# Illinois SB1181: PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION

Illinois SB1181, PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Steve Stadelman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-08-21 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0431) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1181-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB1181
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-24
- Last action: 2025-08-21, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0431
- Sponsor: Steve Stadelman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: assignments, judiciary, judiciary - civil
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (220 yes, 57 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Applies the Act to a civil cause of action, including an action in federal court under its supplemental or diversity jurisdiction, against a person based on the person's: (i) communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (ii) communication on an issue under consideration or review in any of these proceedings; or (iii) exercise of a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution on a matter of public concern. Provides that the Act does not apply to a cause of action asserted: (i) against a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting or purporting to act in an official capacity; (ii) by a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (iii) against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the person's sale or lease of the goods or services. Creates a procedure for a special motion for expedited relief for a party being sued for issues covered by the Act to dismiss or strike the action in whole or in part within 60 days of being sued. Requires the court to rule on a special motion for expedited relief within 60 days after a hearing, and the court must conduct a hearing not later than 60 days after the filing of such a motion unless it continues it for discovery under the Act or for other good cause. Makes other changes. Makes a conforming change in the Citizen Participation Act. Effective immediately.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Legal fee recovery in speech lawsuits: benefit, low. These fee rules apply to Illinois cases started on or after January 1, 2026. Courts must award reasonable legal fees and costs to a party who wins a motion seeking the law’s speech protections. A party who defeats that motion must also receive reasonable fees and costs if the court finds abuse. The…
- Stronger lawsuit protections for public expression: benefit, low. For Illinois cases started on or after January 1, 2026, the law broadens protections against lawsuits targeting public expression. It covers petitioning, speech, association, government participation, and press activity, including reporting, investigating, and opinions on public concerns. Protectio…
- Speech protection motions pause court cases: mixed, low. For Illinois cases started on or after January 1, 2026, filing a speech-protection motion pauses proceedings between the opposing parties. This includes discovery, pending hearings, and motions. The pause generally lasts through the ruling and appeal deadline; an appeal pauses proceedings between a…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Steve Stadelman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel Didech (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tracy Katz Muhl (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-31 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs | pass | 47 | 10 |   |
| 2025-05-28 | Senate | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary; | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-05-22 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 75 | 38 |   |
| 2025-05-07 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee; | pass | 13 | 4 |   |
| 2025-05-07 | House | Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; | pass | 13 | 4 |   |
| 2025-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 55 | 1 |   |
| 2025-03-19 | Senate | Do Pass as Amended Judiciary; | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (50)

- 2025-08-21: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0431 (Senate)
- 2025-08-21: Effective Date August 21, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-08-21: Governor Approved (Senate)
- 2025-06-27: Sent to the Governor (Senate)
- 2025-05-31: Passed Both Houses (Senate)
- 2025-05-31: Senate Concurs (Senate)
- 2025-05-31: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 047-010-000 (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary; 008-000-000 (Senate)
- 2025-05-27: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2025-05-27: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-05-27: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Steve Stadelman (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 26, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 075-038-000 (House)
- 2025-05-22: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-05-21: Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl (House)
- 2025-05-21: Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House)
- 2025-05-16: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-05-16: Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-05-12: Alternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl (House)
- 2025-05-12: Alternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House)
- 2025-05-12: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl (House)
- 2025-05-12: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House)
- 2025-05-07: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-05-07: Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-004-000 (House)
- 2025-05-07: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-004-000 (House)
- 2025-05-06: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee (House)
- 2025-05-01: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-05-01: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech (House)
- 2025-04-17: Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee (House)
- 2025-04-11: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-04-11: First Reading (House)
- 2025-04-10: Chief House Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech (House)
- 2025-04-10: Arrived in House (House)
- 2025-04-10: Third Reading - Passed; 055-001-000 (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 1, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Second Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Do Pass as Amended Judiciary; 009-000-000 (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8(b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Assigned to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: First Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Filed with Secretary by Sen. Steve Stadelman (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181enr.pdf)
- House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181ham001.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181.pdf)
- Senate Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181sam001.pdf)
- Senate Amendment 2: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181sam002.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181enr.pdf)
- [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181ham001.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181.pdf)
- [Senate Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181sam001.pdf)
- [Senate Amendment 2 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1181sam002.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1181-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).