SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A new bill was proposed last week in the Illinois House that would require law enforcement agencies that encrypt their police scanner transmissions to allow certain media to access that traffic.

According to HB4339, a law enforcement agency that encrypts police scanner transmissions must provide, by license or otherwise, real-time access to those transmissions to broadcast stations, broadcasting stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers.

If the measure becomes law, it will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

Currently, law enforcement agencies in Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County encrypt their scanner traffic.