Illinois · House Bill 4449 · 104th General Assembly

DHFS-DHS-DIRECT SUPPORT WAGE

HB 4449 Sponsored by Maurice A. West, II In committee

  1. Introduced Jan 15, 2026
  2. In committee Jan 20, 2026
  3. Passed the House Next
  4. Passed the Senate  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for frontline personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or…

Read the full title (250 words)

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish reimbursement rates that build toward livable wages for frontline personnel in residential and day programs and service coordination agencies serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Provides that for community-based providers serving persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, subject to federal approval of any relevant Waiver Amendment, the rates taking effect for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include an increase in the rate methodology sufficient to provide a $1.20 per hour wage rate increase for all direct support professionals and all other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases and who work in residential and community day services settings. Prohibits community-based providers from using the rate increases for operational or administrative expenses. Requires rate increases that are sufficient to provide wages for all residential non-executive direct care staff. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the rates for ID/DD and MC/DD facilities for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027 shall include a $1.20 per hour wage increase for all direct support professionals and other frontline personnel who are not subject to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' average wage increases. Provides that changes to the rate methodologies are subject to federal approval. Grants emergency rulemaking authority to the Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services to implement the rate increases. Effective immediately.

Every action

14 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 6 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Maurice A. West, II
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Appropriations-Health and Human Services Committee · House Approp-Health and Human Services
  5. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
  6. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
  1. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
  2. CommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  3. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  4. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer
  5. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
  6. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
  7. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Elik
  8. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 9 cosponsors: 5 Republicans, 4 Democrats.

All 9 cosponsors

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 2, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.