# Illinois HB3363: STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER Illinois HB3363, STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-08-15 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0300); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB3363-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Illinois HB3363 - State: Illinois - Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-07 - Last action: 2025-08-15, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0300 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 46 - Subjects: judiciary - criminal, assignments, executive - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (371 yes, 185 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 11 ## Summary Creates the State Public Defender Act. Creates the Office of State Public Defender as an agency of State government. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be an independent agency within the judicial branch of government and the Office's records shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be under the supervision and direction of the State Public Defender. Sets forth the powers and duties of the State Public Defender, including the duties of the initial State Public Defender. Provides that the initial State Public Defender shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. Sets forth specified duties and responsibilities of the initial State Public Defender. Creates the State Public Defender Commission. Sets forth membership and duties of the Commission. Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Provides that any 2 or more counties of this State that are within the same judicial circuit may by joint resolution of the several county boards involved create a common Office of public defender for the counties so joined or allow representation in one county by the public defender appointed in the collaborating county (rather than 2 or more adjoining counties within the same judicial circuit may create a common Office of public defender). Provides that, when a vacancy occurs in the position of public defender, the State Public Defender shall nominate and the State Public Defender Commission shall appoint a properly qualified public defender using the application and selection process developed under the State Public Defender Act. Removes certain differences based upon county populations. Removes provisions relating to the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that a public defender may be removed only for good cause or dereliction of duty after notice and a hearing before the State Public Defender Commission (rather than by the president of the county board after a notice and hearing of the county board). Modifies how a public defender is compensated and how moneys in the Public Defender Fund may be used. Makes other changes. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Free lawyers for eligible low-income people: benefit, high. The State Public Defender or a designee must represent eligible people without a fee when appointed by a court. For qualifying matters where counsel may be appointed, the person must lack a lawyer and be found unable to afford one. The law also requires free representation when appointed under the… - Public defenders gain pay parity rules: benefit, medium. A full-time chief county public defender must earn at least 95% of the county State's Attorney's annual pay. The county qualifies for the same state reimbursement amount provided for its State's Attorney. State funding for assistant defenders must at least match funding for assistant State's Attorn… - New quality standards for public defense: benefit, low. The State Public Defender must draft trial-defense standards for the State Public Defender Commission to approve and publish. Standards must cover workload limits, minimum support staffing, lawyer experience, supervision, independence, and conflicts of interest. They must address private meeting sp… - Public reports track defense system performance: benefit, low. The State Public Defender Commission must set performance measures, collect statewide defense data, and recommend improvements. Reporting covers cases, workloads, staffing, pay, spending, eligibility decisions, and county lawyer qualifications. The rules cover the state office, Commission, and all… - State office strengthens county defense support: benefit, low. The law creates an independent State Public Defender office in Illinois's judicial branch. It must provide county defenders with digital evidence storage, case-management software, and legal research tools, considering existing systems. It must plan recruitment and retention with competitive pay sc… - Clients face narrower defender malpractice claims: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, expanded immunity limits clients' ability to recover damages for legal or professional malpractice. It covers state, county, and appellate defenders, their assistants, and people or organizations employing, supervising, assisting, or contracting for their services. The pr… - County defense chiefs face new rules: mixed, low. Below 3,000,000 residents, a 4-to-6-member local committee recommends candidates for chief defender vacancies; the State Public Defender Commission appoints them. Above 3,000,000 residents, the county board president appoints the chief with board approval. Chiefs appointed after the Act takes effec… - Shared defender jobs bar private practice: mixed, low. Attorneys sharing a public defender position share its salary and employee benefits. Each receives seniority credit based on the share of time worked. These attorneys cannot practice law privately. The law states no salary amount. - Counties support and share defense offices: mixed, low. Adjoining counties in the same judicial circuit can adopt joint resolutions to share an office or defenders across county lines. Chief defenders can appoint licensed assistant lawyers and other needed employees without the former population limit. County boards set employee numbers and pay, and cou… - County defense grants require local spending: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the Public Defender Fund supports counties with 3,000,000 people or fewer, subject to appropriations. The law sets no funding amount. A chief county defender must request support, and the State Public Defender Commission must approve the distribution. Grants add to county… - Defense privacy limits public records access: mixed, low. The law shields specified public-defense records from public inspection and copying. Protected records include client identities, case files, investigations, privileged lawyer-client materials, and records unavailable through court discovery. It also shields training materials and client consultati… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Adriane L. Johnson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Bill Cunningham (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Cristina Castro (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dagmara Avelar (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Didech (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dave Vella (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Emil Jones, III (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Eva-Dina Delgado (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Graciela Guzmán (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Janet Yang Rohr (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Javier L. Cervantes (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Justin Slaughter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Karina Villa (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Katie Stuart (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kelly M. Cassidy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kevin John Olickal (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lakesia Collins (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Laura Ellman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lilian Jiménez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lindsey LaPointe (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lisa Davis (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Margaret Croke (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mark L. Walker (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Martha Deuter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Martin