Illinois Bills Force Media Access When Police Encrypt Scanners

Illinois is weighing a pair of companion bills — SB0265 and HB3719 — that would require any law enforcement agency encrypting its police scanner transmissions to provide real-time access to news media. As of August 2026, both bills remain stalled in committee, but the continued wave of police radio encryption across the state gives scanner listeners and journalists a concrete stake in whether Springfield moves these proposals forward.

What the Illinois Bills Would Do

Senate Bill 0265, introduced by Sen. Steve Stadelman on January 24, 2025, and House Bill 3719, introduced by Rep. LaShawn Ford on February 7, 2025, would amend the Emergency Telephone System Act (50 ILCS 205/30) to mandate that any law enforcement agency encrypting its scanner dispatch must provide real-time access — "by license or otherwise" — to broadcast stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers (BillTrack50). The language is designed to close the transparency gap that opens when public-safety radio traffic moves behind encryption.

The Encryption Context: Galesburg and Chicago

Illinois scanner listeners have felt the encryption squeeze firsthand. Galesburg and Knox County agencies went dark on the StarCom21 P25 trunked system around June 1, 2026 — the same statewide network that carries Illinois State Police and hundreds of local departments. Meanwhile, Chicago has run a 30-minute delayed feed since 2022, meaning listeners hear dispatch calls a half-hour after they happen, if at all. These local encryption rollouts give the stalled legislation new urgency: the longer encryption spreads without a media-access safeguard, the less real-time information flows to the public.

Why the Bills Matter for Scanner Listeners

For hobbyists and newsrooms alike, the Illinois bills represent a potential model for other states wrestling with the same issue. If passed, Illinois would become the Midwest's first "encrypt equals mandatory media access" state — a significant win for scanner-fed transparency. Similar debates are playing out in New York, where the Police Radio Transparency Act awaits the governor's signature, and in California, where dozens of agencies have kept dispatch in the clear but encryption pressures continue to mount.

For scanner owners, the immediate reality is that many Illinois municipalities remain in the clear on StarCom21 and conventional VHF/UHF channels. A pre-programmed police scanner like the Baofeng UV-5R Mini can still pick up these open dispatch channels right now, making it a useful tool for Illinois residents who want to monitor their local public safety traffic.

Status: Stalled, Not Dead

SB0265 was referred to the Senate Assignments Committee on January 24, 2025, and has seen no further movement. HB3719 was re-referred to the House Rules Committee on March 21, 2025 — a common procedural holding pattern in the Illinois General Assembly. Neither bill has had a hearing in the current legislative cycle. However, sponsor push or a new encryption controversy — like Galesburg's June blackout — could revive them. The Illinois General Assembly operates year-round, and companion bills can be amended or cross-filed to keep momentum alive.

What This Means for Other States

The Illinois approach — tying encryption permission to a media-access requirement — is one of several legislative strategies emerging across the U.S. Other states have pursued outright delays on encryption (New York's transparency bill) or blanket media access mandates. The stalled Illinois bills are nevertheless a marker: lawmakers are paying attention to the encryption trend, and the window for public input on these issues is open now, not after more agencies go dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SB0265 in Illinois?

SB0265 is an Illinois Senate bill introduced January 2025 that would require law enforcement agencies encrypting their police radios to provide real-time access to news media. It is sponsored by Sen. Steve Stadelman.

What is HB3719 in Illinois?

HB3719 is the House companion to SB0265, introduced by Rep. LaShawn Ford. It contains identical language requiring media access when dispatch is encrypted.

Are these bills still active?

Both are technically pending — SB0265 in Assignments and HB3719 in House Rules — but neither has advanced since early 2025. They can be revived by the sponsors at any time.

Does the bill affect police scanners used by hobbyists?

The bill's language specifically requires access for "newspapers, radio broadcast stations, and broadcast stations." It does not guarantee public or hobbyist access, though media feeds often remain publicly accessible online.

Which Illinois agencies have encrypted so far?

Galesburg Police and Knox County Sheriff went dark on StarCom21 around June 1, 2026. Chicago has maintained a 30-minute delay since 2022. Illinois State Police have long operated encrypted on StarCom21. Many other municipalities remain in the clear.

Could these bills pass in 2026?

It would require the sponsors to move the bills out of committee, a floor vote, and the governor's signature. While possible, there is no announced timeline or hearing scheduled. Public pressure and new encryption incidents could accelerate the timeline.

Bottom line: Illinois SB0265 and HB3719 would create a Midwest-first media access mandate when police encrypt their radios. Both bills are stalled but not dead — and the ongoing encryption of Galesburg and other agencies keeps the transparency question very much alive for Illinois scanner listeners.