SB 3985 Illinois Senate · 104th Regular Session

RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY-EMERGENCIES

Summary
Creates the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency Act that may be referred to as the PRAISE Act. Provides that a place of worship is exempted from any order, rule, regulation, ordinance, resolution, or other directive issued by the State government or a unit of local government under an emergency or health or safety determination, declaration, or proclamation that requires closure or limitation of any business or other facility otherwise open to public use or patronage. Requires the provisions to be construed to give religious organizations and the organizations' places of worship the same degree of freedom to meet as is given to the most favored entity or set of entities. Allows a civil action by a person or religious organization that has been burdened or impaired by a violation of the Act to seek the following relief: injunctive orders, compensatory damages, nominal damages, a finding of a violation, and, when malice or recklessness is demonstrated, punitive damages. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to make a conforming change.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Last action Feb 6, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jason Plummer
Jason Plummer
RRepublican
IL
55