J. Moylan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary Edly-Allen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Hanson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michael Crawford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michael J. Kelly (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mike Porfirio (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Simmons (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Nabeela Syed (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Natalie A. Manley (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Norma Hernandez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Paul Faraci (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Rick Ryan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robert F. Martwick (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Peters (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Sonya M. Harper (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terra Costa Howard (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tracy Katz Muhl (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Will Guzzardi (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Willie Preston (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-31 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 36 | 19 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs | pass | 77 | 36 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Motion Prevailed to Suspend Rule | pass | 73 | 39 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs | pass | 77 | 36 | | | 2025-05-31 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2025-05-29 | Senate | Do Pass as Amended Executive; | pass | 8 | 4 | | | 2025-04-09 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 72 | 41 | | | 2025-04-08 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Criminal Committee; | pass | 8 | 5 | | | 2025-03-18 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; | pass | 10 | 5 | | ## Actions (109) - 2025-08-15: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0300 (House) - 2025-08-15: Effective Date January 1, 2027; some provisions (House) - 2025-08-15: Effective Date July 1, 2026; some provisions (House) - 2025-08-15: Governor Approved (House) - 2025-06-24: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-05-31: Passed Both Houses (House) - 2025-05-31: House Concurs (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 077-036-000 (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 077-036-000 (House) - 2025-05-31: Motion Prevailed to Suspend Rule 073-039-000 (House) - 2025-05-31: Motion Filed to Suspend House Rule(s) for Immediate Consideration Rep. Bob Morgan (House) - 2025-05-31: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Dave Vella (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Dave Vella (House) - 2025-05-31: Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2, 3 (House) - 2025-05-31: Arrived in House (House) - 2025-05-31: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Third Reading - Passed; 036-019-000 (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 31, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 30, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Do Pass as Amended Executive; 008-004-000 (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Waive Posting Notice (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Executive (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Executive (Senate) - 2025-05-27: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-05-27: Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters (Senate) - 2025-05-27: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford (House) - 2025-05-27: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán (Senate) - 2025-05-23: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-22: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III (Senate) - 2025-05-21: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins (Senate) - 2025-05-21: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper (House) - 2025-05-15: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci (Senate) - 2025-05-14: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston (Senate) - 2025-05-14: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Robert Peters (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Assigned to Executive (Senate) - 2025-05-13: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio (Senate) - 2025-05-06: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick (Senate) - 2025-05-01: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons (Senate) - 2025-05-01: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa (Senate) - 2025-04-30: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane L. Johnson (Senate) - 2025-04-30: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman (Senate) - 2025-04-11: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-04-10: First Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Arrive in Senate (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Kelly (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard (House) - 2025-04-09: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-041-000 (House) - 2025-04-09: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-04-09: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martin J. Moylan (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis (House) - 2025-04-09: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter (House) - 2025-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 008-005-000 (House) - 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (House) - 2025-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee (House) - 2025-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed (House) - 2025-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2025-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Dave Vella (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart (House) - 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech (House) - 2025-03-26: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-03-26: Second Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-03-24: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar (House) - 2025-03-24: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (House) - 2025-03-20: Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis (House) - 2025-03-20: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis (House) - 2025-03-19: Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter (House) - 2025-03-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (House) - 2025-03-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (House) - 2025-03-19: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-03-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter (House) - 2025-03-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi (House) - 2025-03-18: Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 010-005-000 (House) - 2025-03-11: Assigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee (House) - 2025-03-06: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (House) - 2025-03-06: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (House) - 2025-03-03: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal (House) - 2025-02-18: Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2025-02-18: First Reading (House) - 2025-02-07: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dave Vella (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363enr.pdf) - House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363ham001.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363.pdf) - Senate Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam001.pdf) - Senate Amendment 2: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam002.pdf) - Senate Amendment 3: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam003.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/10400HB3363eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363enr.pdf) - [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363ham001.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363.pdf) - [Senate Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam001.pdf) - [Senate Amendment 2 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam002.pdf) - [Senate Amendment 3 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB3363sam003.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-HB3363-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).