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Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4475

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HB4475 - 104th General Assembly

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4475

Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Justin Slaughter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new
725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a
prosecution of a case involving the injury, health, or safety of a cat or
dog, the court may, on its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a
licensed attorney-at-law of the State or a law student authorized to
provide services under Supreme Court Rule 711 as a special advocate to
assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the court and on a pro bono
basis, and represent the interests of justice regarding the health or
safety of the cat or dog. Provides that the advocate may: (1) monitor the
case; (2) consult any person with information that could aid the court and
review records relating to the condition of the cat or dog and the
defendant's actions, including, but not limited to, records from animal
control officers, veterinarians, and police officers; (3) attend hearings;
and (4) present information or recommendations to the court pertinent to
determinations that relate to the interests of justice, provided that
information shall be based solely on the duties undertaken under this
provision. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be construed
to alter the legal status of animals as a unique class of personal
property.
LRB104 16266 RLC 29650 b

A BILL FOR

HB4475
LRB104 16266 RLC 29650 b
1

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
5
amended by adding Article 113A as follows:

6

(725 ILCS 5/Art. 113A heading new)
7
ARTICLE 113A.

SPECIAL ADVOCATES

8

(725 ILCS 5/113A-1 new)
9

Sec. 113A-1.
Special advocates.
10

(a) In a prosecution of a criminal case involving the
11
injury, health, or safety of a cat or dog, the court may, on
12
its own motion or motion of any party, appoint a licensed
13
attorney-at-law of this State or a law student authorized to
14
provide services under Supreme Court Rule 711 as a special
15
advocate to assist the court, as deemed appropriate by the
16
court and on a pro bono basis, and represent the interests of
17
justice regarding the health or safety of the cat or dog.
18

(b) The advocate may:

19

(1) monitor the case;

20

(2) consult any person with information that could aid
21

the court and review records relating to the condition of
22

the cat or dog and the defendant's actions, including, but

HB4475
- 2 -
LRB104 16266 RLC 29650 b
1

not limited to, records from animal control officers,
2

veterinarians, and police officers;

3

(3) attend hearings; and

4

(4) present information or recommendations to the
5

court pertinent to determinations that relate to the
6

interests of justice, provided that information shall be
7

based solely on the duties undertaken under this
8

subsection (b).

9

(c) Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 104th General
10
Assembly shall be construed to alter the legal status of
11
animals as a unique class of personal property.

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