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SB3500 • 2026
AOIC GRANTS-LEGAL DESERTS
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
AOIC GRANTS-LEGAL DESERTS
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 24, 2026
Assigned to Appropriations
Filed with Secretary by Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
AOIC GRANTS-LEGAL DESERTS
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB3500 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of SB3500 Home Legislation Full Text SB3500 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Printer Friendly Version Introduced Open PDF 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB3500 Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Javier L. Cervantes SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act Creates the Legal Deserts Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts may establish a program to provide grants or reimbursements to compensate an individual lawyer or law firms that relocate or open an office within a geographic area for the purpose of providing legal services to individuals residing within a legal desert. Provides that the grants or reimbursements may cover marketing expenses, compensation for an attorney or up to 2 attorneys per firm, or other eligible expenses identified by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. LRB104 19720 JRC 33170 b A BILL FOR SB3500 LRB104 19720 JRC 33170 b 1 AN ACT concerning courts. 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 Legal 5 Deserts Act. 6 Section 5. Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds 7 that: 8 (1) The United States has more than 1.3 million 9 lawyers, but the vast majority are concentrated in urban 10 centers, which leaves many rural counties with few, if any 11 lawyers. These areas are often referred to as "legal 12 deserts". 13 (2) Residents in need of assistance with legal 14 matters, including, but not limited to, real estate 15 transfers, wills, family law matters, and criminal issues 16 often face uncertainty and inability to find a local 17 option and may turn to self-help or online tools. Online 18 tools and artificial intelligence products offer limited 19 personalized assistance but cannot replace the knowledge 20 and experience of a human lawyer. 21 (3) According to the Illinois Attorney Registration 22 and Discipline Commission, approximately 88% of Illinois 23 lawyers are registered to practice in 6 counties (Cook, SB3500 - 2 - LRB104 19720 JRC 33170 b 1 DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will), with the remaining 2 12% scattered across the remaining 96 counties. Although 3 lawyers in private practice have traditionally served the 4 legal needs of most individuals, currently a total of 61 5 counties have less than 20 private practice lawyers; 46 6 counties have less than 10 lawyers in private practice; 7 and 4 counties have only one lawyer in private practice. 8 Of the lawyers within those 61 counties, more than half 9 are aged 60 or older, which means following retirement 10 these rural areas may be left with no lawyers. 11 (4) The General Assembly finds it is necessary that 12 all people in Illinois have access to legal services and 13 proper representation despite geographic limitations. 14 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: 15 "Geographic area" means any unit of local government as 16 defined by the Illinois Constitution. 17 "Legal desert" means a county with fewer than 100 lawyers 18 or any geographic area that the Supreme Court or its designee 19 has identified as facing significant challenges in obtaining 20 legal services due to one or more factors. 21 Section 15. Legal desert programs. Subject to 22 appropriation, the Administrative Office of the Illinois 23 Courts may establish a program to provide grants or 24 reimbursements to compensate an individual lawyer or law firms SB3500 - 3 - LRB104 19720 JRC 33170 b 1 that relocate or open an office within a geographic area for 2 the purpose of providing legal services to individuals 3 residing with a legal desert. Grants or reimbursements may 4 cover marketing expenses, compensation for an attorney or up 5 to 2 attorneys per firm, or other eligible expenses identified 6 by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Grants 7 provided under this Section are subject solely to the 8 oversight of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn