# Illinois SB2251: HUMAN RTS-LANGUAGE CITIZENSHIP

Illinois SB2251, HUMAN RTS-LANGUAGE CITIZENSHIP, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Ram Villivalam (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-27 (Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB2251-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB2251
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: HUMAN RTS-LANGUAGE CITIZENSHIP
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-07
- Last action: 2025-02-27, Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters
- Sponsor: Ram Villivalam (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: assignments
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Changes the Public Accommodations and Financial Credit Articles to prohibit discrimination on the basis of citizenship, primary language, or immigration status that includes discrimination against a person because of the person's actual or perceived characteristic or characteristics within the listed categories or that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any particular characteristic or characteristics within the listed categories. "Citizenship" means the status of being: (i) a born U.S. citizen; (ii) a naturalized U.S. citizen; or (iii) a U.S. national. "Immigration status" means citizenship of some country other than the United States, including stateless persons, and the specific authority, or lack thereof, to reside in or otherwise to be present in the United States. "Primary language" means a person's preferred language for communication. Provides that it is not a civil rights violation to verify immigration status or any discrimination based upon verified immigration status if required by federal law. Nothing in the Act may be construed to require the provision of services or documents in a language other than English beyond that which is otherwise required by other provisions of federal, State, or local law. Provides that a civil rights violation for a violation of Articles 4 and 5 may include statutory damages of 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained or $8,000, whichever is the greater.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ram Villivalam (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Koehler (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Graciela Guzmán (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Javier L. Cervantes (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karina Villa (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Laura Fine (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary Edly-Allen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Porfirio (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Rachel Ventura (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Robert Peters (Democratic), Senate

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2251.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/SB/PDF/10400SB2251.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-SB2251-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).