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HB 3570

Relating to community infrastructure inventory; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Gamba and 2 co-sponsors

HB 3570 speeds and tightens Illinois Firearms Restraining Orders by requiring verified petitions, expanding clerical aid, same-day ex parte hearings, and a preponderance standard.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3570

HB 3570 — Summary (2025)

Status: Introduced Feb 18, 2025 (Rep. Nabeela Syed). In committee upon adjournment (June 28, 2025). Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act (430 ILCS 67).

Purpose / intent

Make procedural and substantive changes to Illinois’ firearms restraining order (FRO) process to (1) streamline access to filing and legal assistance for petitioners, (2) revise evidentiary standards and required pleadings for emergency (ex parte) orders, and (3) modify the scope/duration of post-hearing (plenary) orders.

Key provisions

  • Court clerks / forms and assistance

    • Courts must provide simplified forms and clerical assistance to help unrepresented persons with filing a petition (assistance is limited to help with filing rather than drafting).
    • The State’s Attorney may also provide that clerical assistance.
    • Clerks must immediately notify the State’s Attorney when any firearms restraining order petition is filed.
    • If petitioners request it, the State’s Attorney has legal standing to represent them in filing pleadings or conducting hearings.

  • Filing fees and service

    • No fee may be charged by the clerk for filing/amending petitions or related services (issuance of alias summons, vacating, certifying, printing, photocopying); no fee for sheriff or law enforcement service related to these actions.

  • Pleading requirements

    • Requires petitions to be filed as a verified pleading (replacing prior language permitting an affidavit or verified pleading).

  • Notice to intimate partners

    • When the respondent allegedly poses danger to a specific intimate partner, petitioners must make a good-faith effort to notify those specific partner(s) and attest to the effort; if unable to notify, the verified pleading must describe efforts made.

  • Ex parte (emergency) orders and hearings

    • Emergency ex parte hearings must be held the same day the petition is filed or the first day the court is in session thereafter.
    • The court must consider specified evidence (e.g., unlawful/reckless firearm use/brandishing, history of violent threats/use, prior felony arrests, substance abuse, recent threats/acts of violence, violations of existing protection orders, and patterns of violent acts/threats).
    • Changes the burden of proof applied at ex parte proceedings from “probable cause” to a “preponderance of the evidence” standard (per the introduced synopsis/text changes).
    • If the court finds probable cause that the respondent possesses firearms/ammunition/parts, it may issue a search warrant (text truncated in source but provision is present).

  • Plenary orders

    • After a full hearing the bill provides for issuance of a plenary firearms restraining order (the introduced synopsis indicates this replaces a currently time-limited 6‑month order).

Who is affected

  • Petitioners (individuals seeking FROs), especially unrepresented petitioners — increased access to forms/clerical help and potential representation by the State’s Attorney.
  • Respondents subject to FRO petitions — changes in evidentiary standards and potential for different order durations.
  • Court clerks, State’s Attorneys, and law enforcement (new notification duties, assistance roles, fee prohibitions, and search-warrant procedures).
  • Intimate partners of respondents (new notice and attestation requirements).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 18, 2025; public hearing March 24, 2025; read and referred through multiple committees (Gun Violence Prevention; Public Education; Rules; Housing & Homelessness; Ways & Means). As of June 28, 2025, the bill is in committee upon adjournment.
  • Amends multiple sections of 430 ILCS 67 (Sections 10, 35, 40, 50, 60, 75, and 80).

If you want, I can produce a side-by-side of current law vs. the bill’s changes for each affected section.

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

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