Rep. Andrew S. Chesney (R-89) sponsored nine bills in the first quarter of 2019, 27 less than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 66 bills, seven more than the average, according to a NW Illinois News 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 Chesney sponsored in the first quarter.
WILDLIFE-ENDANGERED SPECIES
WILDLIFE CD-HUNTING OPENING
COUNTIES-ADDED HOTEL REVENUE
PREVAIL WAGE-WAIVER-$20,000
BOAT SAFETY-WATER SKIS-MIRRORS
GROWING ECONOMY TAX CREDIT
WILDLIFE-SURPLUS DEER REPORT
WILDLIFE CD-RIFLE HUNTING
The following table shows the bills to which Chesney was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
SEX OFFENDER-NO STATE FAIR
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
FIREARM REGISTRY PROHIBITION
Rep. Chris Miller (R-110)
CONCEALED CARRY-EXPIRATION
Rep. Monica Bristow (D-111)
CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE FEES
Rep. John M. Cabello (R-68); Sen. Jason Plummer (R-54)
VETERAN REGISTRATION FEES
Rep. Charles Meier (R-108)
WILDLIFE-LAND PERMIT-RESIDENCY
Rep. Charles Meier (R-108)
FIREARM OWNERS ID-18 YEARS
Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-66)
TERM LIMIT REFERENDUM ACT
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
VEH CD-REPEAL COM DISTRIB FEE
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
NO FUNDS W/OUT REVENUE EST
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7)
SCH CD-ROE-GRANT PROGRAMS
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
AG FAIR-FISCAL ACCOUNTING
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
ESTATE TAX-EXCLUSION AMOUNT
Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-118)
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
HUNTING-CARRYING HANDGUNS
VEH CD-EMERGENCY VEH-PENALTY
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
Rep. Chris Miller (R-110)
ILLINOIS-ORIGIN MEAT LABELING
CELL-CULTURED FOOD PRODUCTS
Rep. John M. Cabello (R-68)
ST POLICE-ONLINE PAYMENTS
Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
CONCEAL CARRY-BUSINESS LICENSE
COMM ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
TAXPAYER FISCAL CHARTER ACT
ELEC CD-ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
SCH CD-EMPLOYEE-SEX OFFENSE
LINDENHURST SANITARY DISTRICT
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
SCH CD-IN GOD WE TRUST DISPLAY
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
PENCD-SERS-CONSERVATION POLICE
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
WILDLIFE CD-APPRENTICE HUNTERS
CONCEALED CARRY-EXPIRATION
Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-51)
SCH CD-SCH COUNSELOR-COLLEGE
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
PARTITION OF HEIRS PROPERTY
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
PARTITION OF HEIRS PROPERTY
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
PARTITION OF HEIRS PROPERTY
Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60)
Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R-20)
JUSSIE ACT-FILM TAX CREDIT
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
EQUAL PAY ACT WAGE INFORMATION
Rep. Michael T. Marron (R-104)
LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN PROG
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
FIREARMS-NONRESIDENT MILITARY
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Rep. John M. Cabello (R-68)
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS-FIREARMS
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
MOBILE HOME-PENALTY AMOUNT
COMMISSION ON FISCAL REFORM
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-66)
Rep. Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PROCESS
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
NO TAXES ON RETIREMENT INCOME
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
Sen. Scott M. Bennett (D-52); Rep. Michael T. Marron (R-104)
Alerts Sign-up