McLean County Times

Dennis Tipsword introduced HB4000 in the Illinois House on Feb. 27, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to school resource officers, undercover or covert officers, or officers that are employed in an administrative capacity, except when undercover or covert officers are conducting interviews. Provides that a law enforcement officer is "in uniform" only when primarily assigned to respond to law enforcement-related encounters or activities. Adds a definition for "no expectation of privacy". Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, an officer no longer needs to provide notice of recording to a person that has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Removes provisions prohibiting officers from viewing recordings prior to completing a report. Modifies exceptions to destruction of camera recordings if a recording has been flagged and when recordings may be used to discipline law enforcement officers. Provides that recordings are only subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act when a recording is flagged due to the filing of a complaint, discharge of a firearm, use of force, arrest or detention, or resulting death or bodily harm and the subject of the encounter has a reasonable expectation of privacy at the time of the recording (removing other exceptions). Provides that only the subject of the recording or the subject's legal representative may obtain the portion of the recording containing the subject if the subject or legal representative provides written authorization to release the video. Makes other changes. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and Freedom of Information Act making conforming changes. Amends the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act. Removes a requirement to include criminal and other violations and civil proceedings in which the cameras were used in reports that must be provided by a law enforcement agency receiving a grant for in-car video cameras or for officer-worn body cameras. Further amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also obstructs justice when, with intent to prevent the apprehension or obstruct the prosecution or defense of any person, he or she knowingly takes a body camera or any part of a body camera from a person known to be a peace officer. Provides that a violation is either a Class 1 felony or Class 2 felony."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill revises the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, including exemptions for certain officers such as school resource officers, undercover, and administrative officers, except during interviews. It clarifies when an officer is considered "in uniform" and adds a definition for "no expectation of privacy." Effective Jan. 1, 2027, officers are not required to notify individuals when recording if they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It revises rules on destroying recordings, viewing footage before reports, and the circumstances under which recordings are disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, allowing only the subject or their representative to access footage with written consent. The amendment also changes the Criminal Code, making unauthorized possession of a body camera from a peace officer an obstruction of justice and classifying it as a Class 1 or 2 felony depending on resulting harm. Further, it adjusts the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act, removing certain reporting requirements for agencies.

Dennis Tipsword has proposed another five bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Tipsword graduated from Western Illinois University with a BS.

Dennis Tipsword Jr. is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 105th House District. He replaced previous state representative Dan Brady in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB4000	02/27/2025	Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to school resource officers, undercover or covert officers, or officers that are employed in an administrative capacity, except when undercover or covert officers are conducting interviews. Provides that a law enforcement officer is "in uniform" only when primarily assigned to respond to law enforcement-related encounters or activities. Adds a definition for "no expectation of privacy". Provides that, on and after January 1, 2027, an officer no longer needs to provide notice of recording to a person that has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Removes provisions prohibiting officers from viewing recordings prior to completing a report. Modifies exceptions to destruction of camera recordings if a recording has been flagged and when recordings may be used to discipline law enforcement officers. Provides that recordings are only subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act when a recording is flagged due to the filing of a complaint, discharge of a firearm, use of force, arrest or detention, or resulting death or bodily harm and the subject of the encounter has a reasonable expectation of privacy at the time of the recording (removing other exceptions). Provides that only the subject of the recording or the subject's legal representative may obtain the portion of the recording containing the subject if the subject or legal representative provides written authorization to release the video. Makes other changes. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and Freedom of Information Act making conforming changes. Amends the Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act. Removes a requirement to include criminal and other violations and civil proceedings in which the cameras were used in reports that must be provided by a law enforcement agency receiving a grant for in-car video cameras or for officer-worn body cameras. Further amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also obstructs justice when, with intent to prevent the apprehension or obstruct the prosecution or defense of any person, he or she knowingly takes a body camera or any part of a body camera from a person known to be a peace officer. Provides that a violation is either a Class 1 felony or Class 2 felony.
HB4001	02/27/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that, if a person is arrested in any county and the prosecutor files criminal charges based on that arrest and warrants for arrest issued by any other Illinois county exist for that person, then the court in the arresting county shall first hold, for that person, a detention hearing or other conditions of release hearing for the newly filed charges. Provides that, if a person has a warrant in another county for an offense, then, no later than 5 calendar days after the end of any detention issued on the charge in the arresting county, the county in which the warrant is outstanding may authorize the person's release from custody pursuant to a notice to appear in court in the issuing county on a date and time provided by the court in the issuing county. Makes other changes.
HB4004	02/27/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that if a person has a warrant in another county for an offense, then, no later than 5 calendar days after the end of any detention issued on the charge in the arresting county, the county where the warrant is issued shall arrange for the transport of the person to the county where the warrant was issued for a pretrial release hearing (rather than the county where the warrant is outstanding shall do one of the following: (1) transport the person to the county where the warrant was issued; or (2) quash the warrant and order the person released on the case for which the warrant was issued only when the county that issued the warrant fails to transport the defendant in the timeline as proscribed). Provides that the arresting county is not required to transport the person to the county that issued the warrant.
HB4005	02/27/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that each member of the General Assembly shall, on an annual basis, participate in a law enforcement educational program, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, a ride-along program and a simulation training program, as organized by a county sheriff's department of that member's legislative district or representative district.
HB1740	01/24/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, if a request for public records for officer-worn body camera recorded audio or video is received by a public body, the public body shall either comply with or deny the request within 15 business days (rather than 5 days) after its receipt of the request. Allows an extension to the time to respond to a request for officer-worn body camera recorded audio or video to 15 business days (rather than 5 business days).
HB1741	01/24/2025	Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include a part-time employee as defined in the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
HB1742	01/24/2025	Amends the Election Code. Requires Voters Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable photo ID. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning the receipt of vote by mail ballots, provides that an election authority shall appoint panels as needed of 3 election judges from the list of election judges submitted by the county parties to compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of the vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. Provides the procedure for verifying or rejecting the signature. Provides that if a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election authority shall notify the voter within 2 days after the rejection or within one day if the rejection occurs after election day and in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. Allows a voter to submit a statement confirming the vote if the signature was rejected. Allows a voter to cast a new ballot if the vote by mail ballot was rejected because the envelope was delivered opened.
HB1743	01/24/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 concerning a defendant's commitment for mental health treatment. Provides that if the Department of Human Services does not provide placement within the 20 days of transmittal from the circuit court clerk, the Department shall provide payment to the sheriff, as prescribed by the sheriff, including, but not limited to, housing and mental health services for each day after 20 days have passed from the time the defendant was first placed in the sheriff's custody. Provides that the sheriff shall not be held liable for any issues encountered after the 20th day the defendant remains in his or her care. Deletes provision that Department shall admit the defendant to a secure facility within 60 days of the transmittal of the court's placement order, unless the Department can demonstrate good faith efforts at placement and a lack of bed and placement availability. Deletes if placement cannot be made within 60 days of the transmittal of the court's placement order and the Department has demonstrated good faith efforts at placement and a lack of bed and placement availability, the Department shall provide an update to the ordering court every 30 days until the defendant is placed.
HB1583	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that that the provisions concerning the unlawful use of weapons as those provisions pertain to firearms do not apply to or affect the carrying or possession of firearms by a qualified current or retired law enforcement officer qualified under the laws of the State or under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act in specified properties, including schools. Effective immediately.