# Illinois HB4540: POSSESSION DISPUTES-PETS

Illinois HB4540, POSSESSION DISPUTES-PETS, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-07-24 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0613) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4540-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4540
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: POSSESSION DISPUTES-PETS
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-07-24, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0613
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: judiciary - civil, assignments, judiciary
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (158 yes, 59 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Creates the Companion Animal Custody Equity Act. Provides that in a possession dispute involving a companion animal, a court may consider the well-being of the companion animal regardless of the marital status of the parties. "Companion animal" means a domesticated dog or cat that resides in a household. Authorizes the court to issue temporary possession or caregiving orders, including limited visitation, if necessary to reduce stress or disruption to the companion animal. Provides that for companion animals 10 years of age or older, courts may give additional consideration to factors including continuity of environment, emotional stability, stress minimization, and maintenance of established routines. Provides that a court may, if appropriate, order mediation between the parties to resolve issues related to companion animal possession.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Aarón M. Ortíz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne Stava (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Barbara Hernandez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dagmara Avelar (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edgar González, Jr. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Justin Cochran (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Linda Holmes (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Norma Hernandez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sara Feigenholtz (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-19 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 52 | 7 |   |
| 2026-05-06 | Senate | Do Pass Judiciary; | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 72 | 38 |   |
| 2026-04-08 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; | pass | 13 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; | pass | 13 | 7 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-07-24: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0613 (House)
- 2026-07-24: Effective Date January 1, 2027 (House)
- 2026-07-24: Governor Approved (House)
- 2026-06-18: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: Passed Both Houses (House)
- 2026-05-19: Third Reading - Passed; 052-007-000 (Senate)
- 2026-05-14: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-14: Second Reading (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-06: Do Pass Judiciary; 008-000-000 (Senate)
- 2026-04-28: Assigned to Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Arrive in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-04-14: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-038-000 (House)
- 2026-04-14: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-14: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-10: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr. (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Cochran (House)
- 2026-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-007-000 (House)
- 2026-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee (House)
- 2026-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez (House)
- 2026-04-06: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar (House)
- 2026-03-25: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-03-25: Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-007-000 (House)
- 2026-02-11: Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee (House)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading (House)
- 2026-01-22: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540enr.pdf)
- House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540ham001.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540.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/10400HB4540eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540enr.pdf)
- [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540ham001.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4540.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-HB4540-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).