Illinois Senate Republicans have introduced a legislative package aimed at increasing protections for victims of domestic violence. The move follows data from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which reported 137 domestic violence–related deaths in 2024—a 14 percent rise from the previous year and a 140 percent increase since 2022.
Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R–Downers Grove), who was elected to represent the state’s 41st Senate District in 2017, said, “As a former prosecutor in Cook County, I understand not just the physical toll that domestic violence has on victims but also the stress, fear, time, and resources it can take to follow through with legal action. This legislative package is just one step towards lowering the domestic violence death rate, empowering and protecting victims and, hopefully, helping to end the cycle of domestic violence that has hurt – and taken – far too many lives.” Curran succeeded Christine Radogno as senator for this district.
Curran’s Senate Bill 3139 proposes establishing a cooling-off period in serious domestic violence cases by requiring suspects to demonstrate they do not pose a real and present danger before being released pretrial. The bill covers violations of orders of protection, civil no contact orders, stalking no contact orders, as well as cases involving domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery.
Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) introduced Senate Bill 3140 to increase penalties for abusers who violate orders of protection. Under this proposal, such violations would be classified as felonies rather than misdemeanors. Repeated violations would result in higher-class felony charges.
“Currently, violating an order of protection is charged as a misdemeanor – allowing abusers to attack victims over and over again, terrorizing their victims with few legal consequences,” McClure said. “This legislation will give law enforcement more options to enforce violations, and increased charges will hopefully result in jail time, keeping abusers away from victims, and allow the victim to get services.”
Senator Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) filed two additional bills: Senate Bill 3141 would impose minimum holding times for repeat violations of protective or no contact orders; Senate Bill 3142 would require courts to consider prior convictions across different types of protective orders when determining penalties for repeat offenders.
“Our goal is simple: protect victims, hold abusers accountable, and give law enforcement and courts the tools they need to intervene before another life is lost,” Hills said. “Illinois families deserve a system that takes domestic violence seriously, stands with survivors, and acts before it is too late.”
At a press conference announcing these proposals at the Capitol, Dakota Sebring—a survivor of domestic violence—spoke about her experience under current Illinois law. She explained how her abuser repeatedly violated his order of protection without facing significant consequences.
“I had faith in our system and believed these orders meant safety and stability for myself and my child,” Sebring said. “But current law leaves the burden on victims to prove danger and face repeated violations before real consequences happen. If increasing these protections saves just one victim, then it is worth it, and I encourage all lawmakers to consider how they too can help stop this deadly cycle.”
The full press conference can be viewed at https://youtu.be/cggmkFU_f6g
