Any pension reform proposal, even if the state constitution is amended, could face a legal challenge.

With Illinois taxpayers now on the hook for nearly $113 billion in unfunded liability for the state’s various public sector pension funds, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on a House pension committee have different ideas to amend the constitution. Republican Representative Tom Morrison says the state could amend the pension clause to address benefits in the future.

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Democratic Representative Elaine Nekritz says there could be an amendment to remove the pension protection clause altogether, but there may still be lawsuits.

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Any proposed constitutional amendment would have to be approved by three-fifths of voters.