An action to restrain and enjoin the disbursement of public funds by any officer or officers of the State government may be maintained either by the Attorney General or by any citizen and taxpayer of the State.
11-301.Who may file action.
Article XI. Injunction · Part 3. Disbursement of Public Moneys · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceAuthorizes an action to restrain the disbursement of State public funds by a state officer, brought either by the Attorney General or by any citizen and taxpayer of Illinois.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/11-301
Plain-English Summary
Section 11-301 opens Part 3's separate track for injunctions aimed at stopping State officers from disbursing public funds. It names who may bring such an action: the Attorney General, acting for the State, or any citizen and taxpayer of Illinois, acting on their own. Either can seek to restrain and enjoin the disbursement of public funds by an officer or officers of the State government.
Part 3 then splits into separate procedural tracks depending on who brings the case. Section 11-302 sets out how the Attorney General's action proceeds, while Section 11-303 requires a private citizen and taxpayer to first obtain leave of court by petition before filing the actual complaint -- an extra screening step that does not apply when the Attorney General is the plaintiff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sue to stop the State from disbursing public funds in Illinois?
Section 11-301 allows such an action to be brought either by the Attorney General or by any citizen and taxpayer of the State.
Does a private citizen have the same standing as the Attorney General to bring this kind of action?
What kind of relief does this action seek?
The action seeks to restrain and enjoin the disbursement of public funds by an officer or officers of the State government.
Does this section apply to local government spending or only State funds?
The text refers to disbursement of public funds by an officer or officers of the State government, tying the action to State government disbursements.
What is the next procedural step once a citizen decides to bring this kind of action?
Section 11-303 requires the citizen to commence by petitioning for leave to file the action, attaching a copy of the proposed complaint, before the complaint itself can be filed.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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