SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office’s work to improve Illinois’ policy regarding missing persons investigations will soon become law as their proposal was signed into law on Friday.

“Through the Cook County Sheriff’s experience running the Missing Women’s Project, we were able to streamline some critical policies for law enforcement,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “I am proud to pass a bill that will give families peace.”

Senate Bill 24 eliminates any law enforcement policy requiring the observance of a waiting period before accepting a missing persons report. The bill also requires information from a missing persons report to be immediately entered into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System upon reception of a report. Under the measure, law enforcement agencies must adopt a strategy regarding missing persons investigations, reporting and follow-up action.

If a person remains missing for 60 days, law enforcement agencies are required to obtain and enter their photographs, fingerprint records and dental or skeletal radiographs, and biological samples into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The bill requires law enforcement to keep missing persons cases under active investigation until the person is located and returned or law enforcement cannot close a case due to exhaustion of leads.

Hastings worked on the legislation with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the Missing Women’s Project to assist in locating women who have been missing for at least three years. Investigations on all of these cases are aided by the use of different databases, particularly the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Current law only requires law enforcement agencies to review and utilize criminal databases to find a missing or unidentified person. However, if someone has not gone through the criminal justice system, then they would not be identified in these databases. Hastings’ measure will close the gap in current law where law enforcement is not required to use other databases that could be helpful in locating missing persons, like the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

“When a loved one goes missing, time is of the essence,” said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.  “This bill provides a guide for law enforcement on how to respond and follow up on missing persons investigations and provide answers to family members regarding their loved one’s whereabouts. I commend the Illinois General Assembly for passing this legislation.”

Senate Bill 24 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.