05/22/2026
Thank you to everyone who helped make yesterday’s HB5605 Subject Matter Hearing a success.
The hearing before the House Human Services Committee was a very important step forward for Community Supported Living. Families, advocates, providers, and supporters came together to present a strong and coordinated message about the need for a clearly defined 24-hour community-based support option for individuals with the most complex needs.
The testimony highlighted several key themes:
• Current services are often fragmented and difficult to coordinate for people with intense medical, behavioral, or physical support needs.
• Families are carrying enormous responsibility, often filling gaps in the system themselves.
• HB5605 is intended to create greater structure, accountability, continuity, and true community-based living options within the existing waiver system.
• The bill is not about replacing existing services or forcing anyone to move. It is about creating an additional option for individuals whose needs are not fully supported today.
Committee members from both parties were highly engaged throughout the hearing. Many of the questions focused on DHS and the current system’s limitations, which helped further elevate the conversation around the need for long-term system improvements and sustainable community-based supports.
Several legislators expressed interest in the challenges families are facing, the lack of stable options for people with complex needs, and the importance of building supports that work in real life — not just on paper.
Most importantly, the hearing demonstrated that our message is being heard. The stories, testimony, and lived experiences shared yesterday made a real impact.
Please continue reaching out to your legislators and requesting meetings whenever possible. Even short conversations help build awareness so that if HB5605 comes up during session discussions or conversations with colleagues, legislators already understand the purpose of the bill, the gap it is addressing, and why Community Supported Living matters to families across Illinois.
