Illinois Sen. Halpin’s administrative notice bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Sen. Michael W. Halpin aims to streamline how parties, attorneys, and agents receive notices and final administrative decisions in contested hearings and court review proceedings, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 73 Democrats and 39 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 38 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Halpin introduced the bill in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 16, 2026 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as SB2870, was passed on May 21, 2026 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Provides that parties, their attorneys, or their other agents appointed to receive service of process must receive notice of a contested hearing and final decision or order. Deletes a requirement that a party and attorney of record must request a copy of the final decision and order. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that service to a party of a decision in a final administrative review must be served as provided in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act instead of by the United States Postal Service. Provides that the decision must also be sent to the party’s attorney or agent. Effective immediately.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill updates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Code of Civil Procedure to require that notices of contested hearings and final administrative decisions be served on parties, their attorneys, or designated agents as shown in the administrative record. It removes the need for parties or attorneys to request copies of final decisions and orders, instead requiring agencies to provide them directly by personal service, certified or registered mail, email or as otherwise allowed by law. It also requires that final administrative decisions in court review proceedings be served consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act and that copies be sent to the party’s attorney or agent. The bill takes effect immediately.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Erica Harriss (Republican-56th District) and Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democrat-17th District).

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Halpin graduated from Roger Williams University in 2001 with a BA and again in 2008 from University of Illinois with a JD.

Halpin, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 36th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Neil Anderson.

Lawmakers listed as “Not Voting” were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an “Excused Absence” were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.