By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In a Friday announcement of the status of 269 bills, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation which led opponents to call Illinois a “Lawsuit Inferno.” He vetoed two other measures.

Senate Bill 328, sponsored by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, expands jurisdiction for claims alleging injury or illness resulting from exposure to toxic substances.

Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said the governor gave in to special interests.

“I am deeply disappointed that Gov. Pritzker ignored our calls to join the Governor of New York in vetoing this special interest legislation that will further deter businesses from investing in Illinois. Under Gov. Pritzker, Illinois is a bottom five state in the nation for economic growth and job creation because of bad business policies like SB 328,” Curran said in a statement.

From 2022 to 2025, Harmon received $75,000 in campaign donations from the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s political-action committee.

Phil Melin of Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse told The Center Square last month that SB 328 would open Illinois courts to cases with out-of-state plaintiffs and defendants.

The American Tort Reform Association’s Legislative HeatCheck Report released last month gave Illinois the “inferno” designation after the General Assembly passed the measure.

With the governor’s signature, SB 328 takes effect immediately.

On Friday, Pritzker vetoed two of the 269 bills he acted on.

House Bill 2682, sponsored by state Rep. Lilian Jiménez, D-Chicago, aimed to streamline Family Violence Option screening into the standard Temporary Assistance for Needy Families application process and increased crisis assistance benefits. Pritzker noted that identical language was included in the fiscal year 2026 Budget Implementation Act but included a different effective date.

“To avoid any confusion or dispute regarding when the Department’s authority and duties under the amendatory language become effective, I agree with the bill’s sponsors and its advocates that the best course of action is to veto House Bill 2682,” the governor noted in his veto message.

Pritzker also vetoed Senate Bill 246, which he said was designed to allow the Illinois Treasurer to create a non-profit investment pool and an electronic payment processing program to benefit non-profit organizations.

“Though SB 246 is well-intended and might benefit non-profits whose missions advance interests the state desires to promote, it would unfortunately also allow Illinois’ financial investments to be used to benefit fringe and extremist groups. I cannot sign a bill that unintentionally allows extremist groups to advance their hateful missions by exploiting state services and resources,” the governor wrote in his veto message.

Pritzker signed House Bill 3756, which creates “an Easy Enrollment process” to the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange by allowing a special enrollment period for uninsured taxpayers who voluntarily seek health insurance information through their tax forms.

The governor also signed House Bill 1226, which raises the minimum age that drivers in Illinois are required to take annual driving tests from 75 to 79. HB 1226 takes effect July 1, 2026.

Among the other bills signed by Pritzker on Friday is House Bill 1316, which requires a school official to notify the office of the principal if they become aware of a person in possession of a firearm on school grounds or become aware of any threats of gun violence on school grounds. With Pritzker’s signature, the measure takes effect immediately.

House Bill 1710 requires detailed quarterly reporting from the Illinois State Police on the progress of violent crime investigations.

House Bill 2462, known as “Dillon’s Law,” allows any individual who undergoes required training to carry and administer epinephrine to individuals experiencing anaphylaxis.

House Bill 2574 requires the State Board of Education report information for each student assessment contract it enters on its website and engage with stakeholder groups to improve transparency around assessment contracts.

House Bill 2602 eliminates the statute of limitations for criminal cases of involuntary servitude or human trafficking.

House Bill 3000 requires employee IDs at school districts include the contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline.

House Bill 3026 requires the State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts interested in establishing or expanding dual language education programs.

House Bill 1787 requires school districts train all substitute teachers in evacuation and lockdown drills.

Senate Bill 405 requires school counseling services under the School Code be provided regardless of citizenship status.

House Bill 1302 amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to enhance victim rights and reporting procedures for criminal sexual assault and domestic violence cases.

Effective January 1, 2026, House Bill 1365 enables mental health profession applicants to practice while awaiting licensure.

Read about other measures announced enacted into law Friday at the governor’s website.

Greg Bishop contributed to this report.