Sen. Seth Lewis casts 7 floor votes in Illinois Senate on May 29, 2026
On Friday, May 29, 2026, Sen. Seth Lewis (R-24th) took part in 7 recorded votes during the 104th General Assembly, voting in favor of six measures and opposing one.
Lewis opposed HB4966, which proposed to create the SECURE Act aimed at enhancing youth protections for those in the care or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, and was subsequently passed by the Illinois Senate. The Illinois General Assembly notes that the bill's summary is as follows: "DCFS-SECURE ACT."
The following summary draws on the official bill text with clarifying interpretation included where necessary.
This legislation, effective July 1, 2027, would establish the SECURE Act, which is designed to enhance protections for youth under the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, with particular focus on out-of-state placements. It requires that case plans specify obligations for caregivers to maintain safe, nondiscriminatory, and supportive conditions tailored to the youth’s specific requirements and protected attributes, and prohibits the department from authorizing conversion therapy. HB4966 introduces detailed risk and healthcare assessments, compels continuous oversight by Illinois officials for out-of-state placements involving youth age 8 or older, grants those youth a presumptive preference for their chosen placement, and ensures access to healthcare that is legal in Illinois. It also stipulates annual public reporting and performance reviews, increases judicial oversight, provides for legal counsel in defined cases, and grants private rights of action for violations against DCFS and approved providers.
On that same day, Lewis also voted on HB2335, HB4758, HB4339, HB4534, HB5196 and HB4649.
Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa in 1991.
He was elected as a Republican to the Illinois State Senate in 2023, representing the 24th District and succeeding Suzy Glowiak in that seat.
Illinois legislation proceeds through a multi-step process beginning with introduction in either chamber, followed by committee consideration, floor debate, and approval or rejection by both the House and Senate prior to gubernatorial action. Sessions are held biennially, and although thousands of measures may be introduced each session, only a small percentage advance to become law.
Further details as well as bill texts and updates are available here.
| 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. | No | 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 |