Illinois · House Bill 5487 · 104th General Assembly

LAW FIRM OWNERSHIP

HB 5487 Sponsored by Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz Became law

  1. Introduced Feb 6, 2026
  2. In committee Feb 13, 2026
  3. Passed the House Apr 9, 2026
  4. Passed the Senate May 30, 2026
  5. To the governor Jun 26, 2026
  6. Became law Aug 7, 2026

What it does

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

Amends the Attorney Act. Prohibits a private equity group, hedge fund, or any entity owned, operated, or controlled by a private equity group or hedge fund, including management services organizations, that is involved with a law firm or an attorney's practice from: (1) interfering with the professional judgment of attorneys in representing clients; (2) exercising control over or being delegated the power to own or…

Read the full title (228 words)

Amends the Attorney Act. Prohibits a private equity group, hedge fund, or any entity owned, operated, or controlled by a private equity group or hedge fund, including management services organizations, that is involved with a law firm or an attorney's practice from: (1) interfering with the professional judgment of attorneys in representing clients; (2) exercising control over or being delegated the power to own or determine the content of client records, select, hire, or terminate the employment of attorneys or allied legal staff in whole or in part based on competency or proficiency; or set competency or proficiency parameters for attorneys or allied legal staff; or (3) charging any fee to the attorney or law firm that is directly or indirectly based on the fees, revenues, or profits of the attorney or law firm. Prohibits an attorney from sharing legal fees directly or indirectly with an out-of-state alternative business structure unless: (1) the attorney is also licensed in the state in which the alternative business structure is approved; (2) the fees are compensation for providing legal services in that state; and (3) the law of that state is controlling under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct or a successor rule. Provides for the recovery of statutory damages, attorney's fees and costs, and injunctive or declaratory relief as a remedy for violation. Defines terms. Contains applicability provisions. Effective immediately.

Every action

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

Show the 72 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee · House Judiciary - Civil
  5. HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  6. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  7. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee · House Judiciary - Civil
  8. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee; by Voice Vote · House Judiciary - Civil
  9. CommitteeDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 020-000-000 · House Judiciary - Civil
  10. HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  11. HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
  12. HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  13. HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  14. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness
  15. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
  16. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
  17. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
  18. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
  19. HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  20. CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  21. CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 · House Rules
  22. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
  23. HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
  24. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman
  25. HouseRecalled to Second Reading - Short Debate
  26. HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
  27. HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  28. HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 070-036-001
  29. SenateArrive in Senate
  30. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  31. SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings
  32. SenateFirst Reading
  33. CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  34. CommitteeAssigned to Judiciary · Senate Judiciary
  35. CommitteePostponed - Judiciary · Senate Judiciary
  36. SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. Hastings
  37. CommitteeSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  38. CommitteeSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Judiciary · Senate Assignments
  39. SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  40. CommitteeDo Pass as Amended Judiciary; 008-001-000 · Senate Judiciary
  41. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
  42. SenateSecond Reading
  43. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
  44. SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026
  45. SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. Hastings
  46. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  47. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Judiciary · Senate Assignments
  48. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Judiciary; 005-003-000 · Senate Judiciary
  49. SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters
  50. SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. Hastings
  51. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  52. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Be Approved for Consideration Assignments · Senate Assignments
  53. SenateRecalled to Second Reading
  54. SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Hastings
  55. SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Hastings
  56. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
  57. SenateThird Reading - Passed; 039-019-000
  58. HouseArrived in House
  59. HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1, 2, 3
  60. HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  61. HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  62. HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  63. CommitteeSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  64. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  65. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  66. CommitteeSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Judiciary - Civil Committee · House Judiciary - Civil
  67. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Judiciary - Civil Committee · House Judiciary - Civil
  68. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Judiciary - Civil Committee · House Judiciary - Civil
  69. CommitteeSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-007-000 · House Judiciary - Civil
  70. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-007-000 · House Judiciary - Civil
  71. CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 013-007-000 · House Judiciary - Civil
  72. HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 075-039-001
  1. HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 075-039-001
  2. HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 075-039-001
  3. HouseHouse Concurs
  4. HousePassed Both Houses
  5. HouseSent to the Governor
  6. HouseGovernor Approved
  7. HouseEffective Date August 7, 2026
  8. HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0801

Roll calls

12 recorded votes: 5 on the floor, 7 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Third Reading · Full House

Passed 70–36
Apr 9, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 70 No 36 Not voting 12
Democrats: 70 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 36 no
How each member voted

Yes · 70

No · 36

Not voting · 1

Excused · 11

Third Reading · Full Senate

Passed 39–19
May 30, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 39 No 19 Not voting 1
Democrats: 39 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 19 no
How each member voted

Yes · 39

No · 19

Not voting · 1

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Concurrence · Full House

Passed 75–39
May 31, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 75 No 39 Not voting 4
Democrats: 75 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 39 no
How each member voted

Yes · 75

No · 39

Not voting · 2

Excused · 2

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Concurrence · Full House

Passed 75–39
May 31, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 75 No 39 Not voting 4
Democrats: 75 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 39 no
How each member voted

Yes · 75

No · 39

Not voting · 2

Excused · 2

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - Concurrence · Full House

Passed 75–39
May 31, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 75 No 39 Not voting 4
Democrats: 75 yes, 0 no Republicans: 0 yes, 39 no
How each member voted

Yes · 75

No · 39

Not voting · 2

Excused · 2

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Mar 25, 2026 House Judiciary - Civil Judiciary - Civil - Do Pass
Members

Yes · 20

 Passed 20–0
May 6, 2026 Senate Judiciary Judiciary - Do Pass As Amended
Members

Yes · 8

No · 1

 Passed 8–1
May 6, 2026 Senate Judiciary Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Judiciary - Be Adopted
Members

Yes · 9

 9–0
May 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Judiciary - Recommend Do Adopt
Members

Yes · 5

No · 3

Not voting · 1

 Passed 5–3
May 31, 2026 House Judiciary - Civil Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Judiciary - Civil - Recommends Be Adopted
Members

Yes · 13

No · 7

 Passed 13–7
May 31, 2026 House Judiciary - Civil Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Judiciary - Civil - Recommends Be Adopted
Members

Yes · 13

No · 7

 Passed 13–7
May 31, 2026 House Judiciary - Civil Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - Judiciary - Civil - Recommends Be Adopted
Members

Yes · 13

No · 7

 Passed 13–7

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 10 cosponsors: 10 Democrats.

All 10 cosponsors

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.