Metro East Sun

Amy Elik introduced HB3416 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a parent may request one substitution of a guardian ad litem during the entire juvenile court proceedings, upon request to the judge. Provides that the judge shall review the request and grant the substitution if the judge finds that the parent has good cause for believing that the guardian ad litem is not fulfilling his or her duties. Provides that the bibliography containing information developed and distributed to guardians ad litem by the Department of Children and Family Services shall contain information on the effects of trauma and household domestic violence on children and teens and on mental health disorders."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, allowing a parent to request one substitution of a guardian ad litem during juvenile court proceedings if there is good cause. The judge must review and approve the request if the guardian ad litem is not fulfilling their duties. It mandates that guardians ad litem receive training materials from the Department of Children and Family Services, including information on trauma, domestic violence effects on minors, and mental health disorders. The bill also maintains procedures for appointing guardians ad litem, ensuring they meet with children, foster parents, or caregivers at specified intervals during court processes. In counties with populations between 100,000 and 3 million, guardians must complete a training program. The bill is effective immediately upon passage.

Amy Elik has proposed another 29 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Elik graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a BS.

Amy Elik is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 111th House District. She replaced previous state representative Monica Bristow in 2021.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB3416	02/07/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a parent may request one substitution of a guardian ad litem during the entire juvenile court proceedings, upon request to the judge. Provides that the judge shall review the request and grant the substitution if the judge finds that the parent has good cause for believing that the guardian ad litem is not fulfilling his or her duties. Provides that the bibliography containing information developed and distributed to guardians ad litem by the Department of Children and Family Services shall contain information on the effects of trauma and household domestic violence on children and teens and on mental health disorders.
HB3412	02/07/2025	Creates the Preserving Illinois Neighborhoods Act. Provides that, for taxable years that begin on or after January 1, 2026 and end on or before December 31, 2031, qualified taxpayers who incur qualified new construction expenditures or qualified rehabilitation expenditures during the taxable year are entitled to a credit. Effective immediately.
HB3413	02/07/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that when a minor of the age of at least 13 years is adjudged delinquent for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm in which the firearm was discharged in the commission of the offense, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or non-emergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, except that the time that a minor spent in custody for the instant offense before being committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be considered as time credited towards that 5-year period. Provides that upon release from a Department facility, a minor adjudged delinquent for an offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm in which the firearm was discharged in the commission of the offense shall be placed on aftercare release until the age of 21, unless sooner discharged from aftercare release or custodianship is otherwise terminated in accordance with the Act or as otherwise provided for by law.
HB3414	02/07/2025	Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Establishments Act. Provides that an establishment must report to the Department of Public Health any incident or accident that results in significant physical harm or injury to a resident or any situation where a resident requires immediate medical attention, including admission to the hospital, as a direct result of an incident or accident. Provides that a change in a resident's condition that is due to health or medical decline is not a reportable incident or accident.
HB3415	02/07/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the law enforcement agency of the committing county shall receive from the Department of Juvenile Justice reasonable written notice not less than 30 days prior to the target release date of a youth from the Department of Juvenile Justice.
HB3128	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for 50% of the amount contributed by the taxpayer to a small business asset purchase account during the tax year, but not to exceed $50,000 per taxpayer in any tax year. Defines "small business asset purchase account". Provides an addition modification for 50% of the amount that is withdrawn by the taxpayer from a small business asset purchase account during the taxable year. Amends the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act to establish a penalty for improper use of moneys in a small business asset purchase account.
HB3130	02/06/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, within 30 days after recording of a tax deed with respect to residential property, the tax deed grantee shall pay the surplus to the previous owner of the property described in the deed. Sets forth the procedures to calculate the surplus.
HB2815	02/05/2025	Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act and the Civil No Contact Order Act. Removes language providing that a knowing violation of a stalking no contact order or civil no contact order is a Class A misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of such orders is a Class 4 felony. Provides instead that: (1) violation of a stalking no contact order or civil no contact order is a Class A misdemeanor; (2) violation of a stalking no contact order or civil no contact order is a Class 4 felony if the defendant has any prior conviction of domestic battery or violation of an order of protection or any prior conviction under the law of another jurisdiction for an offense that could be charged in the State as domestic battery or violation of an order of protection; and (3) violation of a stalking no contact order or civil no contact order is a Class 4 felony if the defendant has any prior conviction of attempt, first degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, aggravated arson, aggravated discharge of a firearm, or aggravated battery of an unborn child, of a violation of any former law of the State that is substantially similar to any such listed offense, or any prior conviction under the law of another jurisdiction for an offense that could be charged in the State as one of such offenses, when any of these offenses have been committed against a family or household member. Provides that the court shall impose a minimum penalty of 24 hours imprisonment for the respondent's second or subsequent violation of any stalking no contact order or civil no contact order, unless the court explicitly finds that an increased penalty or such period of imprisonment would be manifestly unjust. Provides that in addition to any other penalties, the court may order the respondent to pay a fine or to make restitution to the victim under the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes same changes to the Criminal Code of 2012.
