Legislation in Illinois that would use marijuana tax revenue to provide direct cash payments to people disproportionately affected by past marijuana enforcement has gained five additional sponsors in the state House of Representatives.
According to the Illinois General Assembly’s official legislative record, House Bill 5815 received four new cosponsors on October 7 and another on October 8, bringing its total sponsorship to six lawmakers.
Representatives Theresa Mah (D), Norma Hernandez (D), Lilian Jiménez (D) and Kevin John Olickal (D) joined the legislation on October 7. Representative Sonya M. Harper (D) added her support the following day.
The bill was introduced September 17 by Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D).
HB 5815 would establish the Illinois Freedom Program as a component of the state’s existing Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program, which directs marijuana tax revenue toward communities disproportionately affected by drug enforcement and economic disinvestment.
Unlike the existing program’s emphasis on community grants, the proposed Illinois Freedom Program would distribute money directly to eligible individuals who experienced disproportionate impacts from historical marijuana enforcement.
The legislation would establish a dedicated Illinois Freedom Fund within the state treasury, financed through increases in certain marijuana tax revenues above a baseline established for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2026.
Money deposited into the fund would be reserved for direct payments to eligible individuals rather than general government expenditures.
The proposal also contains provisions intended to protect existing R3 funding. Under the bill, creation of the new payment program could not reduce or delay the marijuana tax revenue allocated to existing R3 grantees below their established baseline funding levels.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, working with the R3 Program Board, would be authorized to develop regulations governing administration of the program and distribution of funds.
The proposal does not establish a specific payment amount for each eligible person. Funding would depend on the additional marijuana tax revenue allocated to the new fund and subsequent appropriations.
If approved, the legislation would take effect July 1, 2027.
