Bill Text: IL HB4963 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Access to Justice Act. Creates the Remote Filing Task Force of 17 members. Creates an appointment process. Provides that the Task Force shall research and evaluate the existing ability of litigants to file court documents remotely across Illinois, including (1) identifying barriers for pro se litigants, people with a primary language other than English, people in crisis, people with disabilities, and people with low-literacy; (2) research and evaluate approaches to address any barriers identified by the Task Force to increase access and usability to remote filing for all Illinoisans; and (3) make recommendations to reduce barriers for litigants to remotely file court documents and improve access and usability of remote filing statewide. Requires that the Task Force submit a report containing its findings and any recommendations to the Supreme Court and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on October 2, 2027. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-03-27 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4963 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4963-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4963 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
705 ILCS 95/50 new
Amends the Access to Justice Act. Creates the Remote Filing Task Force of 17 members. Creates an appointment process. Provides that the Task Force shall research and evaluate the existing ability of litigants to file court documents remotely across Illinois, including (1) identifying barriers for pro se litigants, people with a primary language other than English, people in crisis, people with disabilities, and people with low-literacy; (2) research and evaluate approaches to address any barriers identified by the Task Force to increase access and usability to remote filing for all Illinoisans; and (3) make recommendations to reduce barriers for litigants to remotely file court documents and improve access and usability of remote filing statewide. Requires that the Task Force submit a report containing its findings and any recommendations to the Supreme Court and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on October 2, 2027. Effective immediately.
LRB104 18276 JRC 31716 b
A BILL FOR
HB4963 LRB104 18276 JRC 31716 b
AN ACT concerning courts.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Access to Justice Act is amended by adding
Section 50 as follows:
(705 ILCS 95/50 new)
Sec. 50. Remote Court Filing Task Force.
(a) The purpose of the Remote Court Filing Task Force is to
help ensure electronic or other remote means of filing court
documents are user-friendly and accessible to all Illinoisans,
including individuals who appear pro se. The Task Force shall
pay special attention to the need for remote means of filing in
times of emergency.
(b) The Task Force shall:
(1) research and evaluate the existing ability of
litigants to file court documents remotely across
Illinois, including identifying barriers for pro se
litigants, people with a primary language other than
English, people in crisis, people with disabilities, and
people with low-literacy;
(2) research and evaluate approaches to address any
barriers identified by the Task Force to increase access
and usability for remote filing for all Illinoisans; and

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(3) make recommendations to reduce barriers for
litigants to remotely file court documents and improve
access and usability of remote filing statewide.
(c) The Remote Filing Task Force is created. The Task
Force shall be composed of 17 members appointed as follows:
(1) one member of the Illinois Senate, appointed by
the President of the Senate;
(2) one member of the Illinois Senate, appointed by
the Senate Minority Leader;
(3) one member of the Illinois House of
Representatives, appointed by the Speaker;
(4) one member of the Illinois House of
Representatives, appointed by the House Minority Leader;
(5) a representative from the Office of the Governor,
appointed by the Governor;
(6) a representative of the Supreme Court appointed by
the Supreme Court;
(7) 10 members appointed by the Supreme Court,
including:
(A) a representative of an association that
represents attorneys statewide;
(B) a representative of an association that
represents attorneys of a county with a population of
more than 5,000,000 people;
(C) a representative of a legal aid organization
serving people experiencing poverty serving a

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community of over 5,000,000 people;
(D) a representative of a legal aid organization
serving people experiencing poverty with a service
area of multiple counties;
(E) 2 representatives of a statewide association
representing court clerks;
(F) a current or retired State court judge;
(G) a representative of a domestic violence
partner organization of direct service providers that
administers the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline;
(H) a representative of an organization that
advocates on behalf of people with disabilities; and
(I) a representative of an organization that
advocates on behalf of immigrant families.
(d) Members must be adult residents of Illinois and serve
without compensation.
(e) Appointments shall be made 30 days from the effective
date of this Act.
(f) The Task Force shall elect co-chairs from its
membership who have the authority to determine meeting
schedules, hearing schedules, and agendas.
(g) The circuit court clerks shall provide any relevant
data requested to the Task Force related to its duties.
(h) The Task Force shall submit a report containing its
findings and any recommendations to the Supreme Court and the
General Assembly by October 1, 2027.

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(i) At the direction of the Supreme Court, the
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall provide
administrative support to the Task Force including providing
requested data. The Administrative Office of the Illinois
Courts may collaborate with any member of the Task Force or the
organization that the member represents to help provide any
necessary staff support.
(j) Dissolution of Task Force. The Task Force is dissolved
on October 2, 2027.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.