Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois HB3363: STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
Status: Signed into law, August 15, 2025
Creates the State Public Defender Act. Creates the Office of State Public Defender as an agency of State government. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be an independent agency within the judicial branch of government and the Office's records shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Office of State Public Defender shall be under the supervision and direction of the State Public Defender. Sets forth the powers and duties of the State Public Defender, including the duties of the initial State Public Defender. Provides that the initial State Public Defender shall be appointed by the Supreme Court. Sets forth specified duties and responsibilities of the initial State Public Defender. Creates the State Public Defender Commission. Sets forth membership and duties of the Commission. Amends the Public Defender and Appointed Counsel Division of the Counties Code. Provides that any 2 or more counties of this State that are within the same judicial circuit may by joint resolution of the several county boards involved create a common Office of public defender for the counties so joined or allow representation in one county by the public defender appointed in the collaborating county (rather than 2 or more adjoining counties within the same judicial circuit may create a common Office of public defender). Provides that, when a vacancy occurs in the position of public defender, the State Public Defender shall nominate and the State Public Defender Commission shall appoint a properly qualified public defender using the application and selection process developed under the State Public Defender Act. Removes certain differences based upon county populations. Removes provisions relating to the Public Defender Quality Defense Task Force. Provides that a public defender may be removed only for good cause or dereliction of duty after notice and a hearing before the State Public Defender Commission (rather than by the president of the coun
What the bill says
An act concerning State government.
From the enrolled text, May 31, 2025:
AN ACT concerning State government. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 1.Short title.This Act may be cited as theState Public Defender Act. Section 5.Legislative declaration.The General Assembly recognizes that zealous legal representation in criminal, juvenile delinquency, and dependency proceedings and related matters is a constitutional right of the people of the State of Illinois and that high-quality legal representation should be available regardless of a person's ability to pay. Therefore, it is the intent of the General Assembly to provide for an effective public defense system throughout the State and to encourage the active and substantial participation of the private bar in the representation of accused people. Section 10.Definitions.As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: "Commission" means the State Public Defender Commission established under Section 40. "Chief County Public Defender" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3-4000.1 of the Counties Code. "State Public Defender" means the individual appointed as HB3363 Enrolled- 2 -LRB104 10367 RLC 20442 b HB3363 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 10367 RLC 20442 b HB3363 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 10367 RLC 20442 b State Public Defender under Section 30. Section 15.Office of State Public Defender.The Office of State Public Defender is created as an agency of State government and as …
Sponsors
- Dave Vella (D, 68) · primary sponsor
- Kevin John Olickal (D, 16)
- Justin Slaughter (D, 27)
- Lisa Davis (D, 32)
- Lindsey LaPointe (D, 19)
- Kelly M. Cassidy (D, 14)
- Will Guzzardi (D, 39)
- Eva-Dina Delgado (D, 3)
- Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D, 22)
- Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D, 17)
- Dagmara Avelar (D, 85)
- Daniel Didech (D, 59)
Latest actions
- : Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0300
- : Effective Date January 1, 2027; some provisions
- : Effective Date July 1, 2026; some provisions
- : Governor Approved
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Passed Both Houses
- : House Concurs
- : Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 077-036-000
- : Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 077-036-000
- : Motion Prevailed to Suspend Rule 073-039-000
Votes
- Third Reading - Passed (May 31, 2025): 36 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee (May 31, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs (May 31, 2025): 77 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee (May 31, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs (May 31, 2025): 77 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Motion Prevailed to Suspend Rule (May 31, 2025): 73 yea, 39 nay, passed
Subjects: ILCS 745 - Civil Immunities, ILCS 5 - Government, ILCS 55 - Counties, New Act, ILCS 20 - Executive Branch
Common questions
- What is HB3363?
- HB3363 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
- What does HB3363 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning State government.
- What is the status of HB3363?
- Signed into law as of August 15, 2025. Latest action: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0300 (August 15, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB3363?
- Dave Vella (D, 68), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB3363?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3363&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.