HB2862	02/05/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not authorize any charges based upon changes in the cost of fuel. Removes provisions concerning the Commission's ability to authorize the increase or decrease of a public utility's rates and charges based upon changes in the cost of fuel used in the generation or production of electric power, changes in the cost of purchased power, or changes in the cost of purchased gas through the application of fuel adjustment clauses or purchased gas adjustment clauses and based upon expenditures or revenues resulting from the purchase or sale of emission allowances through such fuel adjustment clauses as a cost of fuel. Removes provisions concerning a public utility's ability to, at any time during the mandatory transition period, file with the Commission proposed tariff sheets that establish the rate of the provided utility to be applied pursuant to the public utility's fuel adjustment clause at the average value for such rate during the preceding 24 months, provided that such average rate results in a credit to customers' bills, without making any revisions to the public utility's base rate tariffs.
HB2863	02/05/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a water or sewer utility owned by the State or any political subdivision thereof and being acquired by a large public utility must inform the public of the terms of its acquisition by the large public utility by holding a public meeting prior to the acquisition and mailing a notice to the public residing in the area that the water or sewer utility operates (rather than publishing a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area that the water or sewer utility operates). Provides that the notice shall include (i) information about the public meeting being held prior to the acquisition, (ii) information on what public body will be making the decision regarding the sale of the water or sewer utility, and (iii) an estimate of the potential rate increases that may be incurred in the next 5 years due to the acquisition, including the maximum rate increase that the large public utility estimates rate payers would incur each year for the next 5 years. Provides that, for a period of 5 years after the acquisition of the water or sewer utility, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall deny any proposed rate increase that exceeds the maximum estimated rate increase provided in the notice.
HB2864	02/05/2025	Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, for the purposes of those Acts, a corporation, limited liability company, society, association, foundation, or institution organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes shall include nonprofit corporations that solely conduct extracurricular activities on behalf of tax-supported public schools.
HB2867	02/05/2025	Amends the Fluorspar Mines Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall, no later than July 1, 2026, create and maintain an online underground mine workings portal. Provides that the portal shall be accessible to the general public without a fee. Provides that the portal shall allow access to all maps filed with the Department of Natural Resources. Requires the portal to allow a user to locate underground mine workings maps by searching for a street address.
HB2868	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning eligibility for total and permanent disability benefits, provides that if the participating employee was a sheriff's law enforcement employee at the time disability was incurred, the participating employee shall be deemed to have engaged in gainful activity only if that participating employee is employed as a sheriff's law enforcement employee or in a substantially similar capacity. Provides that the amount of the monthly total and permanent disability benefit shall be 100% of the final rate of earnings on the date disability was incurred if the participating employee was a sheriff's law enforcement employee at the time disability was incurred. Provides that a person who was a sheriff's law enforcement employee at the time disability was incurred may receive earnings from a participating municipality or participating instrumentality if that person is not employed as a sheriff's law enforcement employee because of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or be of a long continued and indefinite duration. Provides that such a person must report to the Fund, in a form and manner prescribed by the Fund, the amount of earnings received for that employment, and the amount of the disability benefits to which that person is entitled shall be reduced by the amount of earnings received for that employment. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB2444	02/03/2025	Amends the Attorney General Act. Provides that the Office of the Attorney General shall record the number of hours, legal fees, and costs incurred each fiscal year by its attorneys and any outside counsel acting on its behalf to defend the State in all legal proceedings relating to the constitutionality or statutory interpretation of Illinois law. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the Attorney General shall report the recorded number of hours, legal fees, and costs incurred annually to the General Assembly. Effective immediately.
HB2445	02/03/2025	Amends the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act. In provisions regarding notification to the Illinois State Police, allows a physician, clinical psychologist, qualified examiner, law enforcement official, or school administrator who notifies the Department of Human Services or the Illinois State Police of a person who is determined to pose a clear and present danger to himself, herself, or to others to rescind and cancel the notification within 5 days, putting the person back in the position as if the notification had not occurred. Requires the Illinois State Police to adopt rules to implement the provisions added by this amendatory Act.
HB2446	02/03/2025	Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes the sex offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definition of "sex or other offense". Amends the Sex Offenses Article of the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person is an educator or authority figure at the school, the student is at least 18 years of age but under 23 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student and holds or held within the previous year a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the student in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity, and the person either: (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student; or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual conduct is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual penetration is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure.
