Bill > HB2916

This bill amends the Snow and Ice Removal Act to expand legal protections for business owners who attempt to remove snow and ice from sidewalks and parking areas adjacent to their properties. Currently, the law encourages residential property owners to clear sidewalks of snow and ice without fear of legal liability, and this bill extends those same protections to business owners. Specifically, the bill prohibits legal liability for snow and ice removal unless the removal was done in a willful or wanton manner, which means with an intentional disregard for safety or with extreme carelessness. Additionally, the bill allows courts to award attorney's fees to a defendant (the business owner) if the court determines that the lawsuit against them is frivolous, meaning the lawsuit is groundless or filed without reasonable legal basis. The goal of this legislation is to encourage property owners, both residential and commercial, to help maintain safe walkways during winter conditions without worrying about potential lawsuits arising from their good-faith snow and ice removal efforts.

Justice

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2916&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104