Bill > HB4684

This bill amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to address "purposeless mass requests," which are defined as requests sent electronically to at least seven public bodies within 30 days without a genuine intent to study or use the information. The bill clarifies the definition of "commercial purpose" to include providing services to a specific customer or client, while still exempting news media and non-profit organizations for their primary purposes. It establishes a process for public bodies to tentatively designate a request as a "purposeless mass request," requiring them to notify the requester and allow them a short period to provide evidence of a reasonable purpose. If the request is confirmed as a purposeless mass request, the public body will have 21 business days to respond, which may include estimating costs and time, denying the request, deeming it unduly burdensome, or providing the records, and importantly, prohibits the award of attorney's fees in cases where a public body reasonably determined a request was a purposeless mass request.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4684&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104