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SB 2371

Open meetings; revise accessibility to information on meeting times, agendas and minutes.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sollie Norwood

SB 2371 would require individuals acting as agents for designated foreign principals in Illinois to register with the Attorney General within 10 days of starting activity, with ret

Died In Committee
#accountability #efficiency #transparency
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Bill Summary · SB 2371

SB 2371 — Summary (Foreign Agents Registration Act — introduced 2025)

Note up front: the materials you provided include conflicting metadata. The bill title/subject line references open meetings and accessibility, but the full text attached is a standalone “Foreign Agents Registration Act” (a FARA‑style measure). The status you gave (“Died In Committee”) and the bill’s legislative action timeline also conflict (one set shows early committee death; another shows passage and signature). This summary focuses on the bill text supplied (the Foreign Agents Registration Act). Verify final status and text with the official Illinois legislative record before relying on this for compliance.

Main purpose and intent

SB 2371 would create a state Foreign Agents Registration Act intended to increase public transparency about political, public‑relations and propaganda activities carried out in Illinois on behalf of certain foreign governments, parties, or entities deemed “countries of concern.”

Key provisions

  • Establishes a new registration requirement: any person acting as an “agent of a foreign principal” from a designated “country of concern” must file a true and complete registration statement with the Illinois Attorney General.
  • Timing: an agent must file the registration statement within 10 days after becoming an agent; the obligation continues for the period the person acted as an agent. Termination of status does not relieve retroactive filing obligations for the period of activity.
  • Retroactive filing: persons who acted as such agents any time after January 1, 2014 and up to the Act’s effective date must file a retroactive registration statement and supplements.
  • Definition of “country of concern”: explicitly lists the People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, Iran, DPRK, Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Governor (in consultation with the Director of Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security) may designate additional entities under significant foreign control as countries of concern.
  • Broad definitions: “foreign principal,” “agent of a foreign principal,” “public‑relations counsel,” and related terms are defined; agents include those engaged in public relations, publicity, information services, political consulting, soliciting or disbursing funds, or representing foreign interests before government entities in Illinois.
  • Exemptions: certain news/press services and bona fide journalistic entities may be exempt where they meet ownership/operational tests (e.g., majority U.S. ownership and editorial independence); other exemptions are noted but not fully reproduced in the excerpt.
  • Enforcement and penalties: the Act provides penalties for noncompliance (specific penalties are referenced but not fully detailed in the excerpt).
  • Rulemaking: the Attorney General is empowered to prescribe and amend forms and rules necessary to carry out the Act.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals and entities in Illinois acting on behalf of listed foreign governments, parties, or controlled entities — including PR firms, political consultants, lobbyists, fundraisers, advocacy groups, and some businesses — would face new registration and reporting duties.
  • Certain media outlets and bona fide journalistic organizations may be exempt if they meet strict ownership and editorial independence criteria.
  • State Attorney General’s office would assume administrative and enforcement responsibilities.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • The text names an effective date provision (retroactivity back to Jan 1, 2014 for required disclosure), and requires filings within 10 days of becoming an agent.
  • Because the provided record contains contradictory legislative-action entries (ranging from “Died in Committee” to entries showing passage and signature), confirm the bill’s final disposition and exact enacted text via the Illinois General Assembly official website or the Attorney General’s office.
  • Companion bill: HB 4853.

If you’d like, I can:
- Compare the SB 2371 text to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to highlight differences;
- Draft a short compliance checklist for organizations that might be affected; or
- Check and summarize the official legislative status if you authorize me to look up the current public record.

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

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