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SB 1565

TRUTH IN POLITICS ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Edly-Allen

IL SB 1565 bans knowingly/recklessly false campaign statements aimed to sway votes, imposes civil injunctions and criminal penalties, and requires truthful campaign disclosures.

Referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 1565

Summary — SB 1565: Truth in Politics Act (Introduced Feb 24, 2025)

Status: Referred to Assignments (Introduced)
Effective date (as written): February 1, 2026
Jurisdiction: Illinois (amendments to the Illinois Election Code)

Purpose / intent

The bill, titled the Truth in Politics Act, is intended to reduce misinformation in political campaigns, promote honesty and civility in campaign communications, and provide civil and criminal remedies for knowingly or recklessly false campaign statements or deceptive campaign practices.

Key provisions

  • Legislative findings

    • Declares that misinformation and manipulative communications have distorted public debate and suppressed civic engagement; asserts a public interest in truthful campaign communications.

  • New prohibitions added to the Election Code

    • False statements to affect a vote (new Sec. 29‑1.1): Prohibits any person (including candidates, parties, PACs, committees, corporations, labor organizations) from intentionally or recklessly making, publishing, broadcasting, or circulating statements designed to affect a vote that are false. Violations may be enjoined; proof required by clear and convincing evidence.
    • Unlawful attempts to affect campaign outcomes (new Sec. 29‑1.2 / 29‑20.1 etc.): Prohibits (among other acts) covertly placing agents in another candidate’s campaign organization, offering valuable benefits to influence campaign employees/agents to improperly discharge duties, and intentionally or recklessly making materially false statements about a candidate’s education, credentials, employment history, criminal conduct, or voting record to affect a campaign.
    • Distribution of materials misleading about incumbency status and libel/defamation in political advertising are addressed (text indicates creation of specific prohibitions but portions are truncated in the provided text).

  • Enforcement and penalties

    • Civil injunctions: Specified plaintiffs (e.g., registered voters who signed a petition related to the public question, affected candidates, certain board members, or legislators for certain public questions) may seek injunctions against prohibited statements or acts.
    • Burden of proof for civil relief: clear and convincing evidence.
    • Criminal penalties: Violations are classified as Class A misdemeanors.

  • Changes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices (amendments to Fair Campaign Practices Article)

    • Signing and filing: Candidates and chairs of political committees are required (rather than permitted) to sign and file the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
    • Mandatory disclosure on campaign materials: Every candidate must include on all campaign literature and advertising the statement: "I am a candidate for (specify office), and I support the accuracy of this message."
    • Penalties: Provides penalties for failing to timely file the signed Code and for violations of the Code or other related provisions.

Who is affected

  • Candidates for public office, political committees (including PACs), parties, campaign staff and agents, and organizations involved in campaign communications.
  • Voters and civic actors who may bring enforcement actions in specified circumstances.
  • Broadcasters and platforms are referenced in findings but the bill’s prohibitions apply to persons and organizations making or distributing false campaign statements.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 24, 2025; referred to Assignments. Effective date in the bill: February 1, 2026.
  • Provided bill text was partially truncated; additional details (e.g., complete lists of prohibited false statements, enforcement procedures, and any civil damages remedies) may appear in the full bill text.

Note: The provided document package included unrelated materials from other jurisdictions with the same bill number; this summary focuses on the Illinois "Truth in Politics Act" content as introduced.

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

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