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| | 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4174 Introduced 10/28/2025, by Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
| | | Creates the Prohibition on State Interference in Museum Content Act. Sets forth the purpose of the Act. Defines "museum" as an institution or entity located in the State that: (1) is operated by the State, a local governmental unit, a non-profit corporation, a trust, an association, or an educational institution that receives State funds; (2) is operated primarily for educational, scientific, historic preservation, cultural, or aesthetic purposes; and (3) owns, borrows, cares for, exhibits, studies, archives, or catalogues property. Provides that "museum" includes, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following institutions or entities that receive State funds: historical societies; historic sites; landmarks; parks; archives; monuments; botanical gardens; arboreta; zoos; nature centers; planetaria; aquaria; libraries; technology centers; and art, history, science, and natural history museums. Provides that a State or local governmental unit shall not interfere in the creation or content of (i) exhibits and programming in museums or (ii) events in museums that are related to race, gender, or historical events. Provides that a museum shall base its exhibits and programming on credible scholarship and inclusive narratives. Provides that a museum shall prioritize partnerships between the museum and historians, educators, and cultural leaders regarding exhibits in the museum to ensure that the exhibits are balanced and fact-based. Effective January 1, 2027. |
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| | A BILL FOR |
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| | HB4174 | | LRB104 15814 AAS 29014 b |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning State government.
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| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, |
| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the |
| 5 | | Prohibition on State Interference in Museum Content Act.
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| 6 | | Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly declares that it |
| 7 | | is the public policy of the State to protect the integrity of |
| 8 | | museum content against political censorship by (i) prohibiting |
| 9 | | governmental interference in museum exhibits and programming |
| 10 | | and events related to race, gender, or historical events, (ii) |
| 11 | | requiring museums that receive funding from the State to base |
| 12 | | exhibits on credible scholarship and inclusive narratives, and |
| 13 | | (iii) encouraging partnerships between museums and historians, |
| 14 | | educators, and cultural leaders to ensure balanced, fact-based |
| 15 | | exhibits.
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| 16 | | Section 10. Definitions. |
| 17 | | As used in this Act: |
| 18 | | "Local governmental unit" means any county, municipality, |
| 19 | | township, special district, school district, or community |
| 20 | | college. |
| 21 | | "Museum" means an institution or entity located in this |
| 22 | | State that: |