Illinois House Bill HB2625

Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25

Caption

CHILD VICTIM TESTIMONY

Summary

HB2625 amends Section 106B-5 of the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure to expand and clarify how testimony may be taken from certain vulnerable victims in prosecutions for specified violent and sexual offenses. The bill applies to cases involving child victims and victims with moderate, severe, or profound intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities, and it allows the court to order testimony outside the courtroom by closed-circuit television when in-court testimony would cause serious emotional distress or severe adverse effects. It also states that the victim does not need to be physically present for the judge to make that determination. The bill adds a rebuttable presumption that a child victim under age 13 will testify outside the courtroom and have the testimony shown in the courtroom by 2-way closed-circuit television. That presumption can be overcome if the defendant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the child will not suffer severe emotional distress. The measure also requires the court to find that use of 2-way closed-circuit television does not prejudice the defendant before allowing that method of testimony.

Impact

HB2625 would modify Illinois criminal procedure rules governing testimony by child victims and victims with qualifying intellectual or developmental disabilities in cases involving sexual assault, abuse, aggravated battery, and aggravated domestic battery. It strengthens protections for vulnerable witnesses by making remote testimony more readily available, especially for children under 13, and by clarifying that the court may make the emotional-distress determination without requiring the victim to appear in court. The bill would affect prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and victims in the covered offenses, while preserving defendant-protection findings and the ability to challenge the presumption.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears supportive of victim protection and trauma-informed courtroom procedures. The caption, "Child Victim Testimony," and the substance of the proposal suggest a focus on reducing the emotional burden on child and disabled victims while maintaining procedural safeguards for defendants. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented opposition or recorded floor/committee sentiment in the materials supplied.

Contention

The main point of contention built into the bill is the balance between protecting vulnerable victims and preserving the defendant’s right to a fair trial. The bill’s rebuttable presumption for children under 13 and its use of 2-way closed-circuit television could draw concern from those who believe remote testimony may affect confrontation rights or jury perception. To address that concern, the bill requires a judicial finding that the remote format does not prejudice the defendant and allows the presumption to be overcome by clear and convincing evidence. No specific stakeholder objections or support statements were included in the provided materials.