Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateIllinoisIntroduced
HB 1727: PEN CD-FELONY-SUSPEND BENEFITS
Amy Elik
HB 1727 status: Introduced — Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer (updated Sep 9, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
48OUT OF 100
Score:48/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 50/100
Constitutionality55%
Bipartisan65%
Public opinion75%
Bill summary
What changes
HB 1727 requires Illinois public pension funds to suspend benefit payments to any member indicted or charged with a felony if the board finds the felony is connected to their public service.
Who is affected
Public employees enrolled in any Illinois retirement system or pension fund.
Requirements and enforcement
Pension boards must evaluate charges to determine the nexus to employment and execute suspensions if the criteria are met; they must also manage repayments with interest if an indictment does not result in a conviction.
Costs and funding
Administrative costs for the pension funds will increase due to review requirements; funds may also bear interest costs if they must restore suspended benefits.
When it takes effect
Effective immediately upon becoming law.
Potential benefits
Reduces public funding for individuals accused of service-related corruption; enhances accountability and public confidence in pension stewardship.
Risks and tradeoffs
Conflicts with the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' by suspending property rights (pension payments) based on a charge; potential for boards to make subjective determinations.
What is still unknown
The specific standards boards will use to determine whether a felony 'relates to or arises out of' service are not defined in the bill, leaving significant room for interpretation.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Protects pension fund assets from potential fraud
- Deters criminal conduct among public employees
- Reduces long-term liabilities if convictions occur
Risks
- Increases administrative costs for pension boards
- Creates unpredictable liquidity needs if funds must be repaid with interest
- Potential for expensive litigation costs against the fund
Society
Critical outlook
40%
Benefits
- Strengthens public trust in government integrity
- Ensures public money is not used for individuals charged with corruption
- Creates uniform accountability standards for public servants
Risks
- Suspension of benefits prior to conviction conflicts with due process
- Financial hardship for households relying on pensions during legal process
- Risk of arbitrary or politically motivated board determinations
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
65%
Benefits
- Increases oversight of public employee conduct
- Mandates a formal review process for felony charges
- Empowers boards to address service-related criminal activity
Risks
- Grants broad discretion to boards to define service-related crimes
- Lacks specific due process procedural protections in the text
- Potential for inconsistent application across different pension boards
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The bill allows for the suspension of benefits prior to a criminal conviction, which poses significant constitutional due process concerns.
Analysis scope
Legislative text does not define the criteria for determining if a felony 'relates to' service.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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