Bill
HB 2690
Illinois renames and strengthens laws on child sexual abuse material, expands offenses like grooming and exploitation, and extends protections and timelines effective Jan 1, 2026.
Status and timeline
- Introduced: February 11, 2025 (House, Rep. Mary Beth Canty primary sponsor).
- Passed both chambers (May 2025). Sent to Governor June 24, 2025. Approved by Governor August 15, 2025.
- Public Act: 104‑0245. Effective date: January 1, 2026.
Purpose / intent
- Modernize and clarify Illinois criminal law relating to sexual offenses involving recordings and images of minors by: (1) replacing the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” across multiple statutes; (2) creating or clarifying offenses and definitions to address in‑person and virtual conduct; and (3) adjusting procedural, evidentiary, and background‑check provisions related to sex offenses and child welfare.
Key provisions and changes
- Terminology change: Replaces references to “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” (throughout the Criminal Code of 2012 and related statutes).
- New/clarified offense language:
- Sexual exploitation of a child (Criminal Code § 11‑9.1): expanded to cover conduct in the presence or virtual presence of a child (or a person the actor believes to be a child) where the actor knowingly entices, coerces, or persuades the child to participate in producing or memorializing a sexual act of persons 18 or older. Violation of this provision is a Class 4 felony.
- Grooming (§ 11‑25): requires the defendant to be at least 5 years older than the child, or to hold a position of trust/authority/supervision relative to the child, at the time of the offense.
- Statute of limitations for grooming: when the victim was under 17 at the time of the offense, prosecution may commence within 10 years after the victim (or the person with a disability) attains age 17 (i.e., effective prosecution window through about age 27).
- Consent and family definitions:
- Adds/clarifies a statutory definition for “unable to give knowing consent.”
- Broadens the definition of “family member” to expressly include siblings and reduces the residency requirement for an accused to be considered part of the household from 6 months to 3 months.
- Victim/witness testimony protections: Courts may set conditions (including use of a facility dog) for testimony of victims or witnesses who are under 18 or who are intellectually disabled or affected by a developmental disability (broadens prior categories).
- Other changes:
- Removes references to criminal transmission of HIV from various statutes.
- Modifies admissibility rules in cases involving involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, and trafficking in persons (details in bill text).
- Conforming amendments to related Acts and definitions, including the Sex Offender Management Board Act (20 ILCS 4026/10), the Criminal History Records Check Act (110 ILCS 57/5), and the Child Care Act (225 ILCS 10/3.3), to reflect the renaming and related definitional changes.
Who is affected
- Alleged and convicted offenders: new/clarified elements (grooming age gap; expanded exploitation offense) may change charging and sentencing decisions.
- Victims and witnesses: broader protections for testimony; extended prosecution window for grooming victims who were minors.
- Courts, prosecutors, and defense counsel: must apply revised definitions, statute of limitations, and evidentiary rules.
- Child welfare and licensing entities (including medical schools and child‑care/adoption agencies): updated background‑check references and definitions used in screening and reporting.
- Sex offender management and registry frameworks: updated offense listings/definitions for management and treatment considerations.
Procedural notes / implementation
- The act makes numerous cross‑statutory edits; practitioners and agencies should consult the enacted text for exact statutory revisions and affected section numbers (e.g., Criminal Code of 2012 Sections 11‑9.1, 11‑20.1, 11‑25 and related provisions).
- Effective January 1, 2026; actions and prosecutions after that date will use the updated language and rules enacted by Public Act 104‑0245.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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