Illinois Senate Bill 3700

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Introduced on February 5 2026 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2026-02-05 - Referred to Assignments
Pending: Senate Assignments Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Abraham Lincoln Law. Amends the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003. Creates a cause of action against a person who, under color of any State law or rule or ordinance by a unit of local government deprives any citizen of this State or other person within the State's jurisdiction of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Illinois Constitution. Provides that it is not a defense to any action filed under the Act that, at the time of the deprivation: (i) the defendant was acting in good faith; (ii) the defendant believed, reasonably or otherwise, that the defendant's conduct was lawful; (iii) the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Illinois Constitution were not clearly established; (iv) the state of the law was such that the defendant could not reasonably have been expected to know whether the conduct was lawful; or (v) the defendant was acting in a prosecutorial or judicial capacity. Provides that in any proceeding under the Act in which a plaintiff's claim prevails, the defendant shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs, including fees incurred on an hourly or contingency basis, as well as by an attorney providing services pro bono. Provides that a plaintiff's claim shall be deemed to have prevailed if the plaintiff obtains any relief sought in the complaint, whether via judgment, settlement, or the defendant's voluntary action. Provides that if there is any conflict between the Act and any other law of this State, the amendatory Act controls.

CIVIL RIGHTS-REMEDIES

Sen. Graciela Guzman [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-02-05	Senate	Referred to Assignments
2026-02-05	Senate	First Reading
2026-02-05	Senate	Filed with Secretary by Sen. Graciela Guzmán

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
740	23	10	New Code	See Bill Text
740	23	5	Amended Code	Citation Text

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3700&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=166917&SessionID=114
Text	https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus/FullText?LegDocId=208263&DocName=10400SB3700&DocNum=3700&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=166917&GAID=18&SessionID=114&SpecSess=&Session=