Media Liability in Illinois

Illinois Public Act 104-0431 expressly adds freedom of the press to the Citizen Participation Act and creates a stay for proceedings and discovery between the moving and responding parties when a qualifying motion is filed. The Act was approved on August 21, 2025, but says its changes apply only to actions commenced on or after January 1, 2026. Media buyers should ask their broker how the proposed defense terms address a motion and related expenses; the statute does not decide policy response.

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Illinois?

Check when the action began
The amended Act took effect when approved on August 21, 2025, but its new changes apply only to actions commenced on or after January 1, 2026. The filing date therefore matters when counsel evaluates which version applies; do not assume the new stay rule governs every pending dispute. ^1,²
Press activity is expressly included
The amended language includes freedom of the press among petition, speech, association, and participation in government. It says the claim need not solely pertain to those rights and that the claimant’s motives do not determine applicability; an immunity provision separately excludes activity not genuinely aimed at procuring favorable government action, result, or outcome. ¹
A motion can pause the case
For covered actions, filing the motion stays proceedings between the parties, including discovery, through the ruling and appeal window. The court may allow limited discovery; it may also hear unrelated motions or an injunction motion addressing an imminent public-health or safety threat for good cause. ¹
Fee awards are not one-sided in every case
A moving party that prevails receives reasonable fees and costs for the motion. A responding party that prevails receives them only if the court finds the motion frivolous or filed solely to delay. Ask the broker how the policy treats motion-related legal costs without assuming the statute requires reimbursement by an insurer. ¹

Which Media Liability Providers Have Illinois License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Illinois. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ¹³
Coalition identifies media liability within its Active Cyber policy.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹⁴
Corgi lists media liability insurance among its coverage offerings.

Who Regulates Insurance in Illinois?

Illinois Department of Insurance

The Department licenses and oversees insurers and insurance producers doing business in Illinois, reviews regulated insurance activity, and investigates complaints about coverage, claims, premiums, and sales. ^3,^5,⁴

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: (866) 445-5364

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Illinois

Reported tax rate. 3.5% of taxable premium plus a 0.04% stamping fee; separate 1% fire marshal tax on taxable fire premium ^7,^6,^10,^11,⁸

When Illinois is the insured’s home state, the broker reports and remits a 3.5% tax on gross taxable surplus-line premium less returned taxable premium. The separate SLAI stamping fee is 0.04% for policies effective on or after January 1, 2023; a 1% fire marshal tax also applies to taxable fire premium.

Surplus Line Association of Illinois

Illinois guaranty fund limits: For covered claims against a member insurer, the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund generally caps its obligation at $500,000 per claim; workers’ compensation claims are excepted from that dollar cap. This fund does not protect policies issued by nonadmitted surplus-lines insurers. The net-worth exclusions apply to covered claims against member insurers. ⁸
Illinois FAIR Plan: If you cannot obtain basic property coverage in the voluntary market, the Illinois FAIR Plan offers a residual-market option for eligible property. Check its current eligibility and coverage limits before relying on it for a commercial location. ⁹

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Media Liability in Illinois

Does the proposed policy explain how defense-cost advancement works for a motion that may pause discovery and other proceedings?
How does the policy define related claims if a publication and later coverage or commentary prompt separate demands?
Who controls counsel and settlement decisions when an early motion could change the path of a press-related case?

Media Liability Insurance in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

When do the 2025 amendments apply?

Public Act 104-0431 was approved August 21, 2025, and says its amendments apply only to actions commenced on or after January 1, 2026. Have counsel check the action’s commencement date and applicable version. ^1,²

Does the Citizen Participation Act require media insurance to pay motion costs?

No. The Act states litigation procedures and fee awards between parties. Insurance response depends on the contract and claim facts, which the broker should review with you. ¹

Sources for Media Liability Insurance in Illinois

1
Illinois Senate Bill 1181, enrolled text, 104th General Assembly. Illinois General Assembly; Amendments to 735 ILCS 110/5, 15, and 25; new §§17 and 32; lines 62–140 of enrolled text cover applicability, press language, stay, fees, prospective application, and effective date. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
Illinois Public Act 104-0431, Public Expression Protection. Illinois General Assembly; Act record and effective-date history: governor approval and effective date August 21, 2025; enrolled text identifies January 1, 2026 action-date applicability. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
Illinois Department of Insurance. Illinois Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage and agency information. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
File a Complaint. Illinois Department of Insurance; Official insurance complaint intake and consumer phone. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Agent Lookup. Illinois Department of Insurance; Department page explains use of Illinois SBS Lookup for agents, brokers, and business entities; Department home provides company license lookup. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Calculating & Remitting Taxes: Surplus Line Tax. Surplus Line Association of Illinois; Current surplus-line tax applicability and rate. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
215 ILCS 5/445: Surplus line. Illinois General Assembly; Subsections (3)(a), (12): tax and code applicability. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
215 ILCS 5: Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund. Illinois General Assembly; Article XXXIV: cap, net-worth exclusions, exceptions, and non-admitted insurer exclusion. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Illinois FAIR Plan Association. Illinois FAIR Plan Association; Plan overview and current eligibility information. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Stamping Fees: Fee Calculation. Surplus Line Association of Illinois; Current stamping fee 0.04% of premium for policies effective January 1, 2023 or later; may be passed to insured. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
50 Ill. Adm. Code § 2701.130: Taxes. Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; Surplus line producer pays 1% fire marshal tax on gross premiums less returned premiums for insurance subject to the Fire Investigation Act. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
13
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
14
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
16
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
18
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
19
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Media Liability in Illinois

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Illinois?

Check when the action began

Press activity is expressly included

A motion can pause the case

Fee awards are not one-sided in every case

Which Media Liability Providers Have Illinois License Records?

Coalition

Corgi