All Roll Calls
Yes: 176 • No: 38
IllinoisHB4890104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
Sponsored By: Lilian Jiménez (Democratic)
Became Law
Summary
Creates the Dependency Determinations for Unaccompanied Children Act. Creates a process for an unaccompanied child in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement housed in Illinois who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both parents to file a petition seeking a finding of dependency under the Act. Provides that a child declared dependent is eligible for oversight and services as ordered by the court and may be referred for psychological, educational, medical, or social services deemed necessary as a result of parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect or for protection against trafficking or domestic violence. Defines terms. Makes legislative findings. Effective immediately.
judiciary - civilassignmentsexecutive
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Services for children found dependent
If the court declares a child dependent, the court can order oversight and refer the child to help. Referrals can include mental health care, education, medical care, or social services tied to abuse, neglect, abandonment, trafficking, or domestic violence. Taking services is voluntary.
Court records sealed for these cases
All hearings and court papers under this law are confidential and sealed. They are not available to the public.
No fees and simpler child representation
A child who files under this law does not pay filing fees. If the child has an attorney, the court can proceed without appointing a guardian ad litem.
State court help for unaccompanied children
Illinois courts now hear these cases as juvenile courts, in any county where the child is housed. An unaccompanied child in federal ORR custody can file for a finding of dependency. The petition must list the child’s name, age, country of birth, Illinois facility, why reunification is not viable, and why return to the prior country is not in the child’s best interest. The court holds a hearing within 35 days, or sooner for emergencies (as soon as possible before age 18 or within 7 days of the motion). The court uses a “more likely than not” standard, and a child’s declaration alone can support it. If proven, the court declares the child dependent and can keep the case until the child turns 18. The law defines who counts as an unaccompanied child and other key terms the court must use.
Limits on custody and parent roles
A petition under this law cannot name a parent as a respondent. These cases cannot terminate parental rights. Findings in these cases do not change existing custody or placement rules and cannot be used against those rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lilian Jiménez
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Adriane Johnson
Democratic • Senate
Ann M. Williams
Democratic • House
Cristina Castro
Democratic • Senate
Dagmara Avelar
Democratic • House
Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
Democratic • House
Javier L. Cervantes
Democratic • Senate
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Democratic • House
Karina Villa
Democratic • Senate
Kevin John Olickal
Democratic • House
Lakesia Collins
Democratic • Senate
Laura Ellman
Democratic • Senate
Laura Fine
Democratic • Senate
Li Arellano, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Linda Holmes
Democratic • Senate
Mark L. Walker
Democratic • Senate
Mary Edly-Allen
Democratic • Senate
Mattie Hunter
Democratic • Senate
Nicolle Grasse
Democratic • House
Robert F. Martwick
Democratic • Senate
Robert Peters
Democratic • Senate
Sara Feigenholtz
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/19/2026
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 54 • No: 5
Senate vote • 5/6/2026
Do Pass Executive;
Yes: 10 • No: 2
House vote • 4/16/2026
Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed
Yes: 82 • No: 26
House vote • 4/15/2026
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee;
Yes: 18 • No: 0
House vote • 3/25/2026
Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee;
Yes: 12 • No: 5
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0462
6/1/2026HouseEffective Date June 1, 2026
6/1/2026HouseGovernor Approved
6/1/2026HouseSent to the Governor
5/30/2026HouseAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman
5/21/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
5/20/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker
5/19/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
5/19/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter
5/19/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
5/19/2026SenatePassed Both Houses
5/19/2026HouseThird Reading - Passed; 054-005-000
5/19/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.
5/19/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
5/15/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
5/14/2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 12, 2026
5/7/2026SenateSecond Reading
5/7/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine
5/7/2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
5/6/2026SenateDo Pass Executive; 010-002-000
5/6/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick
5/6/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters
5/5/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
4/30/2026SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
4/29/2026SenateAssigned to Executive
4/28/2026Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendment 1
Introduced
Related Bills
HB4154 — PHARMACIST APPLICATION/EXAM
HB0598 — GOVERNMENT-TECH
Amends the Salaries Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
SB0314 — BUSINESS-TECH
Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB3428 — LONG-TERM CARE JOINT TRAINING
Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to hold semiannual joint training sessions for surveyors, nursing home providers, and assisted living establishment providers. Provides that the Department shall include the State long-term care ombudsman, or the State long-term care ombudsman's designee, and representatives of each nursing home provider association and assisted living provider association in the State in the planning process to create the topics and content of the joint training sessions as well as the coordination and presentations for the joint training sessions. Provides that, at least annually, a joint training session shall include, but not be limited to, regional citation patterns relating to complaints, standards, and outcomes in the nursing home and assisted living survey process. Requires the Department to develop standardized training for establishments to prevent common citations in the assisted living survey process.
SB1265 — ENVTL BARRIER-ENFORCEMENT DATA
Amends the Environmental Barriers Act. Requires the Attorney General to provide, by January 31, 2026 and every January 31 thereafter (rather than by July 31, 2020 and every July 31 thereafter), data on the Attorney General's website about annual enforcement efforts performed under the Act. Effective immediately.
HB3616 — IHDA-AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXEMPT
Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. In provisions requiring the Illinois Housing Development Authority to determine which local governments are exempt from the requirements of the Act, requires the Authority to collect data on owner-occupied and rental units for each local government as follows: (1) by totaling the number of owner-occupied housing units in each local government that are affordable to households with a gross household income that is less than 80% of the median household income and is between 80% and 140% of the median household income within the county or primary metropolitan statistical area; and (2) by totaling the number of rental units in each local government that are affordable to households with a gross household income that is less than 60% of the median household income and is between 80% and 140% of the median household income within the county or primary metropolitan statistical area. Provides that data collected for the 80% AMI to 140% AMI households is to be used for informational purposes and shall not factor into the determination of exempt local governments.