McHenry Times

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) has filed House Bill 2124, aimed at tracking and maintaining constituent witness slips filed on actively discussed and debated legislation, according to a press release published by McLaughlin on Monday.

“My legislation amends the Legislative Information System to provide electronic tracking of all witness slips to follow along with the legislation for which it was filed – whether the committee hearing date for the bill is changed, or if such legislation is removed and placed on another House or Senate bill," McLaughlin wrote in the release. “During the last General Assembly session, we saw tens of thousands of constituents file witness slips in support or opposition of many controversial bills, only to see the witness slip count reset to zero if the hearing dates were changed.”

“Also, we have watched as the language of one legislative idea is placed on a new 'vehicle bill' using a different number (and usually on a completely unrelated topic) through the amendment process. This currently leaves all the witness slips from the original bill behind, as the new legislative vehicle bill becomes the legislative proposal," McLaughlin continued. "The process of removing legislation from one bill to another is done for many reasons, but the most common use by the Democrats in the majority is to waive the reading requirements on controversial bills, leaving the public and Republican legislators without any time to react."

“My bill will ensure all witness slips filed in the General Assembly concerning proposed legislation during the committee hearing process shall track along with the legislation for which it was filed, so that the voices of our constituents are fully heard. This is a straightforward proposal which puts the interests of our constituents at the forefront and promotes the utmost transparency," McLaughlin concluded.

McLaughlin was first elected to represent Illinois' 52nd district in 2021, with his current term set to run through January 2025. He also serves as a member of the House Judiciary - Civil Committee, the Prescription Drug Affordability & Accessibility Committee, and the Ethics and Elections Committee.