Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1356

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1356

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning gaming.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act.

Section 5. Purpose; application.

(a) The purpose of this Act is to promote transparency, prevent conflicts of interest, and protect the integrity of the democratic process by prohibiting directors, employees, investors, landlords, property owners, video game terminal operators, and their immediate family members from making political contributions to candidates, political organizations, political action committees, or independent expenditure committees that may directly or indirectly influence their financial interests.

(b) This prohibition applies to entities benefiting from gaming licenses.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Board of directors" means the governing body of an entity that owns or operates a gaming location or leases property to such operators.

"Gaming location investor" means an individual or entity that holds a financial interest in a licensed gaming location, including the individual's or entity's immediate family members.

"Immediate family member" means a spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child, or any other relative residing in the same household as the individual.

"Landlord" means an individual or entity that owns or manages a property and leases all or part of it to tenants, including gaming operators or video gaming location owners.

"Municipal or county issuer" means a local governmental body, official, or regulatory entity responsible for approving or issuing gaming.

"Political action committee" means any committee, organization, or entity organized for the purpose of raising or spending funds to influence political elections.

"Video game terminal operator" means an individual or entity licensed to operate video gaming terminals.

Section 15. Prohibited contributions.

(a) No video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner may make a contribution to:

(1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or

(2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials.

(b) The prohibition applies for a period of 10 years from the date of issuance or approval of the gaming license, tax increment financing district benefit, or zoning variance.

Section 20. Disclosure of benefits and contributions.

(a) Any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. This disclosure shall be made annually and available for public inspection.

(b) Political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees shall maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the provisions of this Act.

Section 25. Penalties.

(a) Any person or entity found to have violated the provisions of this Act by making prohibited political contributions shall be subject to:

(1) A civil penalty of up to $100,000.

(2) Suspension or revocation of the gaming license or associated with the violating party.

(3) Ineligibility to receive future benefits from gaming licenses for a period of up to 5 years.

(b) Any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts a prohibited political contribution shall be subject to:

(1) An ethics investigation and potential action, including removal from office.

(2) Criminal penalties for repeated or intentional violations, including imprisonment for up to one year.

Section 30. Enforcement.

(a) The Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission are responsible for enforcement of this Act, including conducting investigations and imposing penalties.

(b) The Attorney General may also prosecute a violation of this Act.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.