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HB4138

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SEARCH WARR-ELECTRONIC-RETURN

What this bill does

Amends the Search and Seizure Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that telecommunications carriers shall return all electronic instruments, articles, or things within 36 hours if the search warrant was issued pursuant to an investigation of a forcible felony.

Sponsor: Patrick Windhorst Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-09-25
Stuck
P(Advance)
9.8%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.0%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
0.7%
Low P(law) at intro — sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 90%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 57 days ago · PENDING

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. Introduction of Bill

    A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber

    If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.

  6. Gubernatorial Action

    The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.

Sponsor Context

Hearings

This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.

Witness slips

4 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
David Schwartz Self Self Proponent Judiciary - Criminal 2026-02-17
Jim Kaitschuk Illinois Sheriffs' Association Illinois Sheriffs' Association Proponent Judiciary - Criminal 2026-02-17
Matthew Slade N/A Self Proponent Judiciary - Criminal 2026-02-17
Michael Whalen self Opponent Judiciary - Criminal 2026-02-17

Action History

4 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-11 — Assigned toJudiciary - Criminal Committee. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-09-25 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Patrick Windhorst House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-10-15 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-10-15 Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2026-02-11 Committee Assignment
Assigned toJudiciary - Criminal Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-09-25 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Patrick Windhorst House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing —
2025-10-15 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2025-10-15 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —
2026-02-11 House Assigned toJudiciary - Criminal Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment —