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HB4044 • 2026
CONSUMER RIGHT TO RETURN
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
CONSUMER RIGHT TO RETURN
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4044 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience.
Sent to the Governor
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita
Third Reading - Passed; 056-002-000
Passed Both Houses
Second Reading
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
Do Pass Judiciary ; 007-000-000
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
Assigned to Judiciary
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 28, 2026
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 101-000-000
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Consumer Protection Committee ; 009-000-000
Second Reading - Short Debate
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Consumer Protection Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
Do Pass / Short Debate Consumer Protection Committee ; 005-002-000
Assigned to Consumer Protection Committee
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
CONSUMER RIGHT TO RETURN
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4044 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB4044 Home Legislation Full Text HB4044 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 Open PDF HB4044 Enrolled LRB104 12966 SPS 24599 b 1 AN ACT concerning business. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 5 Consumer Product Return Act. 6 Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act: 7 "Consumer product" means any machine, appliance, clothing, 8 or similar product bought for personal, family, or household 9 purposes. "Consumer product" does not include prescription 10 medicine, over-the-counter medicine, medical equipment, or 11 food or beverage items intended for human consumption. 12 "Person" means an individual, natural person, public or 13 private corporation, government, partnership, unincorporated 14 association, or other entity. 15 "Retail mercantile establishment" means a place of 16 business in this State that is open to the general public for 17 the sale of consumer products. "Retail mercantile 18 establishment" does not include an establishment for which 19 more than 50% of gross annual sales are derived from the sale 20 of food or beverages for either on-premises consumption or 21 off-premises preparation and consumption. 22 "Unopened" means a product that remains in its original 23 manufacturer or retailer packaging; has not been unsealed, HB4044 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 12966 SPS 24599 b 1 unwrapped, opened, or otherwise tampered with; and retains all 2 original labels, shrink wrap, seals, or tags intact and 3 affixed in their original condition. 4 "Unused" means a product that has not been worn, 5 installed, operated, consumed, or otherwise subjected to any 6 use, handling, or alteration that changes its original 7 condition as sold. 8 Section 10. Unopened and unused returns. 9 (a) A retail mercantile establishment shall not limit the 10 method of return or refund to the issuance of store credit when 11 accepting the return of an unopened or unused consumer product 12 from a consumer. 13 (b) A retail mercantile establishment may require a 14 consumer to provide reasonable proof of purchase, including, 15 but not limited to, a receipt, transaction record, 16 identification, or other evidence, and may use any reasonable 17 method to verify that the consumer purchased the unused or 18 unopened consumer product before processing a return, refund, 19 or exchange under this Section. 20 (c) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require 21 a retail mercantile establishment to accept the return of a 22 consumer product if the establishment, in its reasonable 23 judgment, suspects fraud or determines that the consumer 24 product is not unopened or unused. 25 (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to HB4044 Enrolled - 3 - LRB104 12966 SPS 24599 b 1 prohibit, restrict, or regulate a retail mercantile 2 establishment from establishing a return policy or terms and 3 conditions governing the return of a consumer product if the 4 requirements of subsection (a) are satisfied. 5 (e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to 6 prohibit, restrict, or regulate a retail mercantile 7 establishment from offering any lawful method of refund or 8 exchange for a consumer product, including, but not limited 9 to, store credit, refund in the original form of payment, 10 product exchange, or any other method of return. 11 (f) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require 12 a retail mercantile establishment to accept the return of any 13 consumer product that does not qualify for return under the 14 establishment's return policy or applicable law. 15 (g) No person, including, but not limited to, online 16 marketplaces, delivery service providers, or any other 17 intermediaries involved in the purchase or delivery of a 18 consumer good, shall fail to remit to a retail mercantile 19 establishment the value of a consumer product when a purchase 20 is rescinded, if the consumer has received the product and has 21 not returned, or made the product available for return to, the 22 retail mercantile establishment. 23 Section 15. Penalties. 24 (a) A violation of this Act is a business offense with a 25 fine not to exceed $25. A retail mercantile establishment HB4044 Enrolled - 4 - LRB104 12966 SPS 24599 b 1 shall not be fined in excess of $500 in a calendar year for 2 violations of this Act. A violation of this Act shall be 3 prosecuted by the State's Attorney of the county in which the 4 violation occurred. 5 (b) A person may bring an action for injunctive relief to 6 obtain compliance with this Act. An action brought under this 7 Section shall be limited to injunctive or other equitable 8 relief necessary to secure compliance with this Act and shall 9 not authorize an award of damages, civil penalties, attorney's 10 fees, or costs. 11 Section 20. Notice to cure. Before a fine may be imposed 12 under this Act, the State's Attorney of the county in which the 13 violation occurred shall provide the retail mercantile 14 establishment with written notice of the violation. The retail 15 mercantile establishment shall have 30 days after the date of 16 the notice to cure the violation. If the violation is cured 17 within the 30-day period, no fine shall be imposed for that 18 violation. 19 Section 25. Home rule. The regulation of the return of 20 consumer products is an exclusive power and function of the 21 State. A home rule unit may not regulate the return of consumer 22 products. This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule 23 powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of 24 Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. HB4044 Enrolled - 5 - LRB104 12966 SPS 24599 b 1 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2 2027. Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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