IllinoisHB4977104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PATHOGENS

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

Summary

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Defines "pathogens of epidemiological concern". Provides that each hospital shall develop and implement comprehensive interventions to prevent and control pathogens of epidemiological concern (instead of multidrug-resistant organisms) that take into consideration guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or recommendations from the Infectious Disease Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, or the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society for the management of multidrug-resistant organisms in health care settings. Within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires each hospital to adopt a policy for preventing and controlling the transmission of pathogens of epidemiological concern. Establishes reporting requirements for hospitals with patients carrying pathogens of epidemiological concern. Repeals the MRSA Screening and Reporting Act.

health care licensesassignments

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Rural emergency hospitals now treated as hospitals

Beginning January 1, 2023, rural emergency hospitals are included in the legal meaning of “hospital.” These facilities must follow the Hospital Licensing Act and Department of Public Health hospital rules. The Department may use emergency rulemaking to carry out these changes under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

Stronger hospital infection control and reporting

Hospitals must run programs to prevent and control multidrug‑resistant germs like MRSA and VRE. They must follow CDC or other recognized medical guidance when designing these steps. The Department requires a yearly, facility‑wide infection risk assessment and enforcement of hand hygiene and contact precautions. Within 12 months after the law takes effect, each hospital adopts a policy with a risk assessment and evidence‑based steps to find and stop spread. When testing finds a patient with a pathogen of epidemiological concern, the hospital reports to HHS or the CDC’s NHSN as required. The law defines these pathogens as ones that spread in care, cluster in patients, resist antibiotics, cause serious disease, are new or reemerging, or as set by health departments.

MRSA-only reporting law repealed

The law repeals the MRSA Screening and Reporting Act. MRSA reporting now falls under the broader infection‑control and reporting system in this Act.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Laura Ellman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Suzy Glowiak Hilton

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Yolonda Morris

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 0

Senate vote 5/14/2026

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 58 • No: 0

House vote 4/8/2026

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 108 • No: 0

House vote 3/25/2026

Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee;

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0508

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

    6/26/2026House
  3. Governor Approved

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

    6/12/2026House
  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton

    5/18/2026Senate
  6. Passed Both Houses

    5/14/2026House
  7. Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000

    5/14/2026Senate
  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 5, 2026

    4/30/2026Senate
  9. Second Reading

    4/30/2026Senate
  10. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 28, 2026

    4/22/2026Senate
  11. Approved for Consideration Assignments

    4/22/2026Senate
  12. Referred to Assignments

    4/14/2026Senate
  13. First Reading

    4/14/2026Senate
  14. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

    4/14/2026Senate
  15. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 14, 2026

    4/10/2026Senate
  16. Arrive in Senate

    4/10/2026Senate
  17. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

    4/8/2026House
  18. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-000-000

    4/8/2026House
  19. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    4/7/2026House
  20. Second Reading - Short Debate

    4/7/2026House
  21. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    3/25/2026House
  22. Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee; 014-000-000

    3/25/2026House
  23. Assigned to Health Care Licenses Committee

    2/24/2026House
  24. Referred to Rules Committee

    2/6/2026House
  25. First Reading

    2/6/2026House

Bill Text

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