Illinois 104th General Assembly Status: To Executive 18 D cosponsors

HB4255      — CRIM CD-TRAVELING ANIMAL ACTS

Last action — Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0485

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 19, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

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

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 26 sponsors

    1 primary, 25 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (18 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes 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 expands animal welfare protections in traveling animal acts to include more species.

This bill amends the Criminal Code to prohibit more types of animals from performing in traveling acts, specifically broadening coverage beyond elephants to include certain big cats, primates, and bears. It also reaffirms that these protections are in addition to existing animal welfare laws.

What this means for you
  • Environment: This means increased protections for wildlife and their welfare in entertainment settings.

Summary

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the statute prohibiting elephants from performing in traveling animal acts applies to "covered animals" rather than just elephants. Defines "covered animal" as any of the following animals, and hybrids of those animals: (1) elephantidae; (2) felidae, but excluding a domestic cat; (3) non-human primate; or (4) ursidae. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other laws protecting animal welfare. Provides that the provisions may not be construed to limit any State law or rules protecting the welfare of animals or to prevent a unit of local government from adopting and enforcing its own animal welfare ordinances and regulations. Contains a severability provision. Effective July 1, 2026.

Bill Text

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

Read HB4255 on the official Illinois source →

Action History

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0485

  2. Effective Date July 1, 2026

  3. Governor Approved

  4. Sent to the Governor

  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton

  7. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins

  8. Passed Both Houses

  9. Third Reading - Passed; 051-004-000

  10. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026

  11. Second Reading

  12. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026

  13. Do Pass Criminal Law; 009-001-000

  14. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026

  15. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine

  16. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons

  17. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison

  18. Assigned to Criminal Law

  19. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

  20. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

  21. Referred to Assignments

  22. First Reading

  23. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes

  24. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  25. Arrive in Senate

  26. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 076-033-000

  27. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  28. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted

  29. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

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

  31. Second Reading - Short Debate

  32. Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

  33. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung

  34. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz

  35. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

  36. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

  37. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller

  38. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill

  39. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Cochran

  40. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons

  41. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 009-002-000

  42. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

  43. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

  44. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Criminal Committee

  45. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

  46. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

  47. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  48. Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Criminal Committee; 008-005-000

  49. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez

  50. Assigned to Judiciary - Criminal Committee

  51. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar

  52. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke

  53. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

  54. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

  55. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman

  56. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock

  57. Referred to Rules Committee

  58. First Reading

  59. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 25 co-sponsors · 157 not signed on · 37 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (25)

Not signed on (157)

157 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 157 →

"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

Third Reading

Passed 51 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 35102
Republican 14302
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 50404
% of votes cast 86%7%0%7%
How each member voted (58)
Member Party Vote
Johnson — Yea
Bill Cunningham Democrat Yea
Celina Villanueva Democrat Yea
Christopher Belt Democrat Yea
Cristina Castro Democrat Yea
David Koehler Democrat Yea
Doris Turner Democrat Yea
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. Democrat Yea
Graciela Guzmán Democrat Yea
Javier L. Cervantes Democrat Not Voting
Julie A. Morrison Democrat Yea
Karina Villa Democrat Yea
Kimberly A. Lightford Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Yea
Laura Ellman Democrat Yea
Laura Fine Democrat Yea
Laura M. Murphy Democrat Yea
Linda Holmes Democrat Yea
Mark L. Walker Democrat Yea
Mary Edly-Allen Democrat Yea
Mattie Hunter Democrat Yea
Meg Loughran Cappel Democrat Yea
Michael E. Hastings Democrat Yea
Michael W. Halpin Democrat Yea
Mike Porfirio Democrat Yea
Mike Simmons Democrat Yea
Napoleon Harris III Democrat Not Voting
Omar Aquino Democrat Yea
Patrick J. Joyce Democrat Nay
Paul Faraci Democrat Yea
Rachel Ventura Democrat Yea
Ram Villivalam Democrat Yea
Robert F. Martwick Democrat Yea
Robert Peters Democrat Yea
Sara Feigenholtz Democrat Yea
Steve Stadelman Democrat Yea
Suzy Glowiak Hilton Democrat Yea
Thaddeus Jones Democrat Yea
Willie Preston Democrat Yea
Andrew S. Chesney Republican Yea
Chapin Rose Republican Yea
Chris Balkema Republican Yea
Craig Wilcox Republican Yea
Dale Fowler Republican Yea
Darby A. Hills Republican Yea
Dave Syverson Republican Nay
Donald P. DeWitte Republican Not Voting
Erica Harriss Republican Yea
Jason Plummer Republican Yea
Jil Tracy Republican Yea
John F. Curran Republican Yea
Li Arellano, Jr. Republican Not Voting
Neil Anderson Republican Nay
Sally J. Turner Republican Yea
Seth Lewis Republican Yea
Steve McClure Republican Yea
Sue Rezin Republican Yea
Terri Bryant Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Criminal Law

