Relating to state financial administration of Housing and Community Services Department programs; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Manning and 1 co-sponsor

Boosts AABD cash payments so total monthly income reaches 85% FPL by 7/1/2025, then 90% (2026), 95% (2027), and 100% (2028), with no reduction to current aid.

In committee upon adjournment.

Summary — HB 3734 (AABD Cash Amendments of 2025)

Status: Introduced (Rep. Camille Y. Lilly). In committee upon adjournment (last action: 2025-06-28). Effective date in bill: July 1, 2025. (Title includes “declaring an emergency,” but the bill text sets the July 1, 2025 effective date.)

Purpose
- To increase monthly cash assistance levels under the Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program so that recipients’ total monthly income (countable income + Supplemental Security Income (SSI), if any + AABD) reaches progressively higher percentages of the federal poverty level (FPL), ultimately reaching 100% of FPL.

Key provisions
- Amends 305 ILCS 5/3-5 (Illinois Public Aid Code) and is titled the “AABD Cash Amendments of 2025.”
- Directs the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) to set AABD payments so a recipient’s total monthly income (countable income as determined by DHS, plus SSI if applicable, plus AABD) is at least:
- 85% of the federal poverty level, beginning July 1, 2025;
- 90% of the federal poverty level, beginning July 1, 2026;
- 95% of the federal poverty level, beginning July 1, 2027;
- 100% of the federal poverty level, on and after July 1, 2028.
- Preserves existing non‑reduction protection: the amendment “shall not result in any reduction in the amount of aid payable to a person determined eligible for aid prior to July 1, 2025.”
- Retains an existing statutory provision that AABD payments to persons found ineligible for SSI solely due to expiration of refugee/asylee eligibility equal 90% of the current maximum SSI monthly payment.
- Defines “federal poverty level” by reference to HHS poverty guidelines (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).

Who is affected
- Current and future recipients of AABD (older adults, people who are blind, and people with disabilities who qualify for state AABD cash assistance).
- DHS (responsible for recalculating and issuing adjusted grant amounts).
- State fiscal impacts: the phased increases will raise AABD grant levels statewide (the bill does not include an appropriation; higher grant levels would typically increase State expenditures).

Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced Feb 18, 2025; filed Mar 4, 2025. Referred to multiple committees (Rules, Housing and Homelessness, Appropriations-Health and Human Services, Ways & Means, Natural Resources). Last recorded status: in committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025).
- Effective date specified as July 1, 2025.