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HB 3348

CRIM CD&CD CORR-ACCOUNTABILITY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 17 co-sponsors

HB 3348 imposes new accountability sentencing: those who deliberately aid or plan a crime face specific maximum terms, with no extra sentence for another’s conduct.

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Bill Summary · HB 3348

HB 3348 — CRIM CD&CD CORR‑ACCOUNTABILITY

Status: Enacted (Signed by Governor 6/20/2025; effective immediately)

Purpose

HB 3348 revises Illinois law on criminal “accountability” (when one person is legally responsible for another’s conduct) and establishes specific sentencing rules for defendants convicted under that accountability theory. The bill narrows certain bases for separate punishment and sets statutory maximum determinate and extended terms for accountable offenders.

Key statutory changes

  • Amends the Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/5‑2) and adds a new sentencing section to the Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5‑4.5‑120).
  • Revises the paragraph defining when a person is legally accountable for another’s conduct by altering the language describing culpable conduct “either before or during the commission of an offense.” The bill removes the phrase “and with the intent” from the accountability paragraph and focuses on taking “deliberate action to promote or facilitate” the offense by soliciting, aiding, abetting, agreeing, or attempting to aid another in planning or commission.
  • Provides that persons found legally accountable under that paragraph shall be sentenced under the new Section 5‑4.5‑120 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
  • States that no separate sentence shall be imposed for the offense in which another person’s conduct satisfied an element of the offense for which the individual has been convicted (i.e., prevents an additional sentence based solely on the other person’s conduct that constituted an element of the convicted offense).

Sentencing provisions (new 730 ILCS 5/5‑4.5‑120)

The bill sets maximum determinate and, where applicable, extended term caps for defendants convicted under the accountability theory:

  • First‑degree murder (accountable defendant): determinate imprisonment up to 30 years; extended term for 1st‑degree murder up to 50 years. Parole/mandatory supervised release (MSR) term generally 2 years (subject to other Code provisions).
  • Class X felony (accountable defendant): determinate term up to 15 years; extended term up to 30 years. Parole/MSR generally 2 years.
  • Class 1 felony: determinate terms with caps set (second‑degree murder treated specially — determinate term up to 10 years); extended term for Class 1 up to 15 years; parole/MSR generally 1 year.
  • Class 2 felony: determinate term up to 3 years; extended term up to 7 years. (Note: bill text published was partially truncated in places; above reflects the sentencing figures included in the bill as introduced.)

Exceptions / Limits

The accountability sentencing scheme in the new section does not apply when:
- The person “initiated the commission of the offense”; or
- The person “expressly directed another person to engage in conduct that constituted an element of the offense.”

Who is affected

  • Defendants charged or convicted under aiding/abetting/solicitation/complicity theories (accountability paragraph (3) of 720 ILCS 5/5‑2).
  • Prosecutors and defense attorneys (changes sentencing exposure and charging implications).
  • Judges and the Illinois Department of Corrections (new statutory caps and parole/MSR terms).
  • Potentially victims and public safety stakeholders due to changes in maximum punishments and sentencing structure.

Procedural history / timeline

  • Filed: 2/18/2025 (Rep. Lisa Davis, primary sponsor).
  • Passed both chambers with amendments and enrolled; House Amendment 001 made technical renumbering/format changes.
  • Signed by Governor: 6/20/2025.
  • Effective: Immediately upon signing (6/20/2025).
  • Companion bill: SB 1578.

Notes / considerations

  • Removing the phrase “and with the intent” may affect the mental‑state elements required for accountability prosecutions; practitioners and courts will likely address how the change interacts with existing mens rea requirements.
  • The statute prevents imposing a separate sentence for an offense element attributable to another person—this may limit cumulative sentencing in multi‑actor crimes.
  • Some bill language in the posted draft is truncated; readers should consult the enrolled act in the Illinois Compiled Statutes for final, complete text.

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

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