Illinois2026Active

HB0031

Rules for Automated Public Record Requests

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 10:00 AM

In one sentence

This bill changes Illinois law to define how government agencies must handle requests they believe were written with AI help or sent without human action.

Defines an 'automated request' as one a public body reasonably believes was drafted using artificial intelligence or submitted without specific, affirmative human action.
Requires public bodies to respond to automated requests within five business days and provide notice to the requester.
Provides procedures for requesters to dispute having their request treated as automated.
Allows public bodies to charge fees for searching, reviewing, and copying records related to automated requests.
Applies rules regarding commercial purpose requests and voluminous requests to automated requests.

Public agencies in Illinois including state departments, counties, cities, school districts, and other government bodies covered by the Freedom of Information Act.
People whose public record requests are treated as automated because they were drafted with AI or sent without human action.

The law relies on a public body's 'reasonable belief' to decide if AI was used or human action occurred.
People whose requests are treated as automated generally cannot ask the Public Access Counselor for review, except in certain exceptions not fully detailed here.

Plain language

Automated request: A request for public records that a government agency reasonably believes was created using artificial intelligence or submitted without specific, affirmative human action.
Public body: Legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities, villages, school districts, and other municipal corporations in Illinois.

Official record

Source attached

OMA-AUTOMATED REQUEST