Bill Text: IL HB2186 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Free Speech Protection Act. Provides that a person who has received permission to place a sign or display on State-supported property has the right to exercise freedom of speech. Provides that the Act does not authorize or protect a sign or display that: is libelous, slanderous, or obscene; constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy; violates federal or State law; a reasonable person would understand as intended to denigrate or hold up to ridicule the beliefs of a religion, including, but not limited to, the display of a recognized or altered version of a symbol of a religion in such a manner; or incites others to commit an unlawful act, or to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the State-supported property in question. Provides that no State agency, official, or employee shall be held liable in any civil or criminal action for any expression made through a sign or display. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-16 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller [HB2186 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB2186-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2186 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Free Speech Protection Act. Provides that a person who has received permission to place a sign or display on State-supported property has the right to exercise freedom of speech. Provides that the Act does not authorize or protect a sign or display that: is libelous, slanderous, or obscene; constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy; violates federal or State law; a reasonable person would understand as intended to denigrate or hold up to ridicule the beliefs of a religion, including, but not limited to, the display of a recognized or altered version of a symbol of a religion in such a manner; or incites others to commit an unlawful act, or to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the State-supported property in question. Provides that no State agency, official, or employee shall be held liable in any civil or criminal action for any expression made through a sign or display. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Free
Speech Protection Act.
Section 5. Free speech. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 10 of this Act, a person who has received permission to
place a sign or display on State-supported property has the
right to exercise freedom of speech. There shall be no prior
restraint of material prepared for such a sign or display
except insofar as it violates Section 10 of this Act. State
officials charged with the care and custody of the
State-supported property in question shall have the burden of
showing justification without undue delay prior to a
limitation of expression under this Act.
Section 10. Exceptions. This Act does not authorize or
protect expression by a person described in Section 5 through
a sign or display that:
(1) is libelous, slanderous, or obscene;
(2) constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy;
(3) violates federal or State law;
(4) a reasonable person would understand as intended

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to denigrate or hold up to ridicule the beliefs of a
religion, including, but not limited to, the display of a
recognized or altered version of a symbol of a religion in
such a manner; or
(5) incites others to commit an unlawful act, or to
materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation
of the State-supported property in question.
Section 15. Liability. No expression made by a person
described in Section 5 through a sign or display in the
exercise of freedom of speech shall be deemed to be an
expression of the public policy of the State of Illinois, and
the State of Illinois, including, but not limited to, any
State agency, official, or employee shall not be held liable
in any civil or criminal action for any expression made by a
person described in Section 5 through a sign or display.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.