JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN REFORM

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0143

Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new
35 ILCS 5/506.7 new
35 ILCS 5/509

from Ch. 120, par. 5-509

Creates the Judicial Campaign Reform Act. Creates a voluntary program
of public financing of election campaigns for the offices of judges of the
Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court, administered by the State
Board of Elections. Establishes funding mechanisms, terms of
participation, and a process for the certification of candidates. Sets
mandatory contribution limits with respect to all judicial election
campaigns. Provides for penalties for violations of the Act. Makes other
changes. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Judicial
Election Democracy Trust Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make
conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
LRB104 06845 SPS 16881 b

A BILL FOR

SB0143
LRB104 06845 SPS 16881 b
1

AN ACT concerning elections.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 1.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
5
Judicial Campaign Reform Act.

6

Section 5.
Definitions.
In this Act:
7

"Allowable contribution" means a qualifying contribution,
8
a seed money contribution, or a personal contribution
9
authorized by this Act.
10

"Candidate" means any person seeking election to the
11
office of Judge of the Supreme Court or Judge of the Appellate
12
Court.
13

"Campaign" includes the primary election campaign period
14
and the general election campaign period.
15

"Clean judicial race" means an election in which all
16
candidates are eligible candidates who will receive a public
17
financing benefit under this Act.
18

"General election campaign period" means the period
19
beginning on the day after the general primary election and
20
ending on the day of the general election.
21

"Electioneering communication expenditure" means an
22
expenditure for electioneering communications as that term is
23
defined in Article 9 of the Election Code.

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"Eligible candidate" means a candidate who qualifies for
2
public financing by collecting the required number of
3
qualifying contributions, making all required reports and
4
disclosures, and being certified by the State Board of
5
Elections as being in compliance with this Act.
6

"Excess qualifying contribution amount" means the amount
7
of qualifying contributions accepted by a candidate that
8
exceeds the dollar amount of contributions required to qualify
9
a candidate for a public financing benefit.
10

"Exploratory period" means the period that begins one year
11
before the general primary election date and ends on the day
12
before the beginning of the primary election campaign.
13

"Fair election debit card" means a debit card issued by
14
the State Treasurer in accordance with Section 65 entitling a
15
candidate and agents of the candidate designated by the
16
candidate to draw money from an account maintained by the
17
State Treasurer to make expenditures authorized by law.
18

"Fund" means the Illinois Judicial Election Democracy
19
Trust Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury for
20
use, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of Elections
21
for the funding of campaigns for eligible candidates.
22

"Immediate family", when used with reference to a
23
candidate, includes the candidate's spouse, parents, and
24
children.
25

"Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person
26
expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly

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1
identified candidate that is made without cooperation or
2
consultation with a candidate, or any political committee or
3
agent of a candidate, and that is not made in concert with, or
4
at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any
5
political committee or agent of a candidate.
6

"Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate who does
7
not apply for a public financing benefit or who otherwise is
8
ineligible or fails to qualify for a public financing benefit
9
under this Act.
10

"Personal funds" means funds contributed by a candidate or
11
a member of a candidate's immediate family.
12

"Primary election campaign period" means the period that
13
begins 30 days after the last day prescribed by law for filing
14
nomination papers and ends on the day of the general primary
15
election.
16

"Public financing qualifying period" means the period
17
beginning on July 1 of an odd-numbered year and ending on the
18
day before the beginning of the primary election campaign
19
period for the office of Judge of the Supreme Court or Judge of
20
the Appellate Court.
21

"Qualifying contribution" means a contribution made during
22
the public financing qualifying period that is between $5 and
23
$100, and that is made, to a candidate, by an individual who is
24
at least 18 years old and resides in the district in which the
25
candidate seeks office, and that is acknowledged by written
26
receipt identifying the contributor.

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"Qualifying report" means a list of all individual
2
qualifying contributions.
3

"Seed money contribution" means (1) a contribution in an
4
amount not more than $1,000 made to a candidate during the
5
exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period
6
or (2) a contribution made to a candidate during the
7
exploratory period or the public financing qualifying period
8
consisting of personal funds of the candidate in an amount not
9
more than the amount authorized under Section 20.
10

"State Board" means the State Board of Elections.

11

Section 10.
Alternative judicial campaign financing
12
option.
There is established an alternative campaign financing
13
option available to candidates running for office of Judge of
14
the Supreme Court or Judge of the Appellate Court. This
15
alternative campaign financing option is available to
16
candidates for elections to be held beginning in the year
17
2027. The State Board shall administer this Act and the Fund.
18
Candidates receiving public financing benefits under this Act
19
shall also comply with all other applicable election and
20
campaign laws, rules, and regulations.

21

Section 15.
The Illinois Judicial Election Democracy Trust
22
Fund.
23

(a) The Illinois Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund is
24
established as a special fund in the State treasury to finance

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1
the election campaigns of eligible candidates running for
2
office of Judge of the Supreme Court or Judge of the Appellate
3
Court and to pay administrative and enforcement costs of the
4
State Board related to this Act. Any interest generated by the
5
Fund is credited to the Fund. The State Board shall administer
6
the Fund.
7

(b) The following shall be deposited into the Fund:
8

(1) At the direction of the State Board, the
9

Comptroller shall direct and the Treasurer shall transfer
10

$40,000,000 of the revenues from the taxes imposed by the
11

Illinois Income Tax Act and credited to the General
12

Revenue Fund, transferred to the Fund by the State
13

Treasurer on or before January 1 of each year, beginning
14

January 1, 2026. If the State Board determines that the
15

Fund will not have sufficient revenues to cover the likely
16

demand for funds from the Fund in an upcoming calendar
17

year, by January 1 the State Board shall provide a report
18

of its projections of the balances in the Fund to the
19

General Assembly and the Governor and may request that the
20

State Treasurer make the following transfers to the Fund
21

from the General Revenue Fund:
22

(A) Up to $20,000,000, no later than February 28,
23

2026, reflecting an advance of the transfer of the
24

amounts that would be received on or before January 1,
25

2027 under this paragraph.
26

(B) Up to $15,000,000, no later than July 31,

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2026, reflecting an advance of the transfer of the
2

amounts that would be received on or before January 1,
3

2027 under this paragraph.
4

(C) Up to $5,000,000, no later than September 1,
5

2028, reflecting a partial advance of the transfer of
6

the amounts that would be received on or before
7

January 1, 2029 under this paragraph.
8

(2) Revenue from a tax checkoff program allowing a
9

resident of the State who files a tax return with the
10

Department of Revenue to designate that $3 be paid into
11

the Fund. In the case of spouses filing a joint return,
12

each spouse may designate that not less than $3 be paid
13

into the Fund. The Department of Revenue shall report
14

annually the amounts designated for the Fund to the State
15

Treasurer, who shall transfer that amount to the Fund.
16

(3) Any excess qualifying contributions or seed money
17

contributions that exceed the allotted total in Section
18

20.
19

(4) Fund revenues that were distributed to an eligible
20

candidate and that remain unspent after the candidate has
21

lost a primary election or after all general elections.
22

(5) Other unspent Fund revenues distributed to any
23

eligible candidate who does not remain a candidate
24

throughout a primary or general election cycle.
25

(6) Voluntary donations made directly to the Fund.
26

Individuals and other entities may make direct voluntary

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contributions to the Fund, not to exceed $1,000 per
2

individual or entity per calendar year.
3

(7) Fines collected under this Act.
4

(c) By September 1 preceding each year in which there is an
5
election for the office of Judge of the Supreme Court or Judge
6
of the Appellate Court, the State Board shall publish an
7
estimate of revenue in the Fund available for distribution to
8
eligible candidates during the upcoming year's elections and
9
an estimate of the likely demand for public financing during
10
that election. The State Board may submit a request to the
11
General Assembly to request additional funding.

