PRIA Logo™
IllinoisHB2436104th General Assembly (2025–2026)House

PUBLIC DEFENDER-COOK COUNTY

Sponsored By: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic)

Became Law

immigration & human rightsassignmentsexecutive

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Free defense lawyer if you can't pay

The law requires the Public Defender to represent you for free if you are in custody or charged and the judge finds you cannot afford a lawyer. In juvenile cases where the court appoints a lawyer, the Public Defender represents the child for free. After a conviction, if the Public Defender thinks a review is needed in the interests of justice, they must file it. If you agree and the judge finds a Public Defender would harm your rights, the court must appoint a different lawyer and pay that lawyer as the law allows.

Free immigration lawyers in Cook County

In counties with more than 3,000,000 people, and if the county board agrees, the Public Defender can represent noncitizens in immigration court for free. The help covers immigration courts inside the county and county residents with cases outside the county. The county board can allow the Public Defender to handle more cases outside the county.

Lawyers for kids under 15 during questioning

For cases involving a child who was under 15, the Public Defender can meet with and represent the child during police questioning for free in counties with a full‑time public defender office. In counties without a full‑time office, police must let the child consult a county‑contracted defense lawyer during questioning. Free Public Defender help ends at the first court date if the judge decides the child is not indigent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Aarón M. Ortíz

    Democratic • House

  • Adriane Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ann M. Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Celina Villanueva

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dagmara Avelar

    Democratic • House

  • Edgar González, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Karina Villa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mark L. Walker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mattie Hunter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Norma Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Omar Aquino

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Peters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Thaddeus Jones

    Democratic • House

  • Theresa Mah

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 122 • No: 68

Senate vote • 5/30/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 37 • No: 19

Senate vote • 5/21/2025

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote • 4/10/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 68 • No: 41

House vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee;

Yes: 8 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0225

    8/15/2025House

  2. Effective Date August 15, 2025

    8/15/2025House

  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/24/2025House

  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/30/2025House

  6. Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000

    5/30/2025Senate

  7. Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025

    5/23/2025Senate

  8. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker

    5/23/2025Senate

  9. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva

    5/22/2025Senate

  10. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 23, 2025

    5/22/2025Senate

  11. Second Reading

    5/22/2025Senate

  12. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 22, 2025

    5/21/2025Senate

  13. Do Pass Executive; 009-004-000

    5/21/2025Senate

  14. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter

    5/21/2025Senate

  15. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones

    5/15/2025House

  16. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

    5/13/2025Senate

  17. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

    5/13/2025Senate

  18. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters

    5/13/2025Senate

  19. Assigned to Executive

    5/13/2025Senate

  20. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025

    5/13/2025Senate

  21. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán

    5/6/2025Senate

  22. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

    5/6/2025Senate

  23. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    5/1/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Assignments

    4/14/2025Senate

  25. First Reading

    4/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation