Chris Miller, a State Representative from Illinois, has expressed concerns over Senate Bill 328 (SB 328), suggesting it will deter businesses and lead to expensive lawsuits for taxpayers. Miller’s remarks were shared on Facebook.
“Pritzker keeps pushing people and businesses out of Illinois and they are speaking up,” said Chris G. Miller, according to Facebook. “Sixteen business groups released a joint statement shortly after the governor signed SB328 into law. We are disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not take this opportunity to protect the citizens, business community and economy of Illinois by vetoing SB 328. Businesses and taxpayers will now be vulnerable to predatory lawsuits that will clog up our legal system and stymie our economic growth.”
Illinois Senate Bill 328 broadens jurisdiction by mandating that any foreign corporation registered to do business in the state consents to being sued there, even if the events in question occurred elsewhere. According to Greenberg Traurig, this positions Illinois alongside Pennsylvania as the only states adopting a consent-based jurisdiction model, prompting worries about increased litigation against out-of-state companies.
Yahoo News reports that sixteen major business associations, including those representing trucking, manufacturing, and retail sectors, have publicly opposed SB 328 following its enactment. They argue that the legislation could subject companies to lawsuits unrelated to their operations within Illinois. Their statement highlights concerns about creating an unfriendly legal environment for employers and investors.
The Protecting American Consumers Taskforce has indicated that residents of Illinois already incur more than $7,000 in excess costs per person due to lawsuit abuse. The task force warns that SB 328 is likely to exacerbate these expenses, potentially increasing litigation costs for both households and businesses across the state.
According to Wikipedia, Chris G. Miller is a Republican who has represented Illinois’s 101st District in the House of Representatives since 2019. He is a third-generation farmer from Oakland, Illinois, managing a cattle and grain operation in southeastern Illinois and is recognized for his conservative stance on business and economic matters.
