SPRINGFIELD – State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford backed legislation aimed at safeguarding the constitutional rights of Illinois residents and maintaining secure access to essential public services during increased federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

“What we're seeing isn't just happening somewhere else: it’s happening right here, in Chicago and Broadview, in our schools, in our hospitals and in our neighborhoods,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This is not who we are. This is not what Illinois stands for.”

House Bill 1312 would allow Illinois residents to bring civil actions against any person who deprives them of their constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, or Section 2 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Illinois Constitution.

The bill would establish enhanced punitive damages for particularly egregious conduct, such as concealing identity with masks, failing to identify as law enforcement, not using body cameras, or deploying crowd-control weapons. It also would strengthen the Illinois Whistleblower Act to protect those who report violations and creates a 1,000-foot safe zone around courthouses with significant penalties for violations, including $10,000 in statutory damages.

The legislation further would require public colleges and universities to establish procedures for reviewing law enforcement access requests and would prohibit unauthorized disclosure of immigration status. Similarly, all Illinois hospitals would be required develop comprehensive policies for law enforcement interactions by early 2026, with $500 daily penalties for noncompliance. Licensed daycare centers would also be required to adopt policies for interacting with law enforcement, including parental notification and consent requirements before sharing children's information, while prohibiting disclosure of citizenship or immigration status unless legally required.

“When federal agents operate with masks and unmarked vehicles, when they turn hospitals into hunting grounds and schools into sites of fear, they aren't just violating the law - they're violating our most sacred values,” said Lightford. “This legislation is a shield for the vulnerable and a warning to those who think they can operate above our constitution.”

House Bill 1312 passed the Senate Thursday.