Bill Text: IL HB4255 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Reinstates the provisions of the introduced bill, except changes the definition of "covered animal" to include: (1) cougar (puma concolor); (2) jaguar (panthera onca); (3) leopard (panthera pardus), excluding Amur leopard (panthera pardus orientalis); (4) lion (panthera leo); and (5) tiger (panthera tigris). Eliminates from the definition of "covered animal" felidae. Changes the exemptions from a violation of the provisions to a performance of a covered animal that: (1) takes place at a non-mobile, permanent institution, or other fixed facility licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture; and (2) is conducted by the non-mobile, permanent institution, or fixed facility. Effective July 1, 2026.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 26)

Status: (Enrolled) 2026-06-18 - Sent to the Governor [HB4255 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4255-Enrolled.html

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HB4255 Enrolled LRB104 16708 RLC 30113 b
AN ACT concerning criminal law.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
changing Section 48-11 as follows:
(720 ILCS 5/48-11)
Sec. 48-11. Unlawful use of a covered animal an elephant
in a traveling animal act.
(a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"Covered animal" means any of the following animals, and
hybrids of those animals:
(1) cougar (puma concolor);
(2) elephantidae;
(3) jaguar (panthera onca);
(4) leopard (panthera pardus), excluding Amur leopard
(panthera pardus orientalis);
(5) lion (panthera leo);
(6) non-human primate;
(7) tiger (panthera tigris); or
(8) ursidae.
"Mobile or traveling animal housing facility" means a
transporting vehicle such as a truck, trailer, or railway car
used to transport or house animals while traveling to an

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exhibition or other performance.
"Performance" means an exhibition, public showing,
presentation, display, exposition, fair, animal act, circus,
ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, or
other similar undertaking in which animals are required to
perform tricks, give rides, or participate as accompaniments
for entertainment, amusement, or benefit of a live audience.
"Traveling animal act" means any performance of animals
where animals are transported to, from, or between locations
for the purpose of a performance in a mobile or traveling
animal housing facility.
(b) A person commits unlawful use of a covered animal an
elephant in a traveling animal act when he or she knowingly
allows for the participation of a covered animal an African
elephant (Loxodonta africana) or Asian elephant (Elephas
maximus) protected under the federal Endangered Species Act of
1973 in a traveling animal act.
(c) This Section does not apply to a performance of a
covered animal that: (1) takes place an exhibition of
elephants at a non-mobile, permanent institution, or other
fixed facility licensed by the United States Department of
Agriculture; and (2) is conducted by the non-mobile, permanent
institution, or fixed facility.
(d) Sentence. Unlawful use of a covered animal an elephant
in a traveling animal act is a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) The provisions of this amendatory Act of the 104th

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General Assembly are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any
other laws protecting animal welfare. This Section may not be
construed to limit any State law or rules protecting the
welfare of animals or to prevent a unit of local government
from adopting and enforcing its own animal welfare ordinances
and regulations.
(Source: P.A. 100-90, eff. 1-1-18.)
Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2026.