IllinoisIllinois counties may provide law libraries and collect civil filing fees
County boards may provide law libraries with public legal help, funded in part by fees collected from parties who file civil cases.
What it does
County boards may establish law libraries, including branches, and offer self-help and legal assistance in person or online. Libraries generally must be open to the public when the courthouse is open, with a closure option for the largest counties.
Court clerks collect a $2 law library fee from each party's first filing in a civil case. If the county board authorizes it, clerks also collect a fee of up to $20; several types of cases are exempt.
Argument forPublic self-help and legal assistance at county law libraries could help people find legal information in person or online.
Argument againstPeople filing civil cases may pay a law library fee, which could make it harder for some people to afford filing.
More detail
County boards may establish and maintain law libraries, which may offer self-help and legal assistance. County boards may establish a library at the county seat and branches elsewhere in the county. Services may include self-help and other legal assistance on-site and online. Libraries must be freely available to the public when the courthouse is open, except that a library in a county with more than 2,000,000 people may close for operational needs or as the county board decides. Libraries generally must be available whenever the courthouse is open, subject to the closure option for counties with more than 2,000,000 people.
Court clerks collect law library fees in civil cases. The fees apply to the first filing by each party in a civil case in a county with a law library. No extra fee is required when multiple parties are represented in one filing. The county board may authorize a fee of up to $20 in addition to the $2 fee. No fee is charged in criminal or quasi-criminal cases, change-of-venue matters, or reviews of administrative decisions. Clerks begin collecting fees after receiving written notice that the county board has acted to establish and maintain a law library.
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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
- Aug 21Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0844Latest
- Aug 21Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Aug 21Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 29Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 31Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Concurrence, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- May 31Senate Concurs
- May 31House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
- May 29House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Local Government; 009-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Local Government
- May 28House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
- May 28House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Adriane L. JohnsonMinor
- May 22Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 25, 2026
- May 22Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
- May 21Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-000-000Passed House
- May 19Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 19Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 14Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Counties & Townships Committee; 009-000-000
- May 14House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Counties & Townships Committee; by Voice VoteMajor
- May 12House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Counties & Townships Committee
- May 7Committee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 15, 2026
- May 6House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- May 6House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kimberly Du BucletMinor
- Apr 27Assigned to Counties & Townships CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Referred to Rules Committee
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15First ReadingMinor
- Apr 15Chief House Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
- Apr 15Arrived in HouseMinor
- Apr 15Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000Passed Senate
- Feb 25Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading February 26, 2026
- Feb 25Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 19Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 24, 2026Minor
- Feb 19Do Pass Local Government; 009-002-000
- Feb 18
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Assigned to Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 2Referred to Assignments
- Feb 2First ReadingMinor
- Feb 2Filed with Secretary by Sen. Adriane L. JohnsonIntroduced
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