Bill
SB 1861
The bill exempts procurements connected with Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site from the Illinois Procurement Code, removing standard bidding and oversight for those purchases
Status and sponsor
- Bill number: SB 1861
- Title: PROCUREMENT — NEW SALEM
- Sponsor: Sen. Steve McClure (co‑sponsor added: Sen. Doris Turner)
- Filed/Introduced: (filed with Secretary) March 4, 2025 (bill header shows introduced Feb. 5, 2025)
- Senate action: Passed the Senate (read 1st–3rd times; passed and engrossed) on May 19, 2025. Senate Committee Amendment 001 filed April 11, 2025. After passage in the Senate the bill was received and re‑referred to subsequent committees/assignments.
Purpose / Intent
- The bill amends Section 1-10 (Application) of the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/1-10) to carve out an express exemption: procurement activities made in connection with Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site are not subject to the Illinois Procurement Code. The stated effect is to remove the normal State procurement rules and procedures for procurements tied to that site.
Key provisions and changes
- Amends the “Application” section of the Illinois Procurement Code to add an exemption for procurements connected with Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site (per the bill synopsis).
- The rest of the bill text supplied largely reproduces Section 1-10’s existing application and enumerated exceptions; the core change reported is the addition of the New Salem exemption.
- Senate Amendment 001 was filed (April 11, 2025); the legislative text supplied is truncated and does not clearly show additional substantive modifications beyond the exemption focus.
Who/what is affected
- Entities operating or managing Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site and any contractors, vendors, or service providers engaged to provide goods or services for the site.
- State procurement oversight bodies and the contracting public: projects, purchases, or contracts relating to New Salem would no longer have to follow Illinois Procurement Code competitive bidding, procurement bulletin posting, and other Code requirements.
- Funding sources (state or federal) potentially used for New Salem procurements — the Procurement Code normally applies regardless of funding source; this bill would exempt qualifying procurements.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Administrative flexibility: site managers could use alternative purchasing processes (potentially quicker or more tailored to historic‑site needs).
- Transparency and competition: exemptions could reduce formal competitive bidding, public notice, and certain oversight protections that apply under the Procurement Code.
- Legal/financial implications: if federal funds are used, federal procurement rules may still apply even if the State Code is exempted; the bill text is truncated and does not detail compensating oversight measures.
- Implementation details (scope, definitions of “in connection with,” and any limits or reporting requirements) are not fully shown in the provided text and would affect practical impact.
Legislative timeline (selected)
- March–April 2025: Referred to committees; public hearings held; Senate Committee Amendment 001 filed April 11, 2025.
- May 15–19, 2025: Readings, recorded committee votes, and passed the Senate (May 19, 2025).
- Post‑Senate: Received from Senate and re‑referred (committee/assignments status appears to continue in the House).
Note
- The full, final bill language (including any limits, definitions, or oversight provisions tied to the New Salem exemption) was not fully included in the materials provided. For implementation and legal effect, review the enacted bill text and any companion or implementing language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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