IL: Illinois Senate democrats push bill to ease residency rules for sex offenders

Source: prairiestatewire.com 3/14/25

Illinois Democratic state senators have proposed legislation that would reduce residency restrictions for registered child sex offenders, lowering the required distance they must maintain from schools and childcare facilities.

Introduced by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford and co-sponsored by Sens. Adriane Johnson and Mary Edly-Allen, Senate Bill 2254 seeks to amend the Criminal Code of 2012 and the state’s sex offender registration laws.

Under the proposed changes, the restricted zone around schools and childcare institutions would shrink from 500 feet to 250 feet. Additionally, the bill removes day care homes and group day care homes from the list of places offenders cannot live near. However, it clarifies that those already residing at a location before a restricted entity opens would be allowed to remain.

Another key change in SB2254 eliminates the requirement for homeless individuals on the sex offender registry to report in person to law enforcement every week. Current law mandates that individuals without a fixed residence check in weekly, but the proposed amendment would remove this provision.

The Illinois Sheriff’s Association voiced strong opposition to SB2254, arguing that reducing residency restrictions for registered child sex offenders poses a risk to public safety. In a statement, the association emphasized that the current 500-foot buffer zone is a necessary safeguard to protect children and communities from potential harm. Law enforcement officials also criticized the bill’s removal of weekly check-in requirements for homeless offenders, warning that it could make it more difficult to track individuals with a history of predatory behavior.

Read the entire article
[Illinois registrants and supporters–write, call, and show up to support this bill]

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So let’s see…

Common sense reduction in pointless and useless restrictions vs. a politician’s ability to drum up fear and stoke concern about a nonexistent problem? Which side will rule the day?

Illinois: stand up and speak up, the time is now! Reach out to the Chicago 400 Alliance. We are forming district teams to let our representatives know we support and need this bill to pass.

C400 Join District Team
Chicago 400 Alliance Commitment Card

C400 Housing Bill Action
Housing is a human need. Let’s make it legal.

“The association emphasized that the current 500-foot buffer zone is a necessary safeguard to protect children and communities from potential harm. Law enforcement officials also criticized the bill’s removal of weekly check-in requirements for homeless people, warning that it could make it more difficult to track individuals with a history of predatory behavior.”

One the one hand, these sheriffs say homeless people need to check in every week because they’re difficult to track, yet them LEOs still want a 500-foot buffer zone for the ones that are easy to track with a fixed address.

Texas is trying to go in the complete opposite direction.

Same bill as the past 2 legislative sessions, likely same result. I appreciate these state senators for sticking their necks out for us outcasts, but let’s be honest, this won’t pass. Especially when JB has his eyes set on whiter houses.