lower-income residents and small organizations seeking records about local government

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

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