HB-5170 The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act

Author/Sponsor: Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago)with co-sponsor Reps. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) and Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)
Date Introduced: 8 February 2012
Date Enacted: 5 March 2014

Description:

• A bill to upgrade the IL civil union law to full a marriage equality law.
• 5 November 2013, the IL House approved the bill, and the Senate concurred.
• 20 November 2013, in Chicago, IL, at a desk once used by President Abraham Lincoln, Governor Quinn signed the bill, upgrading the civil IL union law to a full marriage equality law. Originally the law was supposed to take effect 1 June 2014.
• 5 March 2014, IL attorney general Lisa Madigan told county clerks to begin issuing same-gender civil marriage licenses immediately instead of waiting until 1 June 2014 when the law passed in 2013 would have taken effect, and IL Governor Pat Quinn said the IL Department of Public Health would accept all marriage licenses issued by any IL county clerk.