# Illinois HB2436: PUBLIC DEFENDER-COOK COUNTY

Illinois HB2436, PUBLIC DEFENDER-COOK COUNTY, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-08-15 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0225) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2436-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB2436
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: PUBLIC DEFENDER-COOK COUNTY
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-03
- Last action: 2025-08-15, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0225
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 21
- Subjects: immigration & human rights, assignments, executive
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (122 yes, 68 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population over 3,000,000, representation by the public defender in immigration cases shall be limited to those arising or being heard within the geographical boundaries of the county where the public defender has been appointed to office and to those of county residents with immigration cases outside of the county unless the county board authorizes the public defender to provide representation beyond those limits (rather than limited to those arising in immigration courts located within the geographical boundaries of the county where the public defender has been appointed to office unless the county board authorizes the public defender to provide representation outside the county).

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Free immigration legal help for noncitizens: benefit, medium. In counties with over 3,000,000 people, public defenders may represent noncitizens in immigration cases with county board approval. This help is free and needs no court appointment, but representation is not guaranteed. Cases must arise or be heard in immigration courts within the county, or involv…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Aarón M. Ortíz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adriane L. Johnson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ann M. Williams (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Barbara Hernandez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Celina Villanueva (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dagmara Avelar (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edgar González, Jr. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Graciela Guzmán (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Javier L. Cervantes (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Karina Villa (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mark L. Walker (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary Edly-Allen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mattie Hunter (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Norma Hernandez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Omar Aquino (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Robert Peters (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Thaddeus Jones (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Theresa Mah (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-30 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 37 | 19 |   |
| 2025-05-21 | Senate | Do Pass Executive; | pass | 9 | 4 |   |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 68 | 41 |   |
| 2025-03-05 | House | Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee; | pass | 8 | 4 |   |

## Actions (52)

- 2025-08-15: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0225 (House)
- 2025-08-15: Effective Date August 15, 2025 (House)
- 2025-08-15: Governor Approved (House)
- 2025-06-24: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2025-05-30: Passed Both Houses (House)
- 2025-05-30: Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000 (Senate)
- 2025-05-23: Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-05-23: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 23, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: Second Reading (Senate)
- 2025-05-21: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 22, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-05-21: Do Pass Executive; 009-004-000 (Senate)
- 2025-05-21: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter (Senate)
- 2025-05-15: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones (House)
- 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane L. Johnson (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: Assigned to Executive (Senate)
- 2025-05-13: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-05-06: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán (Senate)
- 2025-05-06: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: First Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Arrive in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Motion to Reconsider Vote - Withdrawn Rep. Ann M. Williams (House)
- 2025-04-10: Motion Filed to Reconsider Vote Rep. Ann M. Williams (House)
- 2025-04-10: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 068-041-000 (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez (House)
- 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams (House)
- 2025-03-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar (House)
- 2025-03-18: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-03-18: Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-03-06: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2025-03-05: Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee; 008-004-000 (House)
- 2025-03-05: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Immigration & Human Rights Committee; by Voice Vote (House)
- 2025-03-04: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Immigration & Human Rights Committee (House)
- 2025-02-27: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-02-27: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House)
- 2025-02-27: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah (House)
- 2025-02-25: Assigned to Immigration & Human Rights Committee (House)
- 2025-02-04: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-02-04: First Reading (House)
- 2025-02-03: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436enr.pdf)
- House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436ham001.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436enr.pdf)
- [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436ham001.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB2436.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2436-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).