Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Lake Barrington, recently filed legislation targeting the tracking and maintenance of constituent witness slips filed on legislation as it winds through the legislative process.

Martin noted in a statement on his website that he filed the bill after seeing tens of thousands of constituents file witness slips for or against controversial measures only to see the witness slip count set at zero if hearing dates ultimately were switched.

“My legislation amends the Legislative Information System to provide electronic tracking of all witness slips to follow along with the legislation for which it was filed – whether the committee hearing date for the bill is changed, or if such legislation is removed and placed on another House or Senate bill,” McLaughlin posted on his website.

Martin noted in the statement on his website that the legislation would ensure that witness slips submitted to the General Assembly regarding proposed legislation under consideration before committees would be moved along with the legislation to ensure constituents’ voices are heard.

“This is a straightforward proposal which puts the interests of our constituents at the forefront and promotes the utmost transparency,” McLaughlin concluded in the statement on his website.

According to Ballotpedia, McLaughlin was elected to a second term as representative for the 52nd District last fall, getting 53% of the vote to top Democrat Mary Morgan.

McLaughlin serves on the Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and IT, Elections & Campaign Finance, Ethics & Elections, and Judiciary – Civil committees, according to Ballotpedia.