(a) The printed statute books of the United States, and of this State, and of the several states, of the territories and late territories of the United States, purporting to be printed under the authority of the United States, any state or territory, shall be evidence in all courts and places in this State, of the Acts therein contained. (b) The acts and laws of the territory of Illinois and all of the laws and joint resolutions passed prior to January 1, 1917, at all regular and special sessions of the General Assemblies, printed and published by the State of Illinois, shall be admissible in evidence in all courts and proceedings in this State, and shall be considered as duly authenticated copies of the originals.
8-1104.Printed statutes.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 11. Statutes and Reports · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentencePrinted statute books purporting to be published under federal, Illinois, or other state or territorial authority are evidence of the acts they contain, and pre-1917 Illinois territorial and General Assembly laws printed by the State count as duly authenticated copies of the originals.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1104
Plain-English Summary
Subsection (a) establishes the evidentiary status of official printed statute books, whether federal, Illinois, or from other states, territories, and late territories of the United States, as evidence of the acts they contain, so long as the book purports to be printed under the relevant authority.
Subsection (b) addresses a specific historical category: the acts and laws of the territory of Illinois, and all laws and joint resolutions passed before January 1, 1917, at regular and special sessions of the General Assembly. When printed and published by the State of Illinois, those materials are admissible in evidence and treated as duly authenticated copies of the originals.
Together the two subsections let a party prove old statutory text or another jurisdiction's law from an official printed edition, without separately producing or certifying the original document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a printed statute book usable as evidence under subsection (a)?
It must purport to be printed under the authority of the United States, a state, or a territory.
Does this section cover Illinois's own statute books?
Yes. Statute books of this State are included alongside those of the United States and other states and territories.
What special rule applies to pre-1917 Illinois laws?
Laws and joint resolutions passed before January 1, 1917, and printed and published by the State, are admissible in evidence and treated as duly authenticated copies of the originals.
Why single out laws from before 1917?
To address older Illinois territorial and General Assembly enactments whose original documents may be hard to produce, letting the State's own printed editions stand in for them.
Do these printed books need separate certification to be used in court?
No. The statute itself makes them evidence, and treats the pre-1917 category as duly authenticated copies without further certification.
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
Also known as: illinois printed statute books evidencepre-1917 illinois laws evidenceterritory of illinois laws evidence