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SB 1177

Relating to use of surplus revenues for wildfire funding; declaring an emergency; providing for revenue estimate modification that requires approval by a two-thirds majority.

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

The bill standardizes term lengths and compensation for Court of Claims judges, expands remote/electronic procedures, and extends crime victims’ filing window to 5 years.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 1177

SB 1177 — Court of Claims: terms, fees, rules (Summary)

Status: Introduced Feb 7, 2025; passed both chambers and signed by the Governor — effective Sept 1, 2025. (Document contains multiple inserted texts from other states; summary below focuses on the Court of Claims amendments that form the substantive text of SB 1177.)

Main purpose

Amend the Court of Claims Act to (1) standardize judges’ terms, (2) allow modern remote procedures, (3) grant the court rulemaking authority over filing formats and fees, and (4) extend the filing deadline for certain crime‑victim related claims.

Key provisions

  • Judges’ terms (705 ILCS 505/2)

    • Successor judges appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent will hold office for six‑year terms and until successors are appointed and qualified.

  • Judicial compensation (705 ILCS 505/4)

    • Each judge’s annual salary is set by the Compensation Review Board (text preserves that board set salary “or as set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is greater”).

  • Remote sessions and evidence (705 ILCS 505/6; 505/13)

    • The court may hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite its business.
    • Any judge or commissioner may sit or take evidence remotely.

  • Administrative rules; electronic processes (705 ILCS 505/9)

    • Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules providing for:
    • Remote or electronic filing of claims and motions;
    • Remote participation in proceedings in any capacity;
    • Remote taking of evidence or testimony;
    • Remote payment of fees and conducting other court business.

  • Filing fees and fee rules (705 ILCS 505/21)

    • Reaffirms the court’s authority to set uniform filing fees by rule (historical amounts referenced: $15 for claims > $50 and < $1,000; $35 for claims ≥ $1,000) and to prescribe fees for copies of documents.
    • States the court may determine the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges by administrative rule.
    • Carves out categories for which no filing fee is required (e.g., certain claims based on lapsed appropriations, specific compensation acts, and medical vendor claims).

  • Statute of limitations for certain crime‑based claims (705 ILCS 505/22)

    • Changes the filing deadline for claims arising under the Crime Victims Compensation Act from 1 year to 5 years (i.e., claims must be filed within 5 years of the crime).

Who is affected

  • Claimants bringing suits against the State (including victims seeking compensation) — longer filing window for crime victims.
  • Court of Claims judges (term length and salary-setting procedure).
  • Attorneys and litigants — increased use of and reliance on remote procedures and electronic filing; potential changes in filing costs as rules are adopted.
  • Administrative staff and court IT/operations — implementation of remote hearing systems, e‑filing, and rule administration.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Bill text amends multiple sections of the Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505/2, /4, /6, /9, /13, /21, /22).
  • Legislative history provided shows readings, committee actions, passage, gubernatorial signing, and an effective date of September 1, 2025.
  • A companion bill is noted as HB 4685.

Potential impacts and observations

  • Modernizes Court of Claims procedures (remote hearings, e‑filing) — could improve access and speed but will require technology, rule development, and safeguards for fair evidentiary handling.
  • Extending the filing period to 5 years for crime‑based claims may allow more victims to seek relief but could affect evidentiary availability and state exposure to older claims.
  • Shifting salary-setting to the Compensation Review Board aligns judicial pay with centralized review; fee‑setting by rule gives the court flexibility to adjust costs to litigants.

Note: The bill packet included unrelated text excerpts (e.g., a Hawaii search-and-rescue draft and Arizona rent‑regulation repeal language). Those appear to be insertion artifacts and are not part of the Court of Claims amendments summarized above.

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

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