Rep. Chris Miller: Governor signs controversial police bill

Oakland, IL – State Rep. Chris Miller is issuing the following statement on Gov. Pritzker’s decision to sign House Bill 3653 into law.

“House Bill 3653 is being billed as police reform legislation, but in reality, this is anything but reform. Generally speaking, when legislation is passed late at night on the last day of a lame duck session, the outcome is never a good one for the state and this bill is no exception. Keep in mind this was a 700-page bill and we only had about 40 minutes to ask questions about it.

House Bill 3653 eliminates cash bail within two years. It further restricts the use of deadly force. It eliminates the signed affidavit of complaint to expedite the decertification of officers. It places limitations on police departments in the purchase of specialized tactical gear. It mandates all police officers to wear body cameras by 2025.

This is going to make our communities less safe and it will increase the cost of policing in Illinois, which is a back doorway of defunding the police. This is a bad bill – one that I strongly opposed – but now it is the law of the land thanks to Governor Pritzker’s actions today and our communities are less safe as a result.”