Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB 72

Creates the Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act. Provides that an electronic will shall be executed by the testator or by some person in the testator's presence and at the testator's direction, and attested to in the testator's presence by 2 or more credible witnesses. Provides for the revocation of an electronic will. Provides that an electronic will is a digital asset and any person or business in possession of an electronic will is a custodian. Provides for certified copies. Provides that a person may witness any document, other than a will, using audio-video communication between the individual's signing the document and the witness. Provides for remote attestation for a will. Provides methods for determining a signer's or testator's identity. Provides for the verification of an electronic will when a petition to have an electronic will admitted to probate is filed. Provides for: admission of a paper copy of an electronic will; admission of a will attested to by a witness who is physically present; admission of a will attested to by a remote witness; and admission of a will signed under the Electronic Commerce Security Act. Provides that nothing prohibits any party from introducing evidence of fraud, forgery, compulsion, or other improper conduct which in the opinion of the court is deemed sufficient to invalidate the will when being admitted. Provides for: formal proof of a will with a remote witness; formal proof of an electronic will; and formal proof of a will witnessed under the Electronic Commerce Security Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Electronic Commerce Security Act and the Probate Act of 1975. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. If and only if House Bill 3360 of the 101st General Assembly becomes law, amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that: prejudgment interest shall begin to accrue on the date the action is filed (rather than the date the defendant has notice of the injury from the incident itself or a written notice); in entering judgment for the plaintiff in the action, the court shall add to the amount of the judgment interest on the amount calculated at the rate of 7% (rather than 9%) per annum; and that neither the State, a unit of local government, a school district, a community college district, nor any other governmental entity (rather than "a local public entity") is liable to pay prejudgment interest in an action brought directly or vicariously against it by the injured party. Deletes language allowing the trial court to apportion any amount of prejudgment interest between the plaintiff and any agency or department of the State. Deletes language requiring the court to consider the plaintiff's hardship from the time of injury to the date of judgment and the effort required to obtain the judgment. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in all actions brought to recover damages for personal injury or wrongful death resulting from or occasioned by the conduct of any other person or entity, whether by negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, intentional conduct, or strict liability of the other person or entity, the plaintiff shall recover prejudgment interest on specified damages and costs set forth in the judgment. Provides that neither the State nor a local public entity shall be liable to pay prejudgment interest. Provides that for any personal injury or wrongful death occurring before the effective date of the amendatory Act, the prejudgment interest shall begin to accrue on the later of the effective date of the amendatory Act or the date the action is filed. Effective July 1, 2021.

Date	Chamber	Action
5/28/2021	Senate	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0006

Date	Chamber	Action
1/29/2021	Senate	Filed with Secretary by Sen. Rachelle Crowe
1/29/2021	Senate	First Reading
1/29/2021	Senate	Referred to Assignments
2/9/2021	Senate	Assigned to Judiciary
3/3/2021	Senate	Do Pass Judiciary; 008-000-000
3/3/2021	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 9, 2021
3/9/2021	Senate	Second Reading
3/9/2021	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 10, 2021
3/10/2021	Senate	Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000
3/11/2021	House	Arrived in House
3/11/2021	House	Chief House Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman
3/11/2021	House	First Reading
3/11/2021	House	Referred to Rules Committee
3/11/2021	House	Assigned to Executive Committee
3/16/2021	House	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
3/16/2021	House	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
3/16/2021	House	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Executive Committee
3/17/2021	House	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Executive Committee; by Voice Vote
3/17/2021	House	Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Executive Committee; 009-006-000
3/17/2021	House	Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
3/17/2021	House	Second Reading - Short Debate
3/17/2021	House	Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
3/18/2021	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
3/18/2021	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
3/18/2021	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-001-000
3/18/2021	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
3/18/2021	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
3/18/2021	House	Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-040-000
3/19/2021	Senate	Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2
3/19/2021	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2 - March 23, 2021
3/19/2021	Senate	Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Don Harmon
3/19/2021	Senate	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Don Harmon
3/19/2021	Senate	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
3/19/2021	Senate	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Don Harmon
3/19/2021	Senate	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
3/23/2021	Senate	Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
3/23/2021	Senate	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Executive
3/23/2021	Senate	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Executive
3/23/2021	Senate	Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
3/23/2021	Senate	Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
3/24/2021	Senate	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Executive; 011-005-000
3/24/2021	Senate	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Executive; 011-005-000
3/25/2021	Senate	Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
3/25/2021	Senate	House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 037-017-003
3/25/2021	Senate	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Senate Concurs 037-017-003
3/25/2021	Senate	Senate Concurs
3/25/2021	Senate	Passed Both Houses
4/1/2021	Senate	Sent to the Governor
5/28/2021	Senate	Governor Approved
5/28/2021	Senate	Effective Date July 1, 2021
5/28/2021	Senate	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0006

	Adds reference to:
	735 ILCS 5/2-1303	from Ch. 110, par. 2-1303