103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0013
 
Introduced 2/22/2023, by Rep. Patrick Windhorst
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
  
ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5

     Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, except for special sessions, any session days on the date of a general election through the term of a then-current General Assembly must be limited to consideration of pending vetoes, appropriations, and emergency actions. Effective upon being declared adopted.
  


LRB103 30194 JDS 56622 e

 

  
HC0013LRB103 30194 JDS 56622 e


  
1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

  
 
  
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
4HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
5SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the 
6electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general 
7election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption 
8of this resolution a proposition to amend Article IV of the 
9Illinois Constitution by changing Section 5 as follows:
  
 

10
ARTICLE IV 


11
THE LEGISLATURE






12    (ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5)



13SECTION 5. SESSIONS 

14    (a) The General Assembly shall convene each year on the 
15second
Wednesday of January. The General Assembly shall be a 
16continuous body
during the term for which members of the House 
17of Representatives are
elected.

18    (b) The Governor may convene the General Assembly or the 
19Senate
alone in special session by a proclamation stating the 
20purpose of the
session; and only business encompassed by such 
21purpose, together with
any impeachments or confirmation of 
22appointments shall be transacted.
Special sessions of the 
23General Assembly may also be convened by joint
proclamation of 
 
 
HC0013- 2 -LRB103 30194 JDS 56622 e

1the presiding officers of both houses, issued as
provided by 
2law.

3    (c) Sessions of each house of the General Assembly and 
4meetings of
committees, joint committees and legislative 
5commissions shall be open
to the public. Sessions and 
6committee meetings of a house may be closed
to the public if 
7two-thirds of the members elected to that house
determine that 
8the public interest so requires; and meetings of joint

9committees and legislative commissions may be so closed if 
10two-thirds of
the members elected to each house so determine.

11    (d) Except for special sessions, any session days on the 
12date of a general election through the term of the 
13then-current General Assembly must be limited to consideration 
14of pending vetoes, appropriations, and emergency actions. 
15(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

 
  
16
SCHEDULE

  
17    This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being 
18declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois 
19Constitutional Amendment Act.