# Illinois HB4449: DHFS-DHS-DIRECT SUPPORT WAGE

Illinois HB4449, DHFS-DHS-DIRECT SUPPORT WAGE, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Maurice A. West, II (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-05-21 (Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4449-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4449
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: DHFS-DHS-DIRECT SUPPORT WAGE
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-05-21, Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro
- Sponsor: Maurice A. West, II (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: appropriations-health and human services
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for frontline personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval of any relevant Waiver Amendment, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide a $1.20 per hour wage rate increase for all direct support professionals and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Prohibits community-based providers from using the rate increases for operational or administrative expenses. Requires rate increases that are sufficient to provide wages for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the rates for ID/DD and MC/DD facilities for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include a $1.20 per hour wage increase for all direct support professionals and other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases. Provides that changes to the rate methodologies are subject to federal approval. Grants emergency rulemaking authority to the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to implement the rate increases. Effective immediately.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Maurice A. West, II (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy Elik (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Anna Moeller (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Janet Yang Rohr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Sanalitro (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Nabeela Syed (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole La Ha (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Nicolle Grasse (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Norine K. Hammond (Republican), House

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-21: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (House)
- 2026-04-24: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Elik (House)
- 2026-04-22: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond (House)
- 2026-04-22: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha (House)
- 2026-04-22: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer (House)
- 2026-04-22: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller (House)
- 2026-03-27: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-02-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed (House)
- 2026-02-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (House)
- 2026-02-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse (House)
- 2026-02-17: Assigned to Appropriations-Health and Human Services Committee (House)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-01-20: First Reading (House)
- 2026-01-15: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Maurice A. West, II (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4449.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
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4449.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-HB4449-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).