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SB 2685

Certificate of need; delete requirement to obtain for psychiatric hospitals, renal disease facilities and additional facilities.

2025 Regular Session

The bill would require federal immigration officers in Illinois to identify themselves and not conceal faces during enforcement actions, with limited safety exceptions.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2685

SB 2685 — Unmasked Federal Enforcement Transparency Act (summary)

Status: Died in committee (bill did not become law)

Introduced: 2025 (filed/received in March 2025; additional filing activity shown in October 2025 in the bill file)
Primary sponsor: Sen. Willie Preston
Subject: Public health and welfare / immigration enforcement transparency

Purpose and intent

SB 2685 (the "Unmasked Federal Enforcement Transparency Act") would have required federal immigration enforcement officers operating in Illinois to identify themselves and refrain from concealing their faces during public enforcement actions. The bill’s stated goals are to increase transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement, reduce community fear and confusion, protect civil liberties, and prevent officer impersonation.

Key provisions (substantive summary)

  • Prohibited conduct

    • A "covered federal officer or agent" (defined to include ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and other DHS components conducting immigration-related arrests, detentions, or field investigations in Illinois) may not wear a face covering or otherwise intentionally conceal their face/identity during an "enforcement action" (arrest, detention, search, seizure, or other field operation involving the public).
    • Use of unmarked uniforms or equipment that obscures agency affiliation during public-facing enforcement activity is prohibited.

  • Identification requirements

    • During enforcement actions, covered officers must display a clearly visible name or unique identification number and a clearly visible insignia or marking identifying the federal agency.

  • Limited exception for safety

    • A temporary face covering may be used only when a supervising officer documents, in writing, an immediate and specific safety threat that cannot be mitigated by other means.
    • Any invocation of this exception must be reported to the Illinois Attorney General within 47 calendar days and must include date/time/location, nature of the documented threat, and steps taken to minimize concealment and protect the public.

  • State and local cooperation

    • No Illinois state agency, unit of local government, or law enforcement officer may materially assist, coordinate with, or provide resources to any enforcement action that violates the Act’s identification and face-covering provisions, except where cooperation is required by a valid federal court order.

  • Enforcement and oversight

    • The Illinois Attorney General may receive and investigate complaints, issue subpoenas, and file civil actions (declaratory or injunctive relief) for violations. The AG is required to publish an annual public report summarizing complaints and compliance trends.

  • Protections and other provisions

    • Whistleblower protection for state/local employees and contractors who report violations to the Attorney General (no retaliation).
    • Preemption of home rule: the Act declares regulation of face coverings and identity under the Act an exclusive State function and denies home rule authority on these matters.
    • Severability clause; effective upon becoming law.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: DHS personnel performing immigration enforcement in Illinois (ICE, ERO, HSI, contractors).
  • Secondary: immigrant communities and members of the public subject to enforcement; state and local law enforcement and agencies (in their ability to assist or cooperate); Illinois Attorney General’s office (investigative/enforcement workload).
  • Potentially affected: municipalities (home rule preemption), federal-state relations in law enforcement cooperation.

Enforcement mechanism and remedies

  • Civil enforcement by the Illinois Attorney General (investigation, subpoenas, declaratory/injunctive relief). No criminal penalties are specified in the bill text.
  • Annual public reporting by the AG on complaints and compliance.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • The bill text identifies the measure as the "Unmasked Federal Enforcement Transparency Act" with immediate effective date if enacted.
  • Legislative action records provided in the bill file show initial filing and referrals during 2025 but also list the measure as "Died In Committee." The file contains multiple dates (March–October 2025) that appear inconsistent; regardless, the bill did not become law.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Transparency and trust: supporters would argue the bill increases accountability and community trust by ensuring officers are identifiable.
  • Operational and safety concerns: federal agencies may contend that masking or unmarked gear is sometimes necessary for officer safety, operational security, or to preserve ongoing investigations; the bill creates a narrow documented exception.
  • Federal-state tension: requirements apply to federal officers acting in Illinois and include prohibitions on state/local cooperation with noncompliant federal actions, which could raise federal preemption and intergovernmental cooperation issues.
  • Legal risk and litigation: implementation could prompt litigation over separation of powers, federal supremacy, and the authority of a state to regulate the conduct of federal agents.

This summary focuses on the bill’s substantive provisions and likely impacts; because SB 2685 did not advance out of committee, its provisions were not enacted.

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

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