12

Section 20.
Terms of participation.
13

(a) Before a candidate for nomination in the general
14
primary election may be certified as an eligible candidate,
15
the candidate shall file a declaration of intent to seek
16
certification as an eligible candidate and to comply with the
17
requirements of this Act. The declaration of intent shall be
18
filed with the State Board prior to or during the qualifying
19
period and in accordance with forms and procedures developed
20
by the State Board. An eligible candidate shall submit a
21
declaration of intent within 5 business days after collecting
22
qualifying contributions under this Act, or the qualifying
23
contributions collected before the declaration of intent has
24
been filed will not be applied toward the eligibility
25
requirement in subsection (c).

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(b) After becoming a candidate and before certification as
2
an eligible candidate, a candidate may not accept
3
contributions, except for seed money contributions, including
4
personal funds. A candidate shall limit the candidate's
5
personal funds and seed money contributions to the following
6
amounts:
7

(1) The personal funds of a candidate contributed as
8

seed money contributions may not exceed an aggregate
9

amount of $25,000 for a candidate seeking nomination for
10

the Supreme Court or Appellate Court in the First Judicial
11

District and $15,000 for a candidate seeking nomination
12

for the Supreme Court or the Appellate Court for a
13

Judicial District other than the First Judicial District.
14

No eligible candidate may make any expenditure derived
15

from personal funds after the close of the public
16

financing qualifying period. Eligible candidates shall not
17

loan personal funds to their campaign.
18

(2) A candidate may accept seed money contributions
19

from any individual or political committee before the end
20

of the public financing qualifying period, so long as the
21

total contributions from one contributor, except personal
22

funds and qualifying contributions otherwise permitted
23

under this Act, do not exceed $1,000 and the aggregate
24

contributions, including personal funds, but not including
25

qualifying contributions, do not exceed $75,000 for a
26

candidate seeking nomination for the Supreme Court or

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1

Appellate Court in the First Judicial District and $45,000
2

for a candidate seeking nomination for the Supreme Court
3

or Appellate Court for a Judicial District, other that the
4

First Judicial District.
5

As used in this Section, "personal funds" includes funds
6
from the candidate's immediate family.
7

(c) The State Board shall certify a candidate as an
8
eligible candidate for receipt of public financing for a
9
primary election if the candidate complies with subsection (a)
10
and receives from individual qualifying contributors before
11
the close of the public financing qualifying period qualifying
12
contributions that total at least $25,000 for a candidate
13
seeking nomination for the Supreme Court or Appellate Court in
14
the First Judicial District or qualifying contributions that
15
total at least $15,000 for a candidate seeking nomination for
16
the Supreme Court or Appellate Court for a Judicial District,
17
other than the First Judicial District. The State Board may
18
require candidates to file lists of qualifying contributions
19
in an electronic format. If so required, the State Board shall
20
either provide, without charge, all software necessary to
21
comply with this requirement or ensure that the necessary
22
software is commonly available to the public at minimal cost.
23

(d) Each candidate shall acknowledge each qualifying
24
contribution by providing a receipt to the contributor that
25
contains the contributor's name and home address and shall
26
file a report of all qualifying contributions with the State

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LRB104 06845 SPS 16881 b
1
Board.
2

(e) The State Board shall verify a candidate's compliance
3
with the requirements of subsection (d) by any verification
4
and sampling techniques that the State Board considers
5
appropriate.
6

(f) Qualifying contributions and seed money contributions
7
may be used only for the purpose of making an expenditure
8
authorized by law.
9

(g) A candidate shall return to the State Board all
10
qualifying contributions, seed money, and personal
11
contributions, including in-kind contributions, that exceed
12
the limits prescribed by this Section within 48 hours after
13
the end of the exploratory period. The State Board shall
14
deposit all contributions returned under this Section into the
15
Fund.
16

(h) An eligible candidate who accepts a public financing
17
benefit under this Act during the primary election campaign
18
period shall agree to comply with all requirements of this Act
19
throughout the general election campaign period as a
20
precondition to receipt of public financing. An eligible
21
candidate who accepts a public financing benefit during a
22
primary election campaign period may not elect to accept
23
private contributions in violation of this Act during the
24
corresponding general election campaign period.

