BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a bill sponsored by Buffalo Grove State Sen. Adriane Johnson that expands protections for domestic violence survivors and updates Illinois law to address emerging forms of digital abuse.
Senate Bill 3020 modernizes the Illinois Domestic Violence Act by broadening the definition of harassment to include electronic tracking, monitoring, doxing, threatening or harassing communications and the nonconsensual creation or distribution of digitally altered sexual images.
Pritzker signed the measure Aug. 7 as part of a two-bill package focused on women's health and safety. The governor said the legislation was intended to ensure state protections keep pace with changing technology and the needs of domestic violence survivors.
"One very important component of making Illinois the best place to live, work, and raise a family is protecting the health and safety of women and building communities where they are safe and supported," Pritzker said during an event Monday at UI Health's Mile Square Health Center in Chicago.
Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, said the law reflects the growing ways technology can be used to stalk, intimidate or harass survivors.
"Our laws must evolve to reflect the realities of the digital era and the way that technology can be used against domestic violence survivors," Johnson said. "Survivors deserve laws that prioritize their safety, privacy and peace of mind."
Johnson, a Buffalo Grove resident, has represented Illinois' 30th Senate District since October 2020, when she was appointed to the seat. She became the first Black state senator from Lake County. The district includes all or parts of Buffalo Grove, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Indian Creek, Knollwood, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mettawa, Mundelein, North Chicago, Park City, Vernon Hills, Wadsworth, Waukegan and Wheeling
The governor's office said the law also creates a pathway for harmful information to be removed or deleted in certain cases.
"The internet has created new ways for abusers to harass, stalk and intimidate survivors long after they leave unsafe situations," Johnson said. "Protecting domestic violence survivors means recognizing that online abuse can be just as harmful and dangerous as abuse that happens in person."
The law also broadens access to remote hearings for people seeking orders of protection.
Petitioners in any Illinois county may now request a virtual hearing unless a judge determines there is good cause to deny it. Previously, guaranteed access to remote hearings was limited to counties with populations above 250,000.
The governor's office said the change is intended to allow survivors to seek an order of protection without necessarily appearing in the same courtroom as the alleged offender.
Senate Bill 3020 also clarifies that a survivor cannot be denied an order of protection solely because the alleged offender is incarcerated when the order is issued.
Courts may grant extensions of protection orders for a fixed period or longer when good cause exists, and extension hearings can be expedited when an order is nearing expiration.
The law also makes clear that a survivor does not have to show a new violation or new incident of abuse to extend an existing protection order.
Pritzker signed the bill alongside Senate Bill 3325, which expands menopause and perimenopause education options for health care professionals. Both measures were backed by the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, chaired by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
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