Illinois 104th General Assembly Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB1643      — CORRECTIONS OMBUDSPERSON

Last action — Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced January 23, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill establishes an Independent Corrections Ombudsperson to oversee correctional facilities.

This bill creates an Independent Corrections Ombudsperson to monitor and investigate conditions in correctional facilities. The Ombudsperson will handle complaints, inspect facilities, and report findings to ensure accountability.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This could lead to improved working conditions for corrections staff through oversight and accountability.
  • Families: Families of incarcerated individuals may benefit from an independent channel to voice complaints and concerns regarding treatment.
  • Consumers: {}

Summary

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsperson Law. Provides that the Corrections Oversight Committee shall appoint the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall serve a term of 6 years and may be only removed from office by the Governor for cause. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall not be a current or former employee of the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a contractor for those departments. Establishes the duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall: (1) monitor and inspect facilities of the Department of Corrections; (2) investigate unresolved complaints from committed persons, their families, and corrections staff regarding correctional facility conditions and treatment of committed persons; (3) create a uniform reporting system and collect and analyze data related to deaths, suicides, sexual and physical assaults, lockdowns, staff vacancies and committed persons-to-staff ratios, visits to committed persons, and use of solitary confinement in correctional facilities; (4) conduct regular inspections of correctional facilities at least once every year for facilities not meeting standards, and at least once every 36 months for facilities that are meeting standards; and (5) publicly issue periodic facility inspection reports and an annual report with recommendations and a summary of data. Establishes other duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall report regularly on its activities, investigations, and inspections, including an annual report, which shall be presented to and discussed at a meeting of the Corrections Oversight Committee and make other reports on topics of special interest. Provides that all reports of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall be made available to the public online and provided to the Director of Corrections, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Effective July 1, 2026.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB1643 on the official Illinois source →

Action History

  1. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

  2. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  3. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  4. Second Reading - Short Debate

  5. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis

  6. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  7. Do Pass / Short Debate Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee; 006-004-000

  8. Assigned to Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee

  9. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  10. Assigned to Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee

  11. Referred to Rules Committee

  12. First Reading

  13. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Kevin John Olickal

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 180 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (180)

180 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 180 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Restorative Justice & Public Safety

Passed 6 Yea · 4 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 6001
Republican 0400
Total 6401
% of votes cast 55%36%0%9%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kimberly Du Buclet Democrat Not Voting
Lilian Jiménez Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Maura Hirschauer Democrat Yea
Maurice A. West, II Democrat Yea
Michael Crawford Democrat Yea
Adam M. Niemerg Republican Nay
Dave Severin Republican Nay
David Friess Republican Nay
Patrick Windhorst Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB1643      do?
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Department of Corrections Independent Ombudsperson Law. Provides that the Corrections Oversight Committee shall appoint the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall serve a term of 6 years and may be only removed from office by the Governor for cause. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall not be a current or former employee of the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a contractor for those departments. Establishes the duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall: (1) monitor and inspect facilities of the Department of Corrections; (2) investigate unresolved complaints from committed persons, their families, and corrections staff regarding correctional facility conditions and treatment of committed persons; (3) create a uniform reporting system and collect and analyze data related to deaths, suicides, sexual and physical assaults, lockdowns, staff vacancies and committed persons-to-staff ratios, visits to committed persons, and use of solitary confinement in correctional facilities; (4) conduct regular inspections of correctional facilities at least once every year for facilities not meeting standards, and at least once every 36 months for facilities that are meeting standards; and (5) publicly issue periodic facility inspection reports and an annual report with recommendations and a summary of data. Establishes other duties of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson. Provides that the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall report regularly on its activities, investigations, and inspections, including an annual report, which shall be presented to and discussed at a meeting of the Corrections Oversight Committee and make other reports on topics of special interest. Provides that all reports of the Independent Corrections Ombudsperson shall be made available to the public online and provided to the Director of Corrections, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Effective July 1, 2026.
Who sponsors HB1643     ?
HB1643      is sponsored by Kevin John Olickal (Democrat), Jed Davis (Republican), and Lindsey LaPointe (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB1643     ?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced January 23, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB1643     ?
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