Illinois · House Bill 5261 · 104th General Assembly

CRIM CD&CD CORR-FELONY MURDER

HB 5261 Sponsored by Justin Slaughter In committee

  1. Introduced Feb 5, 2026
  2. In committee Feb 10, 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 Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates felony murder as an element of first degree murder. Creates felony murder as a separate class of felony. Provides that a person commits felony murder when he or she, acting alone or with one or more participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony, other than second degree murder, and in the course of or in furtherance of…

Read the full title (170 words)

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates felony murder as an element of first degree murder. Creates felony murder as a separate class of felony. Provides that a person commits felony murder when he or she, acting alone or with one or more participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony, other than second degree murder, and in the course of or in furtherance of that crime or flight from that crime, he or she or another participant causes the death of a person, other than one of the participants. Provides that the sentence of imprisonment for felony murder shall be a determinate sentence of not less than 8 years and not more than 40 year, subject to the parole review provisions for persons who committed the offense when under 21 years of age. Provides that an extended term sentence for felony murder shall be not less than 16 years and not more than 80 years. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes.

Every action

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

  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Justin Slaughter
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
  5. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
  6. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  7. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  8. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
  9. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava
  10. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 7 cosponsors: 7 Democrats.

All 7 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.