Bill
HB 2795
Defines 'conflict situation' for Illinois lawmakers, requires disclosure to OLIG, and lets OLIG and the Legislative Ethics Commission issue advisory opinions.
Status snapshot
- Introduced Feb 6–13, 2025 (filed by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness). Read first time 3/19/2025. Assigned to Rules; re-referred to Elections and Ethics & Elections committees. Multiple co‑sponsors added (most recently Rep. Lindsey LaPointe on 5/2/2025). Companion: SB 893.
- Note: the legislative text record supplied includes unrelated material from an Arizona HB 2795; this summary focuses on the Illinois Ethics Act changes clearly described in the Illinois portion of the bill.
Purpose and intent
- To strengthen disclosure and review procedures when Illinois legislators face potential conflicts of interest by (1) defining “conflict situation,” (2) requiring disclosure to the Office of the Legislative Inspector General (OLIG) upon discovery, and (3) directing OLIG and the Legislative Ethics Commission to review such notices and related legislation and to issue advisory opinions.
Key provisions
- New definition (in Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, amend §3-202): “conflict situation” means any circumstance that:
1. involves a legislator, the legislator’s immediate family, or a business in which either holds a direct or indirect economic interest;
2. is related to a specific matter pending before the legislator; and
3. may result in a private pecuniary benefit to the legislator, immediate family, or related business.
- Disclosure requirement: upon discovery of a conflict situation, the legislator must notify the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.
- Factors legislators should consider when deciding whether to eliminate an interest or abstain: independence of judgment, threat to abstention, effect on public confidence, likelihood of significant effect on the matter’s disposition, and need for the legislator’s particular expertise.
- Abstention/disclosure rules: a legislator may choose to participate despite a conflict if acting contrary to the economic interest; if a legislator does abstain, the legislator should disclose that abstention to their legislative body.
- OLIG duties (State Officials and Employees Ethics Act amendments): upon receiving a member’s conflict notice, the Legislative Inspector General shall examine the notice and each related bill that has been filed and approved for consideration, then either:
- provide an informal advisory opinion to the member; or
- refer the notice to the Legislative Ethics Commission for a formal advisory opinion and opportunity to respond.
- Legislative Ethics Commission duties: when a notice is referred by OLIG, the Commission must examine the notice and related bill(s), provide a formal advisory opinion, and give the member an opportunity to respond to OLIG.
Who is affected
- Primary: Illinois state legislators and their immediate family members.
- Secondary: businesses in which legislators or their immediate family hold direct or indirect economic interests, OLIG staff, and the Legislative Ethics Commission (additional workload and procedural obligations).
Procedural/timeline aspects
- Disclosure is required “upon discovery” of a conflict situation.
- OLIG must act on notices by issuing an informal opinion or referring to the Commission; the Commission must issue formal advisory opinions when referrals occur. (The bill text requires examination of “each bill that is related … and that has been filed and approved for consideration.”)
- The measure modifies Commission rulemaking, hearing, and outreach duties (including website posting of procedures and vacancies), and clarifies that allegations received by the Commission from persons other than OLIG are to be referred to OLIG.
Potential impacts
- Increases transparency and formalizes review of potential legislative conflicts of interest.
- Likely to produce more advisory opinions (informal and formal), creating added workload for OLIG and the Commission.
- Could deter participation in votes where pecuniary benefit is possible, or at least create clearer record of disclosure and Commission guidance.
- May slow certain bill processes if review of related conflict notices is required before action.
For further tracking
- Watch committee referrals (Rules; Elections; Ethics & Elections), any amendments clarifying timelines or enforcement, and action on companion SB 893.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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