NASW-Illinois Chapter 2025 Illinois Spring Legislative Report
- NASW-IL Staff
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
NASW-Illinois Chapter membership helps us to push for legislation that benefits Illinois social workers. As the largest membership association in Illinois advocating on behalf of social workers, consider adding your voice to our efforts and join/renew your NASW membership today.
Overview of SFY26 Budget and Legislative Session
As social workers, we know that care does not happen in a vacuum—it’s shaped by policy, budgets, and political will. This year, while Illinois made notable progress in expanding behavioral health access and modernizing licensure, we are also facing mounting challenges on the horizon.
Impending federal funding cuts to essential human services, behavioral health programs, and the social safety net threaten to undercut the very progress we have fought to build. These cuts will likely place additional strain on our profession, our agencies, and—most importantly—the clients and communities we serve. The NASW‑Illinois Chapter is actively monitoring federal developments and will continue to advocate at both the state and national levels to protect our shared mission and ensure our voices are heard.
Despite this uncertain landscape, the NASW‑Illinois Chapter remained a powerful force in Springfield this past year. Representing you, our members, we engaged with over 200 pieces of legislation this session, advancing laws that safeguard ethical mental health care, expand workforce supports, and improve access across systems. From regulating AI in therapy to securing new clinical supervision funding, this work is the result of collective action—it only happens because of you thanks to your membership, your advocacy, and your commitment to social work values.
While some of the below bills have been signed into law, some are still awaiting the governor’s signature. You can check on their status as well as follow the status of our entire diverse, policy legislative agenda by checking the NASW-Illinois Chapter Legislative Bill Tracker: www.naswil.org/billtracker.
Notable 2025 Spring Legislative Session Achievements
Sponsored by Representative Bob Morgan and Senator Ram Villivalam
HB 1806 makes Illinois one of the first states to explicitly ban artificial intelligence systems from impersonating licensed therapists. The law protects consumers by ensuring therapy and psychotherapy services are only delivered by qualified, licensed, or certified professionals. The NASW‑Illinois Chapter strongly supported the measure as part of a broader national push to keep mental health care human‑centered and accountable. Effective Date: Immediately upon the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Representative Lisa Davis and Senator Robert Peters
HB 1715 amends the Department of Children and Family Services Powers Law, repealing a provision that allowed DCFS to appoint peace officers vested with full police powers. As a priority bill of the NASW‑Illinois Chapter, it reinforces DCFS’s identity as a human services agency and protects its credibility and community trust.
Effective Date: Immediately upon the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Representative Lindsey LaPointe and Senator Laura Fine
This new law eliminates prior authorization requirements for outpatient mental health services, including partial hospitalization programs, under both Medicaid and state‑regulated commercial insurance. It also requires commercial insurers to reimburse for reasonable travel when no in‑network options are available.
Effective Date: January 1, 2026.
Sponsored by Representative Lindsey LaPointe and Senator Sara Feigenholtz
Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, all Illinois public schools will be required to offer universal mental health screenings for students in grades 3 through 12. Districts may use a state‑provided tool, and families retain the right to opt out. This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Representative Bob Morgan and Senator Julie Morrison
Modernizes professional licensure by authorizing pre‑licensure practice while awaiting license processing, removing outdated “good moral character” language, and improving access for non‑English speakers. This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Representative Maura Hirschauer and Senator Karina Villa, MSW
Prioritizes outpatient restoration for low‑level offenses, encourages standardized court‑ordered fitness evaluations, and establishes a statewide Task Force on systemic reform. This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Senator Julie Morrison and Representative Margaret Croke
Amends the Juvenile Court Act to require permanency hearings for minors under DCFS custody per existing provisions of the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article. This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Sponsored by Senator Laura Fine and Representative Katie Stuart
Amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act to require employers to compensate employees during legally mandated nursing breaks at their regular rate, without requiring use of paid leave or reducing compensation. This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Ongoing Advocacy and Structural Efforts
Sponsored by Senator Karina Villa, MSW, and Representative Lindsey LaPointe, LSW
The NASW‑Illinois Chapter continues to advocate for HB 1085 which would establish minimum reimbursement rates for in‑network behavioral health providers and streamline network participation. The bill passed the House and a Senate Committee but was not called for final passage before adjournment. We are working with legislators and stakeholders to support this bill during veto session or reintroduce it in 2026.
Sponsored by Representative Jackie Haas, LCSW
Did not move forward this session due to unresolved concerns about client confidentiality and interstate legal exposure post-Dobbs. The NASW‑Illinois Chapter remains committed to pursuing a compact that protects both clinicians and clients. We continue collaborating with the governor’s office, legislators, the ACLU, and allied professions to secure safeguards and a reintroduced proposal grounded in social work ethics.
Sponsored by Senator Karina Villa, MSW, and Representative Lindsey LaPointe, LSW
This bill renames and expands the School and Municipal/County Social Work Loan Repayment Program, increasing the maximum award to $8,000 annually. It also establishes a Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program to support group supervision for LSWs pursuing LCSW licensure. We hope to pass part of this bill during veto session.
Sponsored by Senator Linda Holmes
Authorizes terminally ill patients to request physician-prescribed aid-in-dying medication and allows LCSWs to conduct mental health evaluations in support. While it did not pass this session, the NASW‑Illinois Chapter remains supportive and is working with advocates to move it forward.
Behavioral Health Workforce Supports
Student Loan Forgiveness and Workforce Incentives
This year’s state budget sustained and expanded critical loan repayment programs:
Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program: $7.5M to support BSWs, MSWs, and allied professionals in designated settings.
Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program: $5M offering $3,000–$25,000 per year to professionals in state-contracted human service agencies.
School and Municipal/County Social Work Loan Repayment Program: Offers up to $6,500 per year (rising to $8,000 with HB 3511) for licensed social workers in school or municipal settings.
Budget Items of Note
988 Crisis System Funding: A $0.40 telecom fee will generate an estimated $40M annually for crisis response infrastructure, including hotline operations, mobile crisis teams, and stabilization units.
Mental Health on Campus: Maintains $13M in funding for mental health services at public universities and community colleges, now administered as grants through Illinois’ higher education boards.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 legislative session demonstrated what’s possible when social workers organize, advocate, and lead. We took bold steps to regulate AI, protect access to therapy, modernize licensing, and invest in the workforce.
As we look ahead to 2026, our priorities remain—advancing equitable reimbursement, protecting client privacy, expanding the social work pipeline, and ensuring that ethical, person‑centered care remains the standard. Your membership, volunteer time, and advocacy strengthen our collective voice, and it is together that we create change.
Thank you for standing with us.