IllinoisSB1560104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

MENTAL HLTH-KIDS-BEACON

Sponsored By: Sara Feigenholtz (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services, in coordination with a statewide association representing a majority of hospitals, to establish and offer a voluntary training that will be recorded and made available on the Department's website to all hospital social workers, clinicians, and administrative staff to inform them of BEACON, a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking services for behavioral health needs, with the goal of encouraging families to seek assistance through BEACON and the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Team. Provides that the training shall include how families and hospital staff can access BEACON, the process once a case is entered into BEACON, and State and community programs accessible through BEACON. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires a psychiatric hospital to contact a youth or the youth's parents, guardian, or caregiver about the BEACON portal (rather than the Family Support Program and the Specialized Family Support Program) prior to referring the youth to the Department of Children and Family Services because the youth was left at the psychiatric hospital beyond medical necessity. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team in the Office of the Governor and relevant stakeholders, to report its work and make available resource materials, including model policies and guidance informed by a phased approach to implementing universal mental health screening in schools. Requires the State Board of Education to report its work by September 1, 2026. Provides that mental health screenings shall be offered by school districts to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, at least once a year, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.

assignmentseducationmental health & addiction

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Hospital help connecting families to care

Hospitals must try to contact youths and their parents, guardians, or caregivers about BEACON, the state's behavioral health resource portal. This must happen before a child welfare dependency referral because a youth remains in psychiatric care beyond medical need. Hospitals must also help enter the youth's information into the portal to connect the family with available resources. Illinois' human services department must offer voluntary training with a statewide association representing a majority of hospitals. The recorded training must be posted online and explain portal access, steps after case entry, and available state and community programs.

Yearly mental health screenings for students

Starting in the 2027–2028 school year, Illinois school districts must offer mental health screenings yearly in grades 3–12. This applies only in years when the State provides districts a free screening tool with a student self-report option. Districts may seek extensions under state education board rules. By September 1, 2026, the board must report on its work and post resources for phased screening rollout. Resources must cover opt-outs, privacy, confidentiality, family and community communications, data handling, follow-up, connections to services, screening tools, and staff training.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Anna Moeller

    Democratic • House

  • Dave Vella

    Democratic • House

  • Kelly M. Cassidy

    Democratic • House

  • Kevin John Olickal

    Democratic • House

  • Kimberly A. Lightford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Fine

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lindsey LaPointe

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Gill

    Democratic • House

  • Michael Crawford

    Democratic • House

  • Michael J. Kelly

    Democratic • House

  • Michelle Mussman

    Democratic • House

  • Nabeela Syed

    Democratic • House

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie A. Kifowit

    Democratic • House

  • Terra Costa Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Tracy Katz Muhl

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 41

House vote • 5/21/2025

Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed

Yes: 72 • No: 36

House vote • 5/1/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Mental Health & Addiction Committee;

Yes: 14 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 52 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Do Pass as Amended Education;

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0032

    8/4/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    7/31/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    7/31/2025Senate
  4. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0032

    7/31/2025Senate
  5. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    7/31/2025Senate
  6. Governor Approved

    7/31/2025Senate
  7. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2025Senate
  8. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed

    5/21/2025House
  9. Passed Both Houses

    5/21/2025Senate
  10. Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed 072-036-000

    5/21/2025House
  11. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller

    5/21/2025House
  12. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal

    5/21/2025House
  13. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

    5/21/2025House
  14. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

    5/21/2025House
  15. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

    5/21/2025House
  16. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse

    5/21/2025House
  17. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella

    5/21/2025House
  18. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill

    5/21/2025House
  19. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Kelly

    5/21/2025House
  20. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

    5/21/2025House
  21. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Standard Debate

    5/16/2025House
  22. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  23. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

    5/1/2025House
  24. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard

    5/1/2025House
  25. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    5/1/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

  • Enrolled

  • Introduced

  • Senate Amendment 1

  • Senate Amendment 2

  • Senate Amendment 3

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