Sen. Laura Ellman votes Yes on 7 bills in Illinois Senate on May 29, 2026
By H. J. Chang
On Friday, May 29, 2026, Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman (D-21st) participated in 7 recorded floor votes during the 104th General Assembly, with all votes recorded as Yes.
Among Ellman's votes was support for HB4966, a measure enhancing oversight and protections for youth under the Department of Children and Family Services. The Illinois General Assembly provided the bill text, summarized as: "DCFS-SECURE ACT."
The following summary draws from the bill text and seeks to clarify its main points.
Effective July 1, 2027, the bill, known as the SECURE Act, aims to increase protections for youth placed with or under the Department of Children and Family Services, notably in out-of-state situations. It requires case plans to define the caregiver's responsibilities, ensuring care that is safe, supportive, and respects the youth’s protected attributes. The measure prohibits the department from approving conversion therapy. For interstate placements of youth ages 8 or above, the bill calls for specific risk and health evaluations, ongoing Illinois monitoring, and supports the child's preferred placement. It safeguards access to health care allowed by Illinois law. The act also mandates annual public reporting, performance audits, greater court involvement, appointment of representation for particular youth, and enables private lawsuits against DCFS or licensed providers for noncompliance.
The other measures Ellman supported include HB2335, HB4758, HB4339, HB4534, HB5196, and HB4649.
Ellman is a graduate of Grinnell College, earning a BS in 1987.
The Democrat began serving in the Illinois Senate in 2019 for the 21st District, succeeding former Sen. Michael Connelly.
The Illinois legislative process involves several required steps: bills are introduced, reviewed by committee, debated and voted on in both the House and Senate, then sent to the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly meets biennially. Thousands of proposed bills are filed each session, though only a portion are ultimately enacted.
Further details on legislation and measures are available here.
Floor Votes Recorded By Sen. Laura Ellman
| Bill | Description | Vote | Outcome | Chamber tally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB4966 | Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safeguards to Ensure Continuity and Uphold Rights and Equity (SECURE) Act. Sets forth several legislative findings, including that (i) Illinois retains a non-delegable duty to safeguard the safety, health, dignity, and well-being of all youth in the care or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, and (ii) the Department must respect and meaningfully consider a youth's expressed preferences in placement options while conducting transparent, individualized risk assessments. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Adds provisions concerning case plans for youth in care and the specific tasks and responsibilities a caregiver must complete to ensure each youth is provided with safe, proper, and supportive care based on the youth's needs and best interests, including, but not limited to, the youth's protected characteristics as defined under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Contains provisions concerning requirements for interstate placements of youth age 8 or older, including, but not limited to: protecting a youth's access to lawful health care and civil immunities for Department employees who protect a youth's access to lawful health care; individualized assessments on the suitability and risks of the proposed interstate placement; ongoing Illinois-based case worker contact and monitoring; and a prohibition on consent to conversion therapy. Contains provisions on youth requested in-state or out-of-state placement and other related matters; annual Department reports on out-of-state placements; performance audits; private right of action; and other matters. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 by adding provisions on supportive care for youth in care; youth-directed placement rights; licensure and contractual compliance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Adds provisions on the appointment of an attorney for a youth in care with special needs; required Department attestations on caregiver conduct when a youth is placed in an out-of-state residential treatment center; assessments and monitoring for minors in out-of-state placements; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2027. | Yes | Passed | 35-19 |
| HB2335 | Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that "expanded-use antique vehicle" does not include a commercial vehicle or a farm truck. Provides that any entity or vendor providing services to or on behalf of the Secretary of State may also prescribe or provide suitable forms for applications, certificates of title, registration cards, driver's licenses, and such other forms requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the Act to the extent authorized by the Secretary and upon approval of the Secretary. Provides that, except for specified persons, an individual's photograph or image, signature, social security number, personal email address, and medical or disability information as may be submitted to the Secretary for purposes of a vehicle title and registration application shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed. Provides that the printed proof of registration is valid for 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker's or digital registration sticker's date or 30 days from the purchase date of the new registration sticker or digital registration sticker, whichever occurs later. Provides that the owner of an antique vehicle may register such vehicle for a fee not to exceed $6 per registration year (rather than $13 for a 2-year antique plate). Provides that if the Secretary determines that an owner has registered or maintained the registration of a motor vehicle without a liability insurance policy, the Secretary shall notify the owner that such owner's vehicle registration shall be suspended 30 (rather than 45) days after the date of the mailing of the notice unless the owner within 30 days furnishes proof of insurance in effect on the verification date or provides an exemption from the mandatory insurance requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 36-16 |
| HB4758 | Amends the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act. Provides that, unless driving is an essential job function or is related to a legitimate business purpose for a position, an employer or employment agency shall not: (1) refuse to hire, segregate, or act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, or privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of an applicant or employee not possessing a driver's license; or (2) include a statement in a posting for a job opening for the position that an applicant must have a valid driver's license. Defines "driver's license". Effective January 1, 2027. | Yes | Passed | 41-15 |
| HB4339 | Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires a school district maintaining any of grades 9 through 12 to provide all eligible students graduating from high school with the opportunity to register to vote. Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 41-12 |
| HB4534 | Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. In the definition of "abused child", provides that an abused child means a child whose parent or immediate family member, or any person responsible for the child's welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent commits the act of grooming a child for the purpose of establishing or attempting to establish a romantic or sexual relationship (rather than commits the offense of grooming, as defined in the Criminal Code of 2012). Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB5196 | Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Authorizes an additional $1,000,000,000 of State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Employees, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Extends the option for a participant to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment in lieu of any pension benefit or for a reduction in the increases to his or her annual retirement annuity and survivor's annuity to June 30, 2030 (instead of June 30, 2026). Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB4649 | Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. In provisions concerning financial exploitation of an eligible adult, provides that a court may grant a temporary injunction ex parte, pending a full hearing, and may grant such relief as the court deems proper if the court makes certain findings, including, but not limited to, that an immediate and present danger of exploitation of the eligible adult exists, there is a likelihood of irreparable harm and nonavailability of an adequate remedy at law, there is a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, and the threatened injury to the eligible adult outweighs possible harm to the respondent. Sets forth the types of injunctive relief a court might grant, including, but not limited to, freezing the eligible adult's assets or lines of credit, awarding the eligible adult temporary exclusive use and possession of his or her dwelling, if shared with the respondent, and providing directives to law enforcement. Contains provisions on the scope and effect of an ex parte temporary injunction and the grounds for its denial. Sets forth factors a court will consider to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe an eligible adult is or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of financial exploitation; notice of petition and injunction; final hearings on a petition; final cost judgments against a respondent; the transmittal of petitions, financial affidavits, hearing notices to the county sheriff or law enforcement agency; court certification of all orders issued, changed, continued, extended, or vacated subsequent to the original petition, notice of hearing, or temporary injunction; the enforcement of injunction violations through a civil or criminal contempt proceeding; judgment damages against a petitioner; modification or dissolution of injunction; substitute service for unascertainable respondent whose identity cannot be ascertained or whose identity is unknown; and other matters. | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |