McLean County Times

State Representative Dennis Tipsword and State Senator Chris Balkema have joined a legal challenge aimed at enforcing the Illinois Constitution's Third Reading Rule concerning Senate Bill 328. The lawsuit, filed in Sangamon County Court, seeks to address what they see as a breach of legislative procedure by the Democratic supermajorities in both the House and Senate.

Balkema emphasized his commitment to proper legislative processes: “As a new legislator, I came here to do things the right way — to listen, lead, and make life better for the people I represent. That starts with respecting the law and making sure every bill gets a fair and open debate.” He criticized SB 328 as "a bad bill that could open the door to abusive lawsuits" and expressed concern over its potential impact on job creators and working families in Illinois.

Rep. Tipsword echoed these sentiments, highlighting procedural concerns during the spring session: “The Democrats’ rule-breaking procedures during the spring session had no limits. It was egregious and included zero transparency.”

The Third Reading Rule is intended to ensure public transparency by requiring bills to be read three times on separate days before final passage. The Republicans argue that this process was not followed for SB 328, which they claim poses significant risks by facilitating frivolous lawsuits that could hinder business growth in Illinois.

The lawsuit underscores Republican concerns about adherence to constitutional guidelines within legislative practices, emphasizing their stance on maintaining transparency and procedural integrity.