Illinois Sen. Hastings missing persons identification bill passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. Michael E. Hastings aims to enhance Illinois’ handling of missing person cases by requiring immediate report acceptance and improved inter-agency communication, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 77 Democrats and 10 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 28 Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 36 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Hastings introduced the bill in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 13, 2025 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as SB0024, was passed on May 31, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Missing Persons Identification Act. Requires a law enforcement agency to attempt to obtain a biological sample from closely related family members of the missing person or a personal item of the missing person beginning 30 days after the date of the missing person report (rather than within 30 days after receipt of a report). Provides that a law enforcement agency may not establish or maintain a policy that requires the observance of a waiting period before accepting a missing person report. Modifies the circumstances under which a law enforcement agency may not refuse to accept a missing person report. Requires a law enforcement agency to notify a person responsible for the missing person’s welfare, or other specified individuals, about specified efforts to locate a missing person. Provides that, if a person remains missing for 30 days after the date of report, the law enforcement agency shall immediately (rather than may) generate a report of the missing person within NamUs, and the law enforcement agency shall (rather than may) attempt to obtain specified information and materials that have not been received. Modifies the follow-up action required by a law enforcement agency after creation of a missing person report. Modifies the definition of “high-risk missing person”. Upon receipt of a missing person report (rather than immediately), requires the responding local law enforcement agency to enter all collected information relating to the missing person case in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System and the National Crime Information Center. Makes other changes to reporting requirements. Modifies requirements for submission of fingerprints from unidentified remains for analysis as well as other requirements relating identified human remains. Provides that an assisting law enforcement agency, a medical examiner, a coroner, or the Illinois State Police may not close an unidentified person case until the individual has been identified and must keep the case active. Requires the coroner, medical examiner, or assisting law enforcement agency (rather than the coroner or medical examiner) to obtain a biological (rather than DNA) sample from an individual whose remains are not identifiable, and modifies how the sample may be analyzed and labeled. Makes other changes.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Missing Persons Identification Act in Illinois to enhance procedures for handling missing person cases. It requires law enforcement agencies to accept missing person reports immediately without enforcing a waiting period and outlines specific conditions where refusal to accept a report is prohibited. The bill mandates that if a person remains missing for 30 days, the agency must enter a report into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and make more concerted efforts to collect additional information such as photographs, fingerprints, and DNA samples. It emphasizes improved inter-agency communication and encourages the use of technology for better reporting and information sharing. For unidentified human remains, it requires that biological samples be obtained and analysed through accredited laboratories, and mandates continuous active investigation until identification is achieved. The bill’s changes aim to streamline and enhance the efficacy of the missing person and unidentified remains procedures.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz (Democrat-1st District), Sen. Celina Villanueva (Democrat-12th District), and Sen. Christopher Belt (Democrat-57th District), along with 42 other sponsors.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Hastings graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 2003 with a BS and again in 2014 from The John Marshall Law School with a JD.

Hastings, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2013 to represent the state’s 19th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Maggie Crotty.

Lawmakers listed as “Not Voting” were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an “Excused Absence” were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.