Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislative Reference Bureau was created in 1913, the first of the modern legislative service agencies in Illinois. The Bureau carries out a wide range of functions relating to the legal and technical operation of the Illinois General Assembly. The primary task of the Bureau is the drafting and preparation of legislation, including bills, amendments, resolutions, and conference committee reports. The vast majority of all legislation considered by the General Assembly is drafted by the Bureau's staff, which in a typical biennium produces more than 31,000 documents. Attorneys employed by the Bureau provide legal advice and drafting services to legislators of each chamber, working on a nonpartisan basis in a confidential lawyer-client relationship. The Bureau's drafting staff also includes resolution drafters who draft resolutions and provide other drafting assistance.