HB2731 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

VICTIM CENTERED APPROACH ACT
Last Action
3/20/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act  
55 ILCS 5/3-9005  from Ch. 34, par. 3-9005
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Victim Centered Approach Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney shall develop a program to represent noncitizen victims of violent crimes in the filing of victim remedies before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office administrative body. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney shall use any funding provided to the pilot program to represent or give counsel to 50 noncitizen victims annually for the next 5 years who were victimized by violent crimes in Lake County. Provides that the to be eligible for assistance under the program, an individual must: (1) be a noncitizen victim, who has never been placed in removal proceedings; (2) have suffered a violent crime in Lake County; and (3) not be barred from the immigration remedies before the administrative body. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in counties with a population of more than 500,000, a State's Attorney may act, without fee or appointment, as an attorney to a noncitizen victim in an immigration case only if the noncitizen victim was victimized within the county the State's Attorney serves and is located within the geographic boundaries of the county served by the State's Attorney.

House Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Equal Justice for Immigrant Crime Victims Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may represent a person before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office administrative body if (1) the person is a noncitizen who has never been placed in removal proceedings; (2) the Lake County State's Attorney believes the person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity because of a crime that occurred in Lake County; (3) the person is not barred from the immigration remedies before the administrative body; and (4) the Lake County State's Attorney may represent the person without creating a conflict of interest for the Lake County State's Attorney under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may adopt policies and procedures as the State's Attorney deems necessary to implement, administer, and carry out the purposes of the Act. Provides that the Lake County State's Attorney may initiate representation of noncitizen victims of qualifying crimes under the Act on or before December 31, 2031. Makes conforming changes in the Counties Code. Effective January 1, 2027.
Actions
DateChamberAction
2/05/2025HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech
2/05/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield
2/05/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan
2/06/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/06/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
3/04/2025HouseAssigned to Immigration & Human Rights Committee
3/21/2025HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
2/11/2026HouseAssigned to Immigration & Human Rights Committee
2/26/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Daniel Didech
2/26/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
3/16/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado
3/18/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Immigration & Human Rights Committee
3/19/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Immigration & Human Rights Committee; by Voice Vote
3/19/2026HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee; 008-003-000
3/20/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
3/20/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
3/20/2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate