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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Q1 2019 Legislation: Rep. Tim Butler sponsors or co-sponsors 58 bills

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Rep. Tim Butler (R-87) sponsored 24 bills in the first quarter of 2019, 12 less than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 34 bills, 25 less than the average, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of data made available by the Illinois General Assembly.

During the first quarter, 119 representatives sponsored legislation, with Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) sponsoring the most with 940 bills. There were 119 representatives that co-sponsored legislation, with Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57) co-sponsoring 169 bills, more than any other representative.

When a bill is introduced to the House, the clerk reads the bill title before the House and it is automatically referred to the Rules Committee. If the Rules Committee thinks that the bill merits further consideration, it is assigned to another committee. If the committee reports favorably on the bill to the House, or if the committee has been discharged with respect to the bill, the bill will be ready for its second reading before the House.

According to House rules, a bill can be passed only after the House clerk has read the bill before the House on three separate days. However, many bills are introduced as shell bills in order to circumvent the rule requiring three readings before they can be passed. These shell bills, which are far more common in Illinois than in other states, are created with the purpose of beginning the often lengthy process of passing a new piece of legislation. But since they would only make trivial or meaningless changes in the law in the form that they initially appear, they are either left to die or are later changed to something more substantive that can be rushed to passage without bothering with procedure. This has the unfortunate effect of leading to laws that may not have been debated or discussed sufficiently.

Representatives that sponsor an inordinately large number of bills are often sponsoring many shell bills.

The following table shows the bills that Butler sponsored in the first quarter.

Bill Number
Date Introduced
Short Description
Feb. 5
PARK DISTRICTS-PROPERTY LEASES
Feb. 5
ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION DAY
Feb. 7
LIQUOR-TECH
Feb. 13
VEH CD-EMERGENCY VEH-PENALTY
Feb. 13
GA MEMBER-STATE PARTY CHAIR
Feb. 13
CONCEALED CARRY-OBJECTIONS
Feb. 13
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS-PRESCHOOL
Feb. 13
LIQUOR-TECH
Feb. 13
LIQUOR-TECH
Feb. 13
SAFETY-TECH
Feb. 14
BD OF ELECTIONS-INDEP FUNDING
Feb. 14
VEH CD-TOW TRUCK LIGHTS
Feb. 14
ELEC CODE-LOCAL ELECTIONS
Feb. 15
ELEC CD-ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Feb. 15
STATE HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE
Jan. 16
GOVT ETHICS-FUNDRAISING
Jan. 25
LEGISLATURE-OFFICER LIMITS
Feb. 13
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MNTH
March 14
CONGRATS-DEREK & RENEE MARTIN
March 14
MEMORIAL-PAUL BEAVER JR.
March 29
CONGRATS-AJHS WARRIORS
March 29
CONGRATS-WLB LADY WOLVERINES
March 29
CONGRATS-WLB 8TH GR. GIRLS BB
Feb. 4
FIRST PUBLIC ACT IN IL

The following table shows the bills to which Butler was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.

Bill Number
Sponsors
Short Description
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
ST CAPITOL PRESIDENT STATUES
Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57)
HORSE RACING-LOCAL SHARE
Rep. Bob Morgan (D-58)
ST POLICE-BURIAL REIMBURSE
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
GA-REVENUE ESTIMATE
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
NO FUNDS W/OUT REVENUE EST
Rep. Mike Murphy (R-99)
CELL-CULTURED FOOD PRODUCTS
Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit (D-84)
VEH CD-MILITARY PLATES
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7)
STATE TREASURER-REAL PROPERTY
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
PENCD-GARS-GA MEMBER ELIGIBLE
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
TAXPAYER FISCAL CHARTER ACT
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52); Sen. Thomas Cullerton (D-23)
OPEN ILLINOIS CHECKBOOK ACT
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
BLUE COLLAR JOBS ACT
Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (D-78)
TOBACCO PRODUCTS-UNDER 21
Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39)
LIQUOR-BREW PUBS
Rep. Mike Murphy (R-99)
GA MEMBER MONTHLY PAY
Rep. Mike Murphy (R-99)
GA-COLA PROHIBITED
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
GA MEMBER-STATE PARTY CHAIR
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
EQUAL PAY ACT WAGE INFORMATION
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
SEX OFFENDER REG-BATTERY
Rep. Bob Morgan (D-58)
HEALTH-TECH
Rep. Mike Murphy (R-99)
GA COMPENSATION
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33)
URGE CREATION OF CANCER CAUCUS
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
US CONST-ART V-APPLICATION
Rep. Sue Scherer (D-96)
US CONST-ART V-APPLICATION
Rep. Michael T. Marron (R-104)
COAL ASH TASK FORCE
Rep. Jim Durkin (R-82)
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
Rep. Ryan Spain (R-73)
CON AMEND-REDISTRICTING
Rep. Jim Durkin (R-82)
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-18)
GREAT LAKES APPRECIATION DAY
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
NO TAXES ON RETIREMENT INCOME
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
HOUSE RULES 101ST GA
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
VEH CD-ZIPPER MERGE
Rep. Avery Bourne (R-95)
APPOINT LEGISLATIVE INSP GEN

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