HB2447	02/03/2025	Amends the America's Central Port District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the District to apply for and accept certain grants, loans, and appropriations and to make certain improvements and changes.
HB2448	02/03/2025	Amends the America's Central Port District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the District to apply for and accept certain grants, loans, and appropriations and to make certain improvements and changes.
HB2449	02/03/2025	Amends the America's Central Port District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the District to apply for and accept certain grants, loans, and appropriations and to make certain improvements and changes.
HB2450	02/03/2025	Amends the America's Central Port District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers of the District to apply for and accept certain grants, loans, and appropriations and to make certain improvements and changes.
HB2451	02/03/2025	Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends the University of Illinois Act, the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the Chicago State University Law, the Eastern Illinois University Law, the Governors State University Law, the Illinois State University Law, the Northeastern Illinois University Law, the Northern Illinois University Law, and the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that a university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.
HB2452	02/03/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2026 and thereafter, the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in all counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum income limitation for the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is $75,000 (currently, $65,000). Effective immediately.
HB2474	02/03/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning suspensions of retirement annuities during employment with a participating employer, provides that, until January 1, 2030, an annuitant receiving an annuity under the sheriff's law enforcement employees provisions shall be considered a participating employee if the annuitant returns to work as a school security guard or school resource officer employed by a participating employer and works more than 1,000 hours annually. Effective immediately.
HB1719	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any person convicted of a first offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 2 felony (instead of a Class 4 felony). Provides that any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 1 felony (instead of a Class 3 felony).
HB1720	01/24/2025	Creates the Retail Sale of Tianeptine Prohibition Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, no person shall sell, offer to sell, or distribute in the State any product containing tianeptine. Provides that the Act does not apply to any product containing tianeptine that is lawfully dispensed or prescribed by a pharmacist or a health care professional. Provides that a violation is a business offense, punishable by a minimum fine of $1,500 for each violation. Defines "health care professional". Effective January 1, 2026.
HB1721	01/24/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that beginning on and after January 1, 2026, a foster family home that includes a pregnant or parenting youth in care and any child of the parenting youth shall be eligible to receive additional foster care payments from the Department of Children and Family Services to cover all reasonable costs incurred by the foster family in caring for the pregnant or parenting youth and any child of the parenting youth. Provides that the parenting youth must be the full-time custodial parent of the child for whom the foster family is requesting additional payment. Permits the Department to prescribe by rule which costs and expenses qualify as "reasonable costs" eligible for payment. Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB1722	01/24/2025	Amends the General Assembly Organization Act. Provides that, if the House of Representatives or the Senate adopts an amendment to a bill and if that amendment causes the short description of the bill that is posted on the General Assembly's website to no longer accurately reflect the bill's contents, then the chamber that adopted the amendment shall revise the bill's short description so that it accurately reflects the bill's contents.
HB1723	01/24/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the statute concerning theft of labor or services or use of property, provides that the notification to return the vehicle, equipment, or other personal property to a particular place at a particular time specified in the notification may be made by electronic means, including email. Includes in a violation of the provision, placing the vehicle, equipment, or any other personal property for sale during the rental period or thereafter without good cause. Provides that for a violation of the provision, the court may order the person convicted to reimburse the victims or their representatives for court filing costs, attorney's fees, and such other related costs.
HB1724	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires the Department of Transportation to name a highway under its jurisdiction if one chamber of the General Assembly passes a resolution directing the Department to do so.
HB1725	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a qualified small business may apply to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for an income tax credit in an amount equal to the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified advertising with a local news organization. Provides that the credit may not exceed $2,500 per eligible taxpayer in any taxable year. Provides that the aggregate amount of all tax credits awarded by the Department under the amendatory Act in any calendar year may not exceed $3,000,000. Effective immediately.
HB1726	01/24/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning the amount required to be paid under protest for the 2026 or 2027 tax year. Effective immediately.
HB1727	01/24/2025	Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that benefit or annuity payments to a member or participant in a retirement system or pension fund shall be suspended if the member or participant is indicted or charged by information with a felony and the board of the retirement system or pension fund determines that the felony relates to or arises out of or in connection with his or her service as a member or participant of the retirement system or pension fund. Provides that if the member or participant is not convicted of that felony, payment of the benefit or annuity shall resume and the retirement system or pension fund shall pay to the member or participant the amount of the suspended annuity or benefit payments with interest. Provides that if the member or participant is convicted of that felony, the suspended annuity or benefit payments shall not be paid to the member or participant. Provides that the amendatory Act applies without regard to whether the member or participant first became a member or participant of a retirement system or pension fund before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB1728	01/24/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the long-time occupant homestead exemption applies in all counties beginning with taxable year 2026. Effective immediately.