On August 15, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 328 into law, effective immediately. The bill makes significant changes to the law governing jurisdiction in Illinois, namely changing Illinois from a specific jurisdiction state to a general jurisdiction state for actions that allege injury or illness resulting from exposure to a toxic substance.
Since the passage of Senate Bill 328 on June 1, 2025, there had been movement calling on Illinois Governor Pritzker to veto the bill. Forty-seven House and Senate Republicans filed a lawsuit on June 17, 2025,
Tony McCombie, et al vs. Emmanuel Chris Welch
in his Capacity as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Don Harmon in his Capacity as President of the Illinois Senate, Case No. 2024MR000281 (Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, Sangamon County, 2025), challenging the constitutionality of the manner in which the
legislation was passed. The lawsuit is still pending. Judge Jack Davis held hearings on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss on August 13, 2025, and ordered the parties to submit proposed orders and findings by August 20, 2025, suggesting a ruling will be made soon.
Despite the pending litigation, Senate Bill 328 remains in effect as Illinois law does not require the resolution of pending lawsuits for a bill to go into effect.
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