25

Section 25.
Certification as an eligible candidate for a

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1
primary election; distributions of funds.
2

(a) The State Board shall certify a candidate complying
3
with the requirements of Section 20 as an eligible candidate
4
as soon as possible. The State Board shall only certify a
5
candidate who is running unopposed or will run in a clean
6
judicial race. The State Board shall not certify a candidate
7
as an eligible candidate if the candidate is running against a
8
candidate who does not receive a public financing benefit
9
under this Act. An eligible candidate certified under this Act
10
shall comply with all requirements of this Act after
11
certification and throughout the primary and general election
12
periods and failure to do so is a violation of this Act.
13

(b) After certification, an eligible candidate shall limit
14
the candidate's campaign expenditures and obligations,
15
including outstanding obligations, to qualifying
16
contributions, seed money contributions, revenues distributed
17
to the candidate from the Fund, and interest earned on moneys
18
in the Fund, and the candidate may not accept any other
19
contributions unless specifically authorized by the State
20
Board.
21

(c) All revenues distributed to an eligible candidate from
22
the Fund shall be used for campaign-related purposes. The
23
candidate, the treasurer, the candidate's political committee,
24
or any agent of the candidate and committee shall only use
25
these revenues for campaign-related purposes. The State Board
26
shall publish guidelines outlining permissible

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campaign-related expenditures.
2

(d) The State Board shall distribute to eligible
3
candidates revenues from the Fund in amounts as follows:
4

(1) for a primary election in the First Judicial
5

District, $25,000; and
6

(2) for a primary election in all judicial districts
7

except the First Judicial District, $15,000.
8

(e) The State Board shall distribute to each eligible
9
candidate at the general primary election a line of credit for
10
public financing promptly after the candidate demonstrates the
11
candidate's eligibility but later than 5 days after the end of
12
the public financing qualifying period. However, no candidate
13
may use a line of credit distributed under this subsection
14
until the beginning of the primary election campaign period.

15

Section 30.
Certification as an eligible candidate for a
16
general election; distributions of funds.
17

(a) Before a candidate may be certified as eligible for
18
receipt of public financing for the general election, the
19
candidate shall apply to the State Board and file a sworn
20
statement that the candidate has fulfilled all of the
21
requirements of this Act during the primary election campaign
22
period, has won the nomination in the general primary, and
23
will comply with the requirements of this Act during the
24
general election campaign period. The application shall be
25
filed no later than the 7th day after the date of the general

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1
primary election.
2

(b) The State Board shall certify a candidate as an
3
eligible candidate for receipt of public financing for a
4
general election campaign period if the candidate complies
5
with subsection (a) and the candidate was an eligible
6
candidate during the primary election campaign period. The
7
State Board shall only certify a candidate who is running
8
unopposed or will run in a clean judicial race. The State Board
9
shall not certify a candidate as an eligible candidate if the
10
candidate is running against a candidate who does not receive
11
a public financing benefit under this Act.
12

(c) If more than one candidate files an application for
13
the general election, the State Board shall accept
14
applications from all candidates who comply with subsection
15
(a), but the State Board shall postpone the declaration of
16
eligibility for the general election until after the general
17
primary results are certified. After the results have been
18
certified, if the nominee filed an application under
19
subsection (a), the State Board shall declare that candidate
20
eligible for the general election.
21

