All Roll Calls
Yes: 281 • No: 0
IllinoisSB0103104th General Assembly (2025–2026)Senate
ADOPTION ACT
Sponsored By: Sara Feigenholtz (Democratic)
Became Law
assignmentsjudiciaryjudiciary - civil
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Adopting a youth in state care
You can start an adoption for a youth in care only if the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) placed the youth with you when you file and DCFS consents to or approves the adoption. DCFS must set rules or procedures that explain what counts as its approval. This applies to petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026.
Illinois adoption residency rules and exceptions
To file an adoption in Illinois, you must have lived in Illinois for 6 straight months. A U.S. armed forces member can file after 90 days of Illinois domicile. You do not need the 6 months in some cases: adopting a related child; a child you already adopted abroad; a child placed by an Illinois‑licensed child welfare agency; an adult adopted by a former stepparent; or certain Illinois‑born or Illinois‑resident children when an Illinois‑licensed agency has acknowledged a consent or surrender, or an authorized person acknowledged consent and the agency counseled the parent about birth‑parent rights under the Child Care Act of 1969. These rules apply to petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026.
New rules apply to 2026 filings
The law applies only to adoption petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026. Petitions filed before that date follow the old law. This timing rule decides which set of rules you must follow.
Notice and service rules in adoption
Your petition must name people who should get notice, or say “All whom it may concern” if unknown. The clerk must publish a notice and mail copies within 10 days of first publication to any defendant with a known address. A minor under 14 with a guardian ad litem does not need direct service, and anyone 14 or older can waive service by written appearance. People who may be a parent must get notice, including adjudicated fathers, registered putative fathers, people on the birth certificate, those openly living with and holding out the child, those the mother names in a sworn statement, and those married to the mother on the birth date or within 300 days before. They do not get notice if a court has ended their rights or found them not a parent. Notice lets them present evidence about consent. These rules apply to petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026.
Who can file and who must join
A minor may file an adoption only if a court gives permission and finds good cause. If you are married or in a civil union and not separated for 12 months or more, your spouse or partner must join and you must adopt together. Your spouse or partner does not have to join if you are a former stepparent adopting an adult, or if you re‑adopt after an intercountry adoption and the spouse or partner did not adopt the child before. These rules apply to petitions filed on or after January 1, 2026.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Sara Feigenholtz
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Ann M. Williams
Democratic • House
Lakesia Collins
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/31/2025
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs
Yes: 57 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/28/2025
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary;
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 5/20/2025
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 114 • No: 0
House vote • 5/7/2025
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee;
Yes: 16 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2025
Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee;
Yes: 18 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/4/2025
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 52 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/3/2025
Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Judiciary;
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Do Pass as Amended Judiciary;
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0348
8/15/2025SenateEffective Date January 1, 2026
8/15/2025SenateGovernor Approved
8/15/2025SenateSent to the Governor
6/27/2025SenatePassed Both Houses
5/31/2025SenateSenate Concurs
5/31/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
5/31/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary; 008-000-000
5/28/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Judiciary
5/27/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
5/22/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
5/22/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 22, 2025
5/21/2025SenateSecretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
5/21/2025SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 114-000-000
5/20/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/16/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/16/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted by Voice Vote
5/16/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 016-000-000
5/7/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
5/6/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
4/30/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Ann M. Williams
4/30/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
4/23/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 018-000-000
4/23/2025HouseAssigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
4/17/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
4/7/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendment 1
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1
Senate Amendment 2