* Gov. JB Pritzker…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed a package of legislation that protects some of the most vulnerable Illinoisians. This includes expanding safeguards for older adults, people with disabilities, children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with serious mental illness. Together, these measures promote independence, safeguard against exploitation, improve access to critical services, strengthen oversight, and help ensure Illinoisans receive the support and protection they deserve at every stage of life.

“Every Illinoisan deserves the opportunity to thrive,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These new laws strengthen protections for children, older adults, and people with disabilities by helping prevent exploitation, expanding access to care, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their own lives. Illinois continues to lead by putting people first.”

“These laws expand access to services, safeguards and opportunities that make life easier for our most vulnerable Illinoisans,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Strattton. “In Illinois, we’ll continue prioritizing the rights and dignity of every resident and ensure necessary protections are accessible for our most vulnerable communities.”

Governor Pritzker signed the following measures into law:

- HB 1783: Supporting language development for deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind children (Rep. Mussman/Sen. Cappel), effective immediately
- HB 4509: Strengthening care for nursing home residents with serious mental illness (Rep. Grasse/Sen. Koehler), effective January 1, 2027
- HB 4649: Strengthening protections for older adults experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation (Rep. Gong-Gershowitz/Sen. Stadelman), effective immediately
- HB 4728: Increasing transparency and accountability for congregate care facilities serving people with developmental disabilities (Rep. Faver Dias/Sen. Cervantes), effective July 1, 2027
- HB 4911: Protecting older adults from financial exploitation (Rep. Stuart/Sen. Lightford), effective July 1, 2027
- HB 5365: Expanding supported decision-making for adults with disabilities and mental health conditions (Rep. Mussman/Sen. Feigenholtz), effective January 1, 2027

Together this package of legislation reinforces Governor Pritzker’s goal of improving the lives of all Illinoisians, giving these communities the protections and opportunities they deserve.

* Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz…

Seniors will be better protected from potential financial exploitation under a new bipartisan measure led by state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview.

“Financial scammers can quickly wipe out the savings that Illinois residents have worked their entire lives to build up,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “This legislation empowers law enforcement and the judiciary to quickly intervene in potential cases of financial exploitation, protecting seniors and their assets from bad actors looking to take advantage of them.”

House Bill 4649 allows courts to issue temporary restraining orders against the potential scammers, restrict contact between the scammer and the victim, and freeze financial assets or lines of credit. Necessary living expenses would remain available even with a freeze in place.

The legislation expands upon current provisions that allow for the Attorney General, Department of Aging or provider agencies to petition courts to freeze financial assets in suspected cases of exploitation.

* Sen. Dave Koehler…

State Senator Dave Koehler’s House Bill 4509 designed to improve nursing home mental health evaluations has become law.

“Careful care of our most vulnerable population sends a clear message that even as you age, our state will allow you to do so with grace and dignity,” said Koehler (D-Peoria) “This law ensures that those who are in nursing home care living with a serious mental illness receive the proper help and mental health review so they can return to a life of comfort without being a threat to those around them.”

The new law requires the Illinois Department of Human Services or a designee to visit any individual admitted to a nursing home with a diagnosis of serious mental illness within 60 days of admission. It would also require a resident review within 72 hours when a resident with serious mental illness experiences a significant change in their physical or mental health.

The law also require IDHS to ensure there are no conflicts of interest among the employees administering pre-admission screenings. The goal is to give families the confidence that the residents are being evaluated fairly and appropriately.

* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

Illinois will soon join a growing list of states that have maximized independence by expanding alternatives to traditional guardianship under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.

“Individuals should be able to make independent choices regarding their personal and financial life decisions,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “This new law will support that goal, giving people the freedom to decide for themselves, while ensuring guidance is there when they need it.”

Illinois’ supported decision-making process allows an individual to identify a supporter to help them interpret information, weigh options and communicate their decisions about health care, life choices and financial matters. This unique model fosters confidence and supports people’s ability to make informed decisions while maintaining autonomy.

Traditional guardianship is more restrictive than a supported decision-making agreement in terms of the autonomy someone has over their finances, employment, housing and other life decisions. Many people do not need to enlist a traditional guardian prematurely but will instead benefit from their chosen decision-making assistant when making complex or weighty decisions.

To maximize opportunities for greater autonomy, Feigenholtz’s new law will establish clear guidelines for implementing and overseeing supported decision-making, ensuring the effective and safe application of supported decision-making for any Illinoisan who needs it. […]

House Bill 5365 was signed into law Thursday and takes effect Jan. 1.

* Sen. Kimberly Lightford…

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a new law to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from financial exploitation by empowering banks, credit unions and investment firms to intervene when suspicious activity is detected on a vulnerable adult’s account.

“Financial exploitation is one of the most devastating forms of elder abuse, and it often goes undetected until serious damage has already been done,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “House Bill 4911 gives banks, credit unions and financial professionals the authority and the protection they need to step in when something doesn’t look right – and that could make all the difference for a vulnerable adult and their family.”

Under the law, financial institutions will be empowered to disclose suspicions of financial exploitation to trusted contacts, co-owners, beneficiaries, or known family members of the account holder, and will be able to place a temporary hold on transactions when exploitation is reasonably suspected. Institutions acting in good faith will be shielded from administrative and civil liability for such holds.

The law will also expand the list of mandated reporters under the Adult Protective Services Act to include investment advisers, securities dealers and financial institution employees with direct access to eligible adult clients’ accounts – and will allow the state to share exploitation records with licensing boards, investigatory units, and prosecutorial bodies when the alleged abuser falls under their jurisdiction.

* Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…

State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a new law ensuring that children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind have equitable access to early literacy development.

“Every student learns differently, and they should not be prevented from learning because of that,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This law gives all children equitable language development access, guaranteeing they can learn in the way that works best for them.”

Realizing that people who are deaf often face hurdles for language equality access, Loughran Cappel sponsored House Bill 1783. The law creates a language needs assessment program for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, informed by deaf educators, early childhood experts, Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission members, and Illinois state agencies.

The program will approach language and communication milestones inclusively, making sure that evaluations use English, American Sign Language, the primary language used in the child’s home, or protactile – a touch-based language developed by and for the deaf-blind community – developmental milestones for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or dead-blind. The law will help ensure that there are multiple visual and language education systems for deaf children, promoting language equity.

The law also establishes a language needs advisory committee to generate resources for deaf children’s families and recommend language and communication assessment implementation plans to the Illinois Department of Human Services. […]

House Bill 1783 was signed into law Thursday and takes immediate effect.