Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett, who represented Central Illinois’ 52nd district which includes the cities of Champaign and Urbana, died today at Carle Hospital in Urbana around 1 p.m. He was 45. 

Bennett was hospitalized at Carle on Thursday.

Bennett attended the University of Illinois Law School and graduated in 2002 and would eventually become a Champaign County prosecutor. 

“Scott’s frequent visits to the College of Law always reflected his genuine warmth, dignity, and alumni pride,” said Bill Turner, assistant dean for advancement at the College of Law. “The law school shares in the monumental grief coursing through the Champaign-Urbana community right now and our hearts are with his wife, Stacy, and his two young children.”

Bennett first took office as state senator in 2015 to fill the vacancy of Mike Frerichs, who left the post after he was elected treasurer. 

During his time in the state senate, Bennett, a Democrat, was appointed chairman of the Senate Criminal Law committee, as well as chairman of the Higher Education committee, and vice and sub chair of numerous others. 

Bennett also filed a bill earlier this year which sought to “clarify language” in regards to the SAFE-T act, which would eliminate cash bail in Illinois. 

According to his alumni page on the College of Law website’s, Bennett also “used his experiences as a prosecutor to push for legislation to assist survivors of sexual assault” and worked to eliminate the statue of limitations on sexual crimes against children. 

Bennett also sponsored a bill that required universities to give students access to online versions of textbooks.

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