Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3420
Illinois General Assembly

  Bills & Resolutions  
  Compiled Statutes  
  Public Acts  
  Legislative Reports  
  IL Constitution  
  Legislative Guide  
  Legislative Glossary  

 Search By Number
 (example: HB0001)
Search Tips

Search By Keyword

 Bill Status of HB3420  103rd General Assembly


Short Description:  CRIM PRO-LYRICS INADMISSIBLE

House Sponsors
Rep. Justin Slaughter

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  3/10/2023HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
725 ILCS 5/115-7.5 new


Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that evidence of a defendant's creative or artistic expression, whether original or derivative, may not be received into evidence against that defendant in a criminal proceeding unless the evidence is determined by the court to be relevant and admissible, after an offer of proof by the proponent of the evidence outside the hearing of the jury, or the hearing as the court may require, and an on-the-record statement by the court of the findings of fact essential to its determination. Provides that in order to overcome the presumption of inadmissibility of evidence of defendant's creative or artistic expression, the proffering party must affirmatively prove by clear and convincing evidence: (1) literal, rather than figurative or fictional, meaning and, where the work is derivative, that the defendant intended to adopt the literal meaning of the work as the defendant's own thought or statement; (2) a strong factual nexus indicating that the creative or artistic expression refers to the specific facts of the crime alleged; (3) relevance to an issue of fact that is disputed; and (4) distinct probative value not provided by other admissible evidence. Provides that if the court admits creative or artistic expression as criminal evidence, the court has a duty to apply careful redactions, provide limiting instructions, and consider the least prejudicial means of presenting the creative or artistic expression to the fact finder.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/17/2023HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Justin Slaughter
  2/17/2023HouseFirst Reading
  2/17/2023HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/28/2023HouseAssigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee
  3/10/2023HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Back To Top