Yolonda Morris, Illinois State Representative from the 9th District | https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=3255
Yolonda Morris, Illinois State Representative from the 9th District | https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=3255
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that for proceedings seeking a guardianship of a disabled adult, if the proposed guardian is otherwise qualified under the Act, the court must give first consideration to appointing a family member who petitions to be a guardian unless the person alleged to have a disability has designated some other person to be guardian under the Act. Continues to provide that the paramount concern in the selection of the guardian is the best interests and well-being of the person with a disability. Defines "family member" to mean any person related to the person alleged to have a disability."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 to stipulate that in guardianship proceedings for disabled adults, a family member who petitions to be the guardian should be given first consideration, provided they are qualified, unless the person with a disability has designated another guardian. The bill underscores that the best interests and well-being of the person with a disability remain the paramount concern in guardian selection. "Family member" is defined as any person related to the individual. Additionally, the law clarifies definitions of "developmental disability," "intellectual disability," and "related condition" and mandates that appointed guardians must complete a training program, with exceptions for certain professionals and possible exemptions for good cause shown.
Yolonda Morris is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 9th House District. She replaced previous state representative Lakesia Collins in 2023.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1425 | 01/16/2025 | Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that for proceedings seeking a guardianship of a disabled adult, if the proposed guardian is otherwise qualified under the Act, the court must give first consideration to appointing a family member who petitions to be a guardian unless the person alleged to have a disability has designated some other person to be guardian under the Act. Continues to provide that the paramount concern in the selection of the guardian is the best interests and well-being of the person with a disability. Defines "family member" to mean any person related to the person alleged to have a disability. |
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