Illinois Might Become The First State To Decriminalize Sex Work

A new bill is circulating in Illinois.

Just weeks after new laws have gone into place in Illinois, new bills are already being introduced. That includes one that would make Illinois the first state to fully decriminalize sex work.

NBC Chicago reports that Equality Illinois and the Sex Worker Advisory Group have been advocating for this bill for over 3 years.

Before we get into what it says, it's important to differentiate between decriminalizing and legality. Decriminalizing something means that it's still illegal, but the person would not be prosecuted for the act.

What It Says

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Will Guzzardi (D, Chicago) and state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D, Chicago). It would "remove criminal penalties for adults engaging in consensual sex work". It would also remove arrest and conviction records for sex workers and establish a sex workers' bill of rights.

The bill does not remove criminal penalties for sex traffickers or people who abuse sex workers.

Advocates for sex workers say that the new policy would let them better vet clients and meet with them in safer places. They hope that it would reduce the stigma about sex workers.

Illinois Would Be The First

As of now, no state has fully decriminalized sex work. In 2023, Maine partially decriminalized it, but buying sex is still illegal there.

Prostitution convictions in Illinois are a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. It used to be a felony until the change in 2013.