Springfield, IL – Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) voted with fellow Democratic senators today to advance the most sweeping political transparency law in state history. The new legislation is the result of coordinated efforts between government reform groups and legislative Democrats. House Bill 1466 limits the amount of money political parties, candidates, and special interest groups can contribute during an election cycle. "We are taking a big step forward today in the reform process," Holmes said. "We have been working hard all year long to develop quality reform measures that limit the influence that individuals and committees can have on an election. Today is a big victory for this cause and I am proud to be a part of this effort."

In addition to financial limitations, the legislation also creates greater transparency in the campaign contribution process. Under the new law, candidates will be required to immediately report any contributions they receive that are greater than $1,000. It also requires political committees to report quarterly, rather than the biannual requirement that was previously in place.

"More frequent reporting means more transparency," Holmes said. "We want to ensure that the voters of Illinois have access to every dollar that candidates collect during their election campaigns."

The State Board of Elections will play a vital role in implementing the new reform measures. The Board will have the authority to conduct independent audits of political committees to ensure that the disclosure and limitation laws are being followed. Failure to comply with the audits in a timely manner will result in severe penalties. The Board will also maintain a searchable database of these violations which will be available to the public.

The final reform measure included in the new legislation is the creation of a citizen task force to oversee the new limits, make recommendations for improvements, and examine the feasibility of creating a voluntary public campaign finance system for all state offices.

Prior to today’s action, Illinois was one of only five states where unlimited campaign contributions are allowed. House Bill 1466 will be sent to Governor Quinn for his approval.