Rep. Charles Meier (R-108) sponsored 38 bills in the first quarter of 2019, two more than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 39 bills, 20 less than the average, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of data made available by the Illinois General Assembly.
During the first quarter, 119 representatives sponsored legislation, with Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) sponsoring the most with 940 bills. There were 119 representatives that co-sponsored legislation, with Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57) co-sponsoring 169 bills, more than any other representative.
When a bill is introduced to the House, the clerk reads the bill title before the House and it is automatically referred to the Rules Committee. If the Rules Committee thinks that the bill merits further consideration, it is assigned to another committee. If the committee reports favorably on the bill to the House, or if the committee has been discharged with respect to the bill, the bill will be ready for its second reading before the House.
According to House rules, a bill can be passed only after the House clerk has read the bill before the House on three separate days. However, many bills are introduced as shell bills in order to circumvent the rule requiring three readings before they can be passed. These shell bills, which are far more common in Illinois than in other states, are created with the purpose of beginning the often lengthy process of passing a new piece of legislation. But since they would only make trivial or meaningless changes in the law in the form that they initially appear, they are either left to die or are later changed to something more substantive that can be rushed to passage without bothering with procedure. This has the unfortunate effect of leading to laws that may not have been debated or discussed sufficiently.
Representatives that sponsor an inordinately large number of bills are often sponsoring many shell bills.
The following table shows the bills that Meier sponsored in the first quarter.
JUDICIAL ELECTION/RETENTION
FIREARMS-NON RESIDENT MILITARY
VEH CD-DL APP-WRITTEN EXAM
VEH CD-AIR FORCE PLATE FEES
WILDLIFE-LAND PERMIT-RESIDENCY
FIREARM OWNERS ID-18 YEARS
VEH CD-ELECTRIC LICENSE FEE
AGR-COOPERATIVE TRUST FUND
ULTRASOUND OPPORTUNITY ACT
POKER RUNS-MULTIPLE COUNTIES
PENSION OBLIGATION REPAYMENT
FIREARM DEALERS-FEE AMOUNTS
COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED LIVING
MHDD CD-DEVELOP DIS-SEX ED
VEH CD-VETERAN HEALTH INFO
VIDEO GAMING-VIOLATION NOTICE
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER-CRIM CHECK
LARRY MILLS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
ENCOURAGE MILKWEED GROWTH
COMMEND-EXCEL BOTTLING CO.
PER MILE DRIVING TAX-OPPOSE
The following table shows the bills to which Meier was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.
Rep. Terri Bryant (R-115)
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
Rep. Mary E. Flowers (D-31)
COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED LIVING
Rep. Thomas Morrison (R-54)
VEH CD-ELECTRIC LICENSE FEE
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
CRIM PROSECUTIONS-SEX OFFENSES
Rep. Michael D. Unes (R-91); Sen. Jil Tracy (R-47)
SCH CD-DIPLOMA-MILITARY-KIA
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
AG FAIR-FISCAL ACCOUNTING
Rep. Andrew S. Chesney (R-89)
WILDLIFE-ENDANGERED SPECIES
Rep. Andrew S. Chesney (R-89)
WILDLIFE-ENDANGERED SPECIES
Rep. Michael Halpin (D-72); Sen. Neil Anderson (R-36)
OUT-OF-STATE INVOL ADM-REPEAL
Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-77)
FIRE PROTECTION DIST-CONTRACTS
Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi (R-47)
SUICIDE PREVENTION-THERAPY
HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
Rep. Mary E. Flowers (D-31)
Rep. Daniel Swanson (R-74)
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER-CRIM CHECK
Rep. Ann M. Williams (D-11); Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18)
LOCAL WIND ENERGY REGULATION
Rep. Ann M. Williams (D-11); Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18)
LOCAL WIND ENERGY REGULATION
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
TAXPAYER FISCAL CHARTER ACT
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
SCH CD-IN GOD WE TRUST DISPLAY
Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
Rep. Kambium Buckner (D-26)
VEH CD-DISABILITIES AWARENESS
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
AUTHORIZED ELECTRONIC MONITOR
Rep. Monica Bristow (D-111)
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
PENCD-SERS-CONSERVATION POLICE
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
WILDLIFE CD-APPRENTICE HUNTERS
Rep. Michael T. Marron (R-104)
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
EGG/EGG PRODUCTS-NEST RUN EGGS
Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60)
Rep. Daniel Swanson (R-74)
INS CODE-TICK-BORNE DISEASE
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
Rep. Terri Bryant (R-115)
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PROCESS
Rep. Monica Bristow (D-111)
MEMORIAL-CAPT. JAKE RINGERING
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)