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SB2987

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DHS-OIG INVESTIGATIONS

What this bill does

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In the definition of "material obstruction of an investigation", defines the term to mean the intentional failure to timely report an allegation to the hotline or the interference (rather than purposeful interference) with an investigation of physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation for the purpose of obstructing an Office of the Inspector General investigation. Provides that such material obstruction may include, but is not limited to, delaying or withholding reports of allegations to the hotline for the purpose of obstructing an Office of the Inspector General investigation; the withholding or altering of documentation or recorded evidence when reporting an allegation to the hotline or during an investigation; influencing, threatening, or impeding a victim's, complainant's, or required reporter's report of an allegation to the hotline or witness testimony during an investigation; or presenting untruthful information to the hotline or during an investigatory interview. Provides that any employee who fails to cooperate with an Office of the Inspector General investigation may also result in a finding of material obstruction of an investigation. Expands the list of employee conduct during an investigation that is in violation of the Act, including the failure to timely report an incident of abuse or material obstruction of an investigation committed by another employee. Makes changes to the definition of "presenting untruthful information".

Sponsor: Kimberly A. Lightford Chamber: Senate Introduced: 2026-01-29
Stuck
P(Advance)
13.0%
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).
Confidence: 87% FORECAST

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 58 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
Amy Tarr IDHS-Office of the Inspector General IDHS-OIG Proponent Health and Human Services 2026-02-17
Bess Johnson Illinois Department of Human Services Proponent Health and Human Services 2026-02-17
David Schwartz Self Self Proponent Health and Human Services 2026-02-17
Thor Martin IDHS Office of the Inspector General-IDHS Proponent Health and Human Services 2026-02-17

Roll-call votes

Total votes and outcome per event. Deciding vote = margin of 1; those voters on the winning side could have changed the outcome by flipping.

Date Chamber Type Description Yea Nay Present NV Outcome Margin Deciding voters
S Committee Health and Human Services 10 0 0 2 Passed 10 —

Action History

4 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-10 — Assigned toHealth and Human Services. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2026-01-29 Introduction & Filing
Filed with Secretary bySen. Kimberly A. Lightford Rule 2-7(b)
Bill officially submitted to the Senate Secretary during the session.
2026-01-29 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.
2026-01-29 Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments 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.
2026-02-10 Committee Assignment
Assigned toHealth and Human Services 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
2026-01-29 Senate Filed with Secretary bySen. Kimberly A. Lightford Rule 2-7(b) Introduction & Filing —
2026-01-29 Senate First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2026-01-29 Senate Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —
2026-02-10 Senate Assigned toHealth and Human Services Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment —