# Illinois HR0211: BENIN BRONZES-REPATRIATION

Illinois HR0211, BENIN BRONZES-REPATRIATION, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Carol Ammons (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2026-05-25 (Added Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HR0211-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HR0211
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: BENIN BRONZES-REPATRIATION
- Status: adopted
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-25
- Last action: 2026-05-25, Added Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
- Sponsor: Carol Ammons (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: museum, arts, culture, and entertainment
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (80 yes, 40 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Acknowledges and condemns the historical injustice associated with the original creation of the Benin Bronzes, the subsequent British acquisition and distribution of the relics, and the current possession of the Benin Bronzes by museums and collectors who are unwilling to share the relics with the heirs of the enslaved people who paid for them with their lives and the heirs of the Benin Kingdom slave traders. Urges the following steps be taken in regard to the Benin Bronzes: (1) an official request for the return and sharing of the Benin Bronzes, (2) the establishment of the Repatriation Committee, (3) the formation of an inventory and comprehensive documentation, (4) the development of a decision-making process, (5) the development of a sharing framework, (6) the collection of resale royalties, (7) the allocation of adequate resources from museum exhibit, loan, and resale royalty fees, (8) the initiation of programs and initiatives to bring heirs of the enslaved and the Benin Kingdom together for healing and reconciliation, and (9) the cooperation of heirs. Urges all nations, stakeholder museums, and collectors to support and adhere to this resolution, recognizing the importance of equitable sharing, redress, and healing in the context of the Benin Bronzes.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carol Ammons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Camille Y. Lilly (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: La Shawn K. Ford (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Davis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Maurice A. West, II (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael Crawford (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sonya M. Harper (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William "Will" Davis (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-16 | House | Recommends Be Adopted Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment; | pass | 8 | 3 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed | pass | 72 | 37 |   |

## Actions (19)

- 2026-05-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford (House)
- 2026-05-25: Resolution Adopted (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (House)
- 2026-05-25: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (House)
- 2026-04-16: Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions (House)
- 2026-04-16: Recommends Be Adopted Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment; 008-003-000 (House)
- 2026-04-14: Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 072-037-000 (House)
- 2026-04-14: Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment; Rep. Robyn Gabel (House)
- 2026-03-18: Assigned to Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (House)
- 2025-07-01: Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-05-08: Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (House)
- 2025-04-22: Assigned to Museum, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (House)
- 2025-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (House)
- 2025-03-26: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-03-25: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Carol Ammons (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HR/PDF/10400HR0211.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/HR/PDF/10400HR0211.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-HR0211-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).