IllinoisLaw limits recording courthouse victims and witnesses starting January 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, recording courthouse victims or witnesses requires allowed consent and compliance with court orders, with exceptions for security cameras and certain police recordings.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, knowingly recording someone known to be a victim or witness inside a courthouse requires allowed consent and compliance with court orders. Security cameras and certain police recordings are exempt.
Starting January 1, 2027, knowingly sharing images known to violate the courthouse recording rule is a Class 3 felony, a serious criminal offense. Higher penalties apply when the victim is under 18 or the offender must register as a sex offender.
Argument forLimits on recording and sharing courthouse images could protect victims and witnesses from unwanted public exposure.
Argument againstRequiring consent could make it harder for people to document courthouse events involving victims or witnesses, even outside courtrooms.
More detail
People may not knowingly record, photograph, livestream, or place a recording device to capture someone they know is a victim or witness inside a courthouse without allowed consent. Courthouses include local, county, and state facilities where court proceedings and court functions occur. Violations are Class A misdemeanors, a category of less serious criminal offenses. Consent may come from the person, the presiding judge, or the authority responsible for courthouse policing or security. It must follow court orders. A person's consent cannot override a court order banning recording. Courthouse security cameras, police body cameras, and otherwise lawful police recordings for criminal investigations are exempt. The rule does not override the Open Meetings Act. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.
People may not knowingly share, or allow others to share, images they know were recorded or transmitted in violation of the courthouse rule. The prohibition covers photos, recorded videos, and live images of victims or witnesses captured in violation of the courthouse rule. The offense becomes a Class 2 felony if the victim is under 18 or the person committing the offense must register as a sex offender. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 31Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0750Latest
- Jul 31Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Jul 31Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 18Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson
- May 22Passed Both Houses
- May 22Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 100-000-000Passed House
- May 21Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan
- May 21Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Kelly
- May 21Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner
- May 21Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
- May 19Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 19Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 15Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 14Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 013-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 070-036-000
- May 14Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Judiciary - Criminal Committee; Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
- May 14Committee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 15, 2026
- May 14Assigned to Judiciary - Criminal CommitteeMinor
- May 14Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
- May 14Referred to Rules Committee
- May 14First ReadingMinor
- May 14Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Mary Gill
- May 13Chief House Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Arrived in HouseMinor
- May 13Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason Plummer
- May 13Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)Minor
- May 13Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)Minor
- May 13Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000Passed Senate
- May 7Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 12, 2026
- May 7Second ReadingMinor
- May 6Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 3. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Do Pass as Amended Executive; 013-000-000
- May 6Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 AdoptedMajor
- May 5Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Executive
- May 4Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments
- May 4Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Laura M. MurphyMinor
- Apr 24Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
- Apr 16Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III
- Apr 15Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Executive
- Apr 14Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive
- Apr 14Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
- Apr 14Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Laura M. MurphyMinor
- Apr 8Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- Apr 8Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Laura M. MurphyMinor
- Mar 27Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 24, 2026
- Mar 13Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As March 27, 2026
- Mar 3Assigned to ExecutiveMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Assignments
- Feb 6First ReadingMinor
- Feb 6Filed with Secretary by Sen. Laura M. MurphyIntroduced
Criminal Justice