republic-os/legislation/us/states/il/101st/hb-1553.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "JUV CT-SPECIAL IMMIGRANT MINOR"
description: "Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the court has jurisdiction to make the findings necessary to enable a minor who has been adjudicated a ward of the court to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for classification as a special immigrant juvenile under federal law. Provides that if a motion requests findings regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and the evidence, which may consist solely of, but is not limited to, a declaration of the minor, supports the findings, the court shall issue an order that includes the following findings: (1) the minor is declared a dependent of the court or the minor is legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, a State agency or department, or an individual or entity appointed by the court; (2) that reunification of the minor with one or both of the minor's parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or other similar basis; and (3) that it is not in the best interest of the minor to be returned to the minor's or parent's previous country of nationality or last habitual residence. Makes other changes."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "101st"
identifier: "HB 1553"
citation: "Illinois HB 1553 (101st)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 62
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2019-01-29"
last_action: "2019-07-23"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/a44c62ca-c9ec-4ae4-8682-d2ec23f22a2a"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1553&GAID=15&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=115995&SessionID=108&GA=101"
source_hash: "8a131147ca6904cb16f7f4d2863f51e2931c734401bc26df414ecfca3bb44cf2"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 1553 (101st) — JUV CT-SPECIAL IMMIGRANT MINOR

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that the court has jurisdiction to make the findings necessary to enable a minor who has been adjudicated a ward of the court to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for classification as a special immigrant juvenile under federal law. Provides that if a motion requests findings regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and the evidence, which may consist solely of, but is not limited to, a declaration of the minor, supports the findings, the court shall issue an order that includes the following findings: (1) the minor is declared a dependent of the court or the minor is legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, a State agency or department, or an individual or entity appointed by the court; (2) that reunification of the minor with one or both of the minor's parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or other similar basis; and (3) that it is not in the best interest of the minor to be returned to the minor's or parent's previous country of nationality or last habitual residence. Makes other changes.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10100HB1553&GA=101&SessionId=108&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=115995&DocNum=1553&GAID=15&SpecSess=&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10100HB1553eng&GA=101&SessionId=108&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=115995&DocNum=1553&GAID=15&SpecSess=&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10100HB1553enr&GA=101&SessionId=108&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=115995&DocNum=1553&GAID=15&SpecSess=&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **47–3** (pass) · upper
- Third Reading — **87–18** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Aaron M. Ortiz — cosponsor (person)
- André Thapedi — cosponsor (person)
- Ann M. Williams — cosponsor (person)
- Anna Moeller — cosponsor (person)
- Anne Stava-Murray — cosponsor (person)
- Bob Morgan — cosponsor (person)
- Celina Villanueva — cosponsor (person)
- Cristina Castro — primary (person)
- Curtis J. Tarver, II — cosponsor (person)
- Daniel Didech — cosponsor (person)
- Deb Conroy — cosponsor (person)
- Debbie Meyers-Martin — cosponsor (person)
- Delia C. Ramirez — cosponsor (person)
- Elizabeth Hernandez — cosponsor (person)
- Emanuel Chris Welch — cosponsor (person)
- Gregory Harris — cosponsor (person)
- Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. — cosponsor (person)
- Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz — primary (person)
- John C. D'Amico — cosponsor (person)
- Joyce Mason — cosponsor (person)
- Karina Villa — cosponsor (person)
- Kelly M. Cassidy — cosponsor (person)
- Lamont J. Robinson, Jr. — cosponsor (person)
- Marcus C. Evans, Jr. — cosponsor (person)
- Mark L. Walker — cosponsor (person)
- Martin J. Moylan — cosponsor (person)
- Mary E. Flowers — cosponsor (person)
- Michael J. Zalewski — cosponsor (person)
- Natalie A. Manley — cosponsor (person)
- Robyn Gabel — cosponsor (person)
- Sam Yingling — cosponsor (person)
- Sara Feigenholtz — cosponsor (person)
- Theresa Mah — cosponsor (person)
- Will Guzzardi — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2019-01-29** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz `filing`
- **2019-02-01** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2019-02-01** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2019-02-06** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech
- **2019-02-06** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robyn Gabel
- **2019-02-06** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Karina Villa
- **2019-02-06** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
- **2019-02-06** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez
- **2019-02-06** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Delia C. Ramirez
- **2019-02-07** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
- **2019-02-13** Assigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee `referral-committee`
- **2019-02-13** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
- **2019-02-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz
- **2019-02-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Zalewski
- **2019-02-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr.
- **2019-02-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan
- **2019-02-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Celina Villanueva
- **2019-02-27** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz `amendment-introduction`
- **2019-02-27** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2019-03-05** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
- **2019-03-12** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2019-03-12** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 011-001-000 `committee-passage`
- **2019-03-13** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2019-03-19** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2019-03-19** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin
- **2019-03-19** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sam Yingling
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Deb Conroy
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John C. D'Amico
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregory Harris
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martin J. Moylan
- **2019-03-19** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. André Thapedi
- **2019-03-20** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
- **2019-03-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
- **2019-03-27** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mark L. Walker
- **2019-03-27** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
- **2019-03-27** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
- **2019-03-28** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 087-018-002 `reading-3, passage`
- **2019-04-03** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2019-04-03** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2019-04-03** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
- **2019-04-03** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2019-04-03** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2019-04-24** Assigned to Judiciary `referral-committee`
- **2019-05-02** Postponed - Judiciary
- **2019-05-08** Do Pass Judiciary; 010-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2019-05-08** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 9, 2019
- **2019-05-16** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2019-05-16** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 17, 2019
- **2019-05-21** Third Reading - Passed; 047-003-001 `reading-3, passage`
- **2019-05-21** Passed Both Houses
- **2019-06-19** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2019-07-23** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2019-07-23** Effective Date January 1, 2020
- **2019-07-23** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0121 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/a44c62ca-c9ec-4ae4-8682-d2ec23f22a2a`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).