(d) The State Board shall distribute to each eligible
22
candidate in the general election a line of credit for public
23
financing not later than the earlier of (i) 48 hours after the
24
official canvass and proclamation under Section 22-7 of the
25
Election Code or (ii) 21 days after the date of the general
26
primary election. No candidate may receive a line of credit

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1
until all candidates for judicial office who apply and qualify
2
for a public financing benefit have been certified as eligible
3
candidates.
4

(e) The State Board shall distribute to eligible
5
candidates revenues from the Fund in amounts in the following
6
manner:
7

(1) for a candidate for the office of Judge of the
8

Supreme Court during a general election, $525,000; and
9

(2) for a candidate for the office of Judge of the
10

Appellate Court during a general election, $175,000.
11

(f) Beginning on April 1, 2028 and every 2 years
12
thereafter, the State Board shall modify the public financing
13
benefits provided for in subsection (e) to adjust for the
14
change in the Consumer Price Index, All Items, U. S. City
15
Average, published by the United States Department of Labor
16
for the preceding 2-year period ending on December 31.

17

Section 35.
Requirements for eligible candidates.
18

(a) An eligible candidate may not accept private
19
contributions other than seed money contributions and
20
qualifying contributions. An eligible candidate may only
21
accept one qualifying contribution from each contributor.
22

(b) In addition to reports required to be filed under the
23
Election Code, a candidate who receives a public financing
24
benefit shall furnish complete financial records, including
25
records of seed money contributions, qualifying contributions,

SB0143
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1
and expenditures on the last day of each month.
2

(c) In addition to adhering to requirements imposed under
3
the Election Code, a candidate who receives a public financing
4
benefit shall maintain records of all contributions of at
5
least $5, including seed money contributions and qualifying
6
contributions. These records shall contain the full name of
7
the contributor and the contributor's full home address.
8

(d) The failure to record or provide the information
9
specified in subsection (c) disqualifies a contribution from
10
counting as a qualifying contribution.
11

(e) No eligible candidate and no person acting on an
12
eligible candidate's behalf may accept any contribution that
13
is not recorded in accordance with subsection (c) in a
14
candidate's campaign account.
15

(f) No eligible candidate may accept more than $1,000 in
16
cash from any contributor.
17

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, eligible
18
candidates shall report all campaign expenditures,
19
obligations, and related activities to the State Board
20
according to procedures developed by the State Board.
21

(h) The eligible candidate or the eligible candidate's
22
treasurer shall obtain and keep:
23

(1) bank or other account statements for the campaign
24

account covering the duration of the campaign;
25

(2) a vendor invoice stating the particular goods or
26

services purchased for every expenditure of $50 or more;

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1

and
2

(3) a record proving that a vendor received payment
3

for every expenditure of $50 or more in the form of a
4

cancelled check, receipt from the vendor, or bank or
5

credit card statement identifying the vendor as the payee.
6

(i) The eligible candidate or the eligible candidate's
7
treasurer shall preserve the records for 2 years following the
8
candidate's final campaign finance report for the election
9
cycle. The candidate and treasurer shall submit photocopies of
10
the records to the State Board upon its request.

11

Section 40.
Unspent funds.
Upon the filing of a final
12
report for any primary election in which the eligible
13
candidate was defeated and for all general elections, an
14
eligible candidate shall return all unspent revenues from the
15
Fund to the State Board. In developing procedures for the
16
return of unspent revenues from the Fund, the State Board
17
shall use existing campaign reporting procedures whenever
18
practicable. The State Board shall ensure timely public access
19
to campaign finance data and may use electronic means of
20
reporting and storing information.

21

Section 45.
Illinois Judicial Election Democracy Trust
22
Fund.
23

(a) All moneys collected under Sections 40, 45, and 70
24
shall be deposited into the Illinois Judicial Election

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1
Democracy Trust Fund and may be used by the State Board for the
2
purposes of this Act. The State Treasurer, in consultation
3
with the State Board, shall contract with a debit card issuer
4
to permit eligible candidates and their agents to draw upon
5
moneys appropriated from the Fund through an account with the
6
card issuer.
7

(b) Upon a determination of a candidate's eligibility for
8
a public financing benefit under this Act, the State Treasurer
9
shall issue to the eligible candidate a debit card, known as
10
the fair election debit card, entitling the candidate and
11
agents of the candidate designated by the candidate to draw
12
money from an account to make expenditures on behalf of the
13
candidate.
14

(c) No eligible candidate or agent of an eligible
15
candidate may make any campaign expenditure by any means other
16
than through the use of the fair election debit card after
17
being certified as an eligible candidate. No candidate or
18
agent may use a fair election debit card to obtain cash, except
19
that cash amounts of $100 or less may be drawn on the fair
20
election debit card and used to make expenditures of no more
21
than $25 each. A candidate shall maintain records of all
22
expenditures and shall report the expenditures to the State
23
Board in accordance with Section 35.
24

(d) The State Board may draw upon moneys in the Fund to
25
support the administration of the program. These moneys may be
26
used only to pay costs to the State Board that are directly

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associated with the administration of the program, including,
2
but not limited to, ensuring compliance with this Act and
3
promoting the income tax checkoff. These administrative
4
reimbursements shall be limited to 1% of the Fund balance in
5
fiscal years when there is no eligible seat on the ballot or 5%
6
of the Fund balance in fiscal years when there is an eligible
7
seat on either a primary or general election ballot.

8

Section 50.
Challenges to certification of an eligible
9
candidate.
10

(a) A candidate who has been denied certification as an
11
eligible candidate, the opponent of a candidate who has been
12
granted certification as an eligible candidate, or other
13
interested persons may challenge a certification decision made
14
by the State Board as follows:
15

(1) A challenger may appeal to the full State Board
16

within 7 days after the certification decision. The appeal
17

shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for the
18

appeal.
19

(2) Within 5 days after an appeal is properly made and
20

after notice is given to the challenger and any opponent,
21

the State Board shall hold a hearing. The appellant has
22

the burden of providing evidence to demonstrate that the
23

State Board decision was improper. The State Board shall
24

rule on the appeal within 3 days after the completion of
25

the hearing.

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(3) A challenger may appeal the decision of the State
2

Board in paragraph (2) by commencing an action in circuit
3

court.
4

(4) A candidate whose certification by the State Board
5

as an eligible candidate is revoked on appeal shall return
6

to the State Board any unspent revenues distributed from
7

the Fund.
8

(b) If the State Board or court finds that an appeal was
9
made frivolously or to cause delay or hardship, the State
10
Board or court may require the moving party to pay costs of the
11
State Board, court, and opposing parties, if any.

12

Section 55.
Rulemaking.
The State Board shall adopt rules
13
to ensure effective administration of this Act. These rules
14
shall include, but shall not be limited to, rules concerning
15
procedures for obtaining qualifying contributions,
16
certification as an eligible candidate, circumstances
17
involving special elections, vacancies, recounts, withdrawals
18
or replacements, collection of revenues for the Fund,
19
distribution of Fund revenue to certified candidates, return
20
of unspent Fund disbursements, and compliance with this Act.

21

Section 60.
Violations.
22

(a) In addition to any other penalties that may be
23
applicable, a person who violates any provision of this Act or
24
rules adopted by the State Board under Section 55 is subject to

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a fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation, payable to the
2
Fund. In addition to any fine, for good cause shown, a
3
candidate, treasurer, consultant, or other agent of the
4
candidate or the committee authorized by the candidate found
5
in violation of this Act or rules of the State Board may be
6
required to return to the Fund all amounts distributed to the
7
candidate from the Fund or any funds not used for
8
campaign-related purposes. If the State Board makes a
9
determination that a violation of this Act or rules of the
10
State Board has occurred, the State Board shall assess a fine
11
or transmit the finding to the Attorney General for
12
prosecution. Fines paid under this Section shall be deposited
13
into the Fund. In determining whether or not a candidate is in
14
violation of the expenditure limits of this Act, the State
15
Board may consider as a mitigating factor any circumstances
16
out of the candidate's control.
17