Passed 9 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 2100
Democrat 7000
Total 9100
% of votes cast 90%10%0%0%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Celina Villanueva Democrat Yea
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. Democrat Yea
Javier L. Cervantes Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Yea
Michael W. Halpin Democrat Yea
Robert F. Martwick Democrat Yea
Robert Peters Democrat Yea
Jil Tracy Republican Yea
Steve McClure Republican Yea
Terri Bryant Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Third Reading

Passed 76 Yea · 33 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 70005
Republican 33204
Unaffiliated 2100
Total 753309
% of votes cast 64%28%0%8%
How each member voted (117)
Member Party Vote
Jacobs — Nay
Johnson — Yea
Hernandez, Lisa — Yea
Aarón M. Ortíz Democrat Yea
Abdelnasser Rashid Democrat Yea
Amy Briel Democrat Yea
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar Democrat Yea
Ann M. Williams Democrat Yea
Anna Moeller Democrat Yea
Anne Stava Democrat Yea
Anthony DeLuca Democrat Yea
Barbara Hernandez Democrat Yea
Bob Morgan Democrat Yea
Camille Y. Lilly Democrat Yea
Carol Ammons Democrat Not Voting
Curtis J. Tarver, II Democrat Not Voting
Dagmara Avelar Democrat Yea
Daniel Didech Democrat Yea
Dave Vella Democrat Yea
Debbie Meyers-Martin Democrat Yea
Diane Blair-Sherlock Democrat Yea
Edgar González, Jr. Democrat Yea
Eva-Dina Delgado Democrat Yea
Fred Crespo Democrat Yea
Harry Benton Democrat Yea
Hoan Huynh Democrat Not Voting
Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. Democrat Not Voting
Janet Yang Rohr Democrat Yea
Jawaharial Williams Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
Jehan Gordon-Booth Democrat Yea
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz Democrat Yea
Joyce Mason Democrat Yea
Justin Cochran Democrat Yea
Justin Slaughter Democrat Yea
Kam Buckner Democrat Yea
Katie Stuart Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kevin John Olickal Democrat Yea
Kimberly Du Buclet Democrat Yea
La Shawn K. Ford Democrat Yea
Laura Faver Dias Democrat Yea
Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. Democrat Yea
Lilian Jiménez Democrat Yea
Lindsey LaPointe Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Marcus C. Evans, Jr. Democrat Yea
Margaret A. DeLaRosa Democrat Yea
Margaret Croke Democrat Yea
Martha Deuter Democrat Yea
Mary Beth Canty Democrat Yea
Mary Gill Democrat Yea
Matt Hanson Democrat Yea
Maura Hirschauer Democrat Yea
Maurice A. West, II Democrat Yea
Michael Crawford Democrat Yea
Michael J. Kelly Democrat Not Voting
Michelle Mussman Democrat Yea
Nabeela Syed Democrat Yea
Natalie A. Manley Democrat Yea
Nicholas K. Smith Democrat Yea
Nicolle Grasse Democrat Yea
Norma Hernandez Democrat Yea
Rick Ryan Democrat Yea
Rita Mayfield Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Yea
Robyn Gabel Democrat Yea
Sharon Chung Democrat Yea
Sonya M. Harper Democrat Yea
Stephanie A. Kifowit Democrat Yea
Sue Scherer Democrat Yea
Suzanne M. Ness Democrat Yea
Thaddeus Jones Democrat Yea
Theresa Mah Democrat Yea
Tracy Katz Muhl Democrat Yea
Will Guzzardi Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Yea
Yolonda Morris Democrat Yea
Adam M. Niemerg Republican Nay
Amy Elik Republican Nay
Amy L. Grant Republican Not Voting
Blaine Wilhour Republican Nay
Brad Halbrook Republican Nay
Brad Stephens Republican Not Voting
Bradley Fritts Republican Nay
Brandun Schweizer Republican Nay
Charles Meier Republican Nay
Chris Miller Republican Nay
Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer Republican Nay
Dan Swanson Republican Nay
Daniel J. Ugaste Republican Nay
Dave Severin Republican Nay
David Friess Republican Nay
Dennis Tipsword Republican Nay
Jackie Haas Republican Yea
Jason R. Bunting Republican Nay
Jed Davis Republican Nay
Jeff Keicher Republican Nay
Jennifer Sanalitro Republican Yea
Joe C. Sosnowski Republican Nay
John M. Cabello Republican Nay
Kevin Schmidt Republican Nay
Kyle Moore Republican Nay
Martin McLaughlin Republican Nay
Michael J. Coffey, Jr. Republican Nay
Nicole La Ha Republican Nay
Norine K. Hammond Republican Nay
Patrick Sheehan Republican Yea
Patrick Windhorst Republican Nay
Regan Deering Republican Nay
Ryan Spain Republican Not Voting
Steven Reick Republican Nay
Tom Weber Republican Nay
Tony M. McCombie Republican Nay
Travis Weaver Republican Nay
Wayne A. Rosenthal Republican Not Voting
William E Hauter Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Judiciary

