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HB 2699

Appropriations; Office of the Attorney General; amount; purpose; effective date; emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ross Ford

Expands Medicaid to foreign-born victims of trafficking, torture, or serious crimes and their derivatives who meet residency/income rules and have qualifying immigration filings.

Second Reading referred to Appropriations and Budget
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Bill Summary · HB 2699

Summary — HB 2699 (MEDICAID — Nonimmigrant Status) — Illinois (2025)

Note: the provided materials include texts from more than one jurisdiction and version. This summary focuses on the Illinois HB 2699 titled “MEDICAID‑NONIMMIGRANT STATUS” (introduced by Rep. Dagmara Avelar) and the House Floor Amendment 001 filed 3/13/2025, which substantially revises Section 5‑2 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Main purpose / intent

The bill would expand Illinois Medical Assistance (Medicaid) eligibility by authorizing the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to provide Medicaid coverage to certain foreign‑born noncitizens — specifically victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes (and their derivative family members) — who meet residency and income criteria and who have specified pending immigration or protection applications. The amendment also removes conditional language linking eligibility to receipt of TANF or SNAP for these groups.

Key provisions

  • Adds a class of eligible persons in Section 5‑2: foreign‑born victims of human trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes, and their derivative family members, subject to:
    • meeting state residency and income requirements (as set by HFS); and
    • having one of the following immigration/protection filings or statuses pending:
    • pending asylum application or pending appeal of an asylum decision;
    • receiving services through a federally funded trafficking/treatment center;
    • filed application for T‑nonimmigrant status (trafficking victim);
    • filed application for U‑nonimmigrant status (crime victim); or
    • filed as a derivative family member of a T or U applicant.
  • Removes language that had conditioned such medical‑assistance eligibility on eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Retains existing cross‑references and other Medicaid eligibility categories in Section 5‑2 (pregnant people, children, disabled workers, transitional Medicaid, etc.), though the amendment text in the packet is partially truncated.

Who is affected

  • Directly: eligible foreign‑born victims of trafficking, torture, or other serious crimes and their derivative family members who meet income/residency rules and have the specified pending immigration filings.
  • Indirectly: healthcare providers, HFS (administration and eligibility determination), and state budget/appropriations (because expanding eligibility can increase Medicaid enrollment and spending).
  • Implementation will depend on federal Medicaid (Title XIX) rules and any required federal approvals or waivers.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • HB 2699 introduced in early 2025; House Floor Amendment No. 1 (substantive replacement) filed by Rep. Dagmara Avelar on 3/13/2025.
  • Assigned to Appropriations — Health & Human Services; committee recommended “Do Pass” (3/13/2025).
  • Referred to Rules Committee after floor amendment; public hearing & testimony recorded 5/01/2025; left pending in committee as of that hearing.
  • Implementation of any new eligibility categories will likely require HFS regulatory rulemaking and, where applicable, federal approval.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Expands access to Medicaid for vulnerable noncitizen victims, improving continuity of care and potentially reducing uncompensated care.
  • Fiscal impact: increased Medicaid caseload and state costs (though federal matching funds for some populations may apply); actual cost depends on the number of eligible persons and whether federal approval allows federal matching.
  • Administrative burden: HFS must develop eligibility verification procedures for immigration‑related filings and coordinate with federal programs and federally funded service providers.
  • Federal law/approval: coverage for noncitizen categories often requires adherence to federal Medicaid rules; federal authorization may be necessary before changes take effect.

For legislative status updates or to review the exact statutory language, consult the Illinois General Assembly bill file for HB 2699 and the text of House Amendment 001.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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