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SB 2471

Cyber breach; limit liability for certain entities.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bart Williams

Would expand Medicaid by eliminating income and asset tests for employed persons with disabilities (subject to federal approval), boosting access and enrollment.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2471

Summary — SB 2471 (104th General Assembly)

Status: Died in Committee

What the bill would do (purpose)

Although the bill header/title in some records references a cybersecurity/liability topic, the actual introduced text for SB 2471 amends the Illinois Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/5-2). Its primary purpose is to expand access to Medical Assistance (Medicaid) for employed persons with disabilities (including those with a medically improved disability) by removing, to the extent permitted by federal law and subject to federal approval, both:
- income eligibility standards; and
- consideration of assets (resource tests)
when determining eligibility for those individuals.

In short: the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) would be authorized to eliminate income and asset tests for that class of participants in Illinois’ Medicaid program, to the extent federal law and federal approvals allow.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Section 5-2 of the Illinois Public Aid Code (305 ILCS 5/5-2).
  • Directs HFS, subject to federal approval, to:
    • eliminate income eligibility standards for employed persons with disabilities and employed persons with a medically improved disability to the extent permitted by federal law; and
    • eliminate consideration of assets when determining eligibility for those persons, again to the extent permitted by federal law.
  • Leaves details of implementation (rules, demonstrations, county pilots, or resource standard specifics) to HFS and contingent on any necessary federal waivers or State Plan Amendments under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
  • The introduced bill text retains existing Medicaid eligibility structure for other classes of recipients; the change is targeted to employed persons with disabilities.
  • Amendment No. 1 (adopted on the bill text as shown) is a narrow drafting change inserting the word “Cybersecurity” after “(NIST)” and deleting a short phrase referencing a specific NIST publication; this appears to be a minor textual edit and does not change the substantive Medicaid provisions.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: employed persons with disabilities and persons with a medically improved disability who currently are ineligible or face financial barriers due to income or asset tests.
  • State agency: Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) — would be responsible for seeking federal approval and implementing changes.
  • Fiscal/administrative impact: potential increase in Medicaid enrollment among that population, with corresponding increases in state and federal Medicaid expenditures (net state cost impact would depend on federal matching and any offsets). Administrative processes and eligibility determinations would need to be revised if implemented.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced by Sen. Graciela Guzmán (filed Feb 7, 2025; some records list March 13, 2025).
  • Chief/sponsors and co-sponsors: Sen. Mike Porfirio added as chief co-sponsor; Sen. Rachel Ventura added as co-sponsor.
  • Referred to multiple committees including Judiciary A; Technology; Appropriations — Health & Human Services; Local Government.
  • Legislative actions show readings, amendments, and committee referrals; the bill did not progress to enactment and is recorded as Died In Committee (March 4, 2025).
  • Implementation of the bill’s changes, had it passed, would also have been contingent on obtaining any required federal approvals (Medicaid State Plan Amendment or waiver).

Potential impacts (practical considerations)

  • Eligibility simplification could reduce “benefit cliffs” and administrative burdens for applicants with disabilities who work.
  • May increase labor-force retention among people with disabilities by reducing penalties tied to income/assets.
  • Fiscal impact requires federal matching considerations; state budget effects depend on enrollment increases and whether federal approval extends enhanced federal funding or waivers.
  • Legal/federal constraint: changes can only be implemented to the extent permitted by federal Medicaid rules; HFS must secure appropriate federal authorizations.

Note: There is an inconsistency between the bill title in some records (referring to cyber breach/liability) and the bill text provided here, which clearly amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. The summary focuses on the actual statutory text as introduced.

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

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