(b) A person who willfully or knowingly violates this Act
18
or rules adopted under this Act or who willfully or knowingly
19
makes a false statement in any report required by this Act
20
commits a business offense punishable by a fine of at least
21
$1,001 and not more than $5,000 and, if certified as an
22
eligible candidate, shall return to the Fund all amounts
23
distributed to the candidate.

24

Section 65.
Study report.
By January 30, 2026 and every 4
25
years thereafter, the State Board shall prepare and submit to

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the General Assembly a report documenting, evaluating, and
2
making recommendations relating to the administration,
3
implementation, and enforcement of this Act and the Illinois
4
Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund.

5

Section 70.
Severability.
The provisions of this Act are
6
severable. If any provision of this Act is held invalid by a
7
court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not
8
affect other provisions of this Act that can be given effect
9
without the invalid provision.

10

Section 900.
The State Finance Act is amended by adding
11
Section 5.1030 as follows:

12

(30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new)
13

Sec. 5.1030.
The Illinois Judicial Election Democracy
14
Trust Fund.

15

Section 905.
The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by
16
changing Section 509 and by adding Section 506.7 as follows:

17

(35 ILCS 5/506.7 new)
18

Sec. 506.7.
Designation of tax to the Illinois Judicial
19
Election Democracy Trust Fund.
The Department shall print on
20
its standard individual income tax form a provision indicating
21
that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the Illinois

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Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund, as authorized by this
2
amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, he or she may do
3
so by stating the amount of the contribution, not less than $3,
4
on the return and that the contribution will reduce the
5
taxpayer's refund or increase the amount of payment to
6
accompany the return. Failure to remit any amount of the
7
increased payment shall reduce the contribution accordingly.
8
This Section does not apply to any amended return. This tax
9
checkoff applies to income tax forms for taxable years 2026
10
and thereafter.

11

(35 ILCS 5/509)

(from Ch. 120, par. 5-509)
12

Sec. 509.
Tax checkoff explanations.

13

(a) All individual income tax return forms shall contain
14
appropriate explanations and spaces to enable the taxpayers to
15
designate contributions to the funds to which contributions
16
may be made under this Article 5.
17

(b) Each form shall contain a statement that the
18
contributions will reduce the taxpayer's refund or increase
19
the amount of payment to accompany the return. Failure to
20
remit any amount of increased payment shall reduce the
21
contribution accordingly.
22

(c) If, on October 1 of any year, the total contributions
23
to any one of the funds made under this Article 5
, except the
24
Illinois Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund,
do not equal
25
$100,000 or more, the explanations and spaces for designating

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contributions to the fund shall be removed from the individual
2
income tax return forms for the following and all subsequent
3
years and all subsequent contributions to the fund shall be
4
refunded to the taxpayer. This contribution requirement does
5
not apply to the Diabetes Research Checkoff Fund checkoff
6
contained in Section 507GG of this Act.
7

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
8
Department shall include the Hunger Relief Fund checkoff
9
established under Section 507SS on the individual income tax
10
form for the taxable year beginning on January 1, 2012. If, on
11
October 1, 2013, or on October 1 of any subsequent year, the
12
total contributions to the Hunger Relief Fund checkoff do not
13
equal $100,000 or more, the explanations and spaces for
14
designating contributions to the fund shall be removed from
15
the individual income tax return forms for the following and
16
all subsequent years and all subsequent contributions to the
17
fund shall be refunded to the taxpayer.
18
(Source: P.A. 96-328, eff. 8-11-09; 97-1117, eff. 8-27-12.)

19

Section 999.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect January
20
1, 2026.

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