IllinoisHB4461104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

HOSPITAL COLLECTION LIENS

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

Summary

Amends the Fair Patient Billing Act. In provisions concerning hospitals and their agents pursuing collection actions, provides that, for any legal action initiated against a patient for unpaid medical debt, a hospital may not file for or be granted a lien upon that patient's primary residence or on any other real property owned by the patient. Effective January 1, 2027.

judiciary - civilassignmentsexecutive

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

No medical debt liens on homes

Beginning 2027-01-01, hospitals cannot place a lien on your primary home for unpaid medical bills. A court judgment for medical debt also cannot create a lien on your primary residence. This protects homeowners’ houses from being tied up by hospital or judgment liens over medical debt.

Stronger hospital billing protections for patients

Beginning 2027-01-01, hospitals can seek payment from uninsured patients only after key steps. They must screen for discounts, let you review the bill, help you apply for financial assistance, and offer a reasonable payment plan if you cannot pay in one payment. If charity care seems likely, you get at least 90 days after discharge or outpatient care to apply. For insured patients, the hospital must offer a 90-day window from the first bill to request a reasonable payment plan before sending the balance to collections. No one can sue you over a hospital bill without written approval from an authorized hospital employee. Hospitals must give charity care information to all uninsured people, no matter immigration status or residency. Hospitals may use outside firms to run assistance and payment-plan programs, but those firms must follow the same rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Aarón M. Ortíz

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Abdelnasser Rashid

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Amy Briel

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Camille Y. Lilly

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Curtis J. Tarver, II

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Dagmara Avelar

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Daniel Didech

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Dave Vella

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Diane Blair-Sherlock

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Edgar González, Jr.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Eva-Dina Delgado

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Janet Yang Rohr

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jay Hoffman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Joyce Mason

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Justin Cochran

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Justin Slaughter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Kelly M. Cassidy

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lisa Davis

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Margaret A. DeLaRosa

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Martha Deuter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mary Beth Canty

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michael Crawford

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Nabeela Syed

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Robert "Bob" Rita

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Robyn Gabel

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sharon Chung

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sonya M. Harper

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sue Scherer

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Suzanne M. Ness

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Theresa Mah

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Tracy Katz Muhl

    Affiliation unavailable

  • William "Will" Davis

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Yolonda Morris

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 153 • No: 65

Senate vote 5/19/2026

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 46 • No: 12

Senate vote 5/6/2026

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 9 • No: 2

House vote 4/16/2026

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 74 • No: 37

House vote 4/15/2026

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee;

Yes: 11 • No: 7

House vote 3/26/2026

Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee;

Yes: 13 • No: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0490

    6/26/2026House
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2027

    6/26/2026House
  3. Governor Approved

    6/26/2026House
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2026House
  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/19/2026House
  6. Third Reading - Passed; 046-012-000

    5/19/2026Senate
  7. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robyn Gabel

    5/18/2026House
  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026

    5/14/2026Senate
  9. Second Reading

    5/14/2026Senate
  10. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    5/7/2026Senate
  11. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026

    5/6/2026Senate
  12. Do Pass Executive; 009-002-000

    5/6/2026Senate
  13. Assigned to Executive

    4/28/2026Senate
  14. Referred to Assignments

    4/21/2026Senate
  15. First Reading

    4/21/2026Senate
  16. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán

    4/21/2026Senate
  17. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

    4/21/2026Senate
  18. Arrive in Senate

    4/21/2026Senate
  19. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado

    4/16/2026House
  20. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah

    4/16/2026House
  21. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

    4/16/2026House
  22. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

    4/16/2026House
  23. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis

    4/16/2026House
  24. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

    4/16/2026House
  25. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter

    4/16/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

  • Enrolled

  • House Amendment 1

  • House Amendment 2

  • House Amendment 3

  • Introduced

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