100th Illinois General Assembly explained

Before:99th
After:101st
100th Illinois General Assembly
Term Start:2017
Term End:2019
Chamber1:Illinois Senate
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:President
Chamber1 Leader1:John J. Cullerton, Democrat
Chamber1 Leader2 Type:President pro tempore
Chamber2:Illinois House of Representatives
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:Speaker
Chamber2 Leader1:Michael J. Madigan, Democrat
Election:2016
Meeting Place:Springfield, Illinois
Website:Official site

The 100th Illinois General Assembly, consisting of the Illinois House and Illinois Senate, convened on January 11, 2017. It adjourned sine die on January 9, 2019.

Legislation

The 100th General Assembly enacted a total of 1,190 bills into law.[1] Notably among these, it passed the first state budget in more than two years, ending the Illinois Budget Impasse that began under the 99th Illinois General Assembly. The budget was passed over the veto of Governor Bruce Rauner.[2]

Other laws passed over the governor's veto included a measure allowing municipalities to designate urban agriculture zones to provide tax abatements to urban farming operations. The override passed the State Senate by 49 to 1.[3]

Other notable legislation included a measure that amended the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975, removing a trigger law that would have outlawed abortion in the state if the United States Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that affirmed a constitutional right to abortion.[4] The bill was signed by Governor Rauner, who was in favor of abortion rights.[5] Although amended, the Illinois Abortion Law nonetheless remained on the books until the passage of the Illinois Reproductive Health Act by the 101st Illinois General Assembly in 2019.[6]

The General Assembly also amended the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act to ban the use of elephants in traveling circuses. Illinois was the first state that banned such performances.[7]

The General Assembly also enacted multiple gun control measures, including one that imposed a 72-hour waiting period for all firearm purchases.[8]

In January 2018, Illinois became the first state in the US to adopt legislation recognizing postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis as mitigating factors in forcible felonies.[9] The legislation applies to criminal sentencing as well as post-conviction relief.[9] It was signed into law by governor Bruce Rauner just before the end of the session, on January 8, 2018.[9]

Senate

Of the Senate's 59 members, 40 stood for election in the 2016 Illinois Senate election. Two districts, the 47th and 59th, changed hands from the Democratic to the Republican Party.[10]

Senate leadership

Position Name Party District
President of the SenateJohn J. CullertonDemocratic6
Majority LeaderJames ClayborneDemocratic57
Minority LeaderWilliam E. BradyRepublican44

Party composition

The Senate of the 100th General Assembly consisted of 22 Republicans and 37 Democrats.[11]

AffiliationMembers
Democratic Party37
Republican Party22
Total
59

State senators

House

Party composition

The House of the 100th General Assembly consisted of 51 Republicans and 67 Democrats.[12] The composition reflects the results of the 2016 election.

AffiliationMembers
Democratic Party67
Republican Party51
Total118

House leadership

Position Name Party District
22
Democratic 25
82

State representatives

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 100th General Assembly Public Acts . 2020-03-09 . Illinois General Assembly.
  2. Web site: Illinois Lawmakers Override Budget Veto, Ending Two-Year Stalemate . 2020-03-09 . The New York Times . Julie Bosman and Monica Davey . 2017-07-06.
  3. News: WTTW Chicago . Illinois Lawmakers Override Rauner to Enact Urban Agriculture Law . 2020-03-09 . Alex Ruppenthal . 2018-11-29.
  4. News: WTTW Chicago . 18 New Illinois Laws to Know in 2018 . 2020-03-09 . Kristen . Thometz . 2017-12-28.
  5. News: Rauner Signs Controversial 'Abortion Bill' . Amanda . Vinicky . . 2017-09-28 . 2022-05-29.
  6. News: ABC 7 Eyewitness News . Illinois Abortion Law Guide: What does the Reproductive Health Act mean? . 2020-03-09 . 2019-06-14 . The RHA repealed both the state Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Illinois Abortion Act of 1975..
  7. News: WTTW Chicago . Circus Elephants to Take Final Bow in Illinois . 2020-03-09 . Alex . Ruppenthal . 2017-08-14.
  8. News: Three Day Waits for Guns To Become Illinois State Law . 2018-12-28 . Sam . Dunklau . 2022-05-28 . Illinois Public Radio via WILL.
  9. The NACDL Champion . A New Model Law Offers Hope: Postpartum Disorders and the Law . March 2018 . Barry . Lewis .
  10. News: Rauner, Republicans chip away at Speaker Madigan's big majority . 2016-11-09 . Chicago Sun-Times . Mick . Dumke . Daniel . Brown.
  11. Web site: Illinois State Senators: 100th General Assembly . 2020-03-09 . Illinois General Assembly.
  12. Web site: Illinois State Representatives: 100th General Assembly. 2020-01-31 .