Passed 9 Yea · 2 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 0203
Democrat 9001
Total 9204
% of votes cast 60%13%0%27%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar Democrat Yea
Bob Morgan Democrat Yea
Dave Vella Democrat Yea
Edgar González, Jr. Democrat Yea
Justin Slaughter Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kevin John Olickal Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Rick Ryan Democrat Yea
Will Guzzardi Democrat Not Voting
David Friess Republican Not Voting
Dennis Tipsword Republican Nay
John M. Cabello Republican Not Voting
Patrick Sheehan Republican Not Voting
Patrick Windhorst Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Judiciary

Passed 8 Yea · 5 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 8002
Republican 0500
Total 8502
% of votes cast 53%33%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar Democrat Yea
Bob Morgan Democrat Not Voting
Dave Vella Democrat Yea
Edgar González, Jr. Democrat Yea
Justin Slaughter Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kevin John Olickal Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Rick Ryan Democrat Not Voting
Will Guzzardi Democrat Yea
David Friess Republican Nay
Dennis Tipsword Republican Nay
Nicole La Ha Republican Nay
Patrick Sheehan Republican Nay
Patrick Windhorst Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights environment
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 HB4255      do?
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that the statute prohibiting elephants from performing in traveling animal acts applies to "covered animals" rather than just elephants. Defines "covered animal" as any of the following animals, and hybrids of those animals: (1) elephantidae; (2) felidae, but excluding a domestic cat; (3) non-human primate; or (4) ursidae. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other laws protecting animal welfare. Provides that the provisions may not be construed to limit any State law or rules protecting the welfare of animals or to prevent a unit of local government from adopting and enforcing its own animal welfare ordinances and regulations. Contains a severability provision. Effective July 1, 2026.
Who sponsors HB4255     ?
HB4255      is sponsored by Linda Holmes, Sara Feigenholtz, Julie A. Morrison, Laura Fine, Lakesia Collins, Mary Edly-Allen, Kelly M. Cassidy (Democrat), Joyce Mason (Democrat), Michael Crawford (Democrat), Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Democrat), Sharon Chung (Democrat), Diane Blair-Sherlock (Democrat), Michelle Mussman (Democrat), Kimberly Du Buclet (Democrat), Margaret Croke (Democrat), Dagmara Avelar (Democrat), Barbara Hernandez (Democrat), Laura Faver Dias (Democrat), Lindsey LaPointe (Democrat), Carol Ammons (Democrat), Justin Cochran (Democrat), Mary Gill (Democrat), Anna Moeller (Democrat), Janet Yang Rohr (Democrat), Simmons, Mike, and Glowiak Hilton.
What is the current status of HB4255     ?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 19, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB4255     ?
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