Changes in the States: Illinois Amendments to the Lobbying Law Are Temporarily Enjoined

On January 1, 2010, several changes to Illinois' lobbying law were set to become effective, including a dramatic increase in registration fees and weekly reporting requirements. Nonetheless, the new law has been temporarily enjoined by order of the United States District Court for the District of Northern Illinois in a case where the ACLU has challenged the constitutionality of the increased registration fees and other provisions. According to the ACLU's website, the temporary restraining order will remain in effect until mid-January, at which time the court will consider arguments for a preliminary injunction. The Memorandum Opinion and Order can be read at www.aclu-il.org/featured/2009/ACLUvWhiteMemo.pdf. In the interim, the Lobbyist Division of the Index Department of the Secretary of State's office has indicated that new registrations will not be accepted until further action by the court. The electronic reporting system was operable, however, beginning Monday, January 11, 2010, so that lobbyists and lobbyist employers may file their semiannual reports for the last half of 2010. These reports were originally due by January 31, 2010, but because of the impact of the court case on the electronic reporting system, the office has extended the due date until February 8, 2010.