104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB4180
 
Introduced 3/24/2026, by Sen. Jil Tracy
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
510 ILCS 5/16  from Ch. 8, par. 366
    Amends the Animal Control Act. In provisions regarding civil liability for animal attacks or injuries, deletes a provision regarding an attempt to attack a person. Provides that, in addition to civil liability, an owner is guilty of specified criminal offenses if the owner negligently fails to provide adequate care or adequate control of a dog or other animal that attacks or injures a person. Creates a Class A misdemeanor, a Class 4 felony for damages exceeding $750 or for serious bodily injury, and a Class 3 felony if the victim dies. Defines "animal attack", "serious bodily injury", and "victim of the animal attack". Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR
 
SB4180LRB104 21053 BDA 35568 b

1    AN ACT concerning animals.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing 
5Section 16 as follows:
 
6    (510 ILCS 5/16)  (from Ch. 8, par. 366)
7    Sec. 16. Animal attacks or injuries. If a dog or other 
8animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or 
9injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or 
10herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner 
11of the such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to 
12the such person who is the victim of the animal attack for the 
13full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby. In 
14addition, if the owner of the animal negligently fails to 
15provide adequate care or adequate control of the animal 
16proximately causing the damage or injury under this Section:
17        (1) the owner of the animal is guilty of a Class A 
18    misdemeanor;
19        (2) the owner of the animal is guilty of a Class 4 
20    felony if the damage proximately caused by the animal 
21    attack exceeds $750 or if the person who is the victim of 
22    the animal attack suffers a serious bodily injury; or
23        (3) the owner of the animal is guilty of a Class 3 
 
 
SB4180- 2 -LRB104 21053 BDA 35568 b

1    felony if the person who is the victim of the animal attack 
2    dies. 
3    In this Section:
4    "Animal attack" means the situation in which a dog or 
5other animal, without provocation, attacks or injures any 
6person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any 
7place where he or she may lawfully be.
8    "Serious bodily injury" means a bodily injury that creates 
9a substantial risk of death or that causes serious 
10disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function 
11of any part of the body.
12    "Victim of the animal attack" means the person who the dog 
13or other animal, without provocation, attacks or injures while 
14the person peaceably is conducting himself or herself in any 
15place where he or she may lawfully be.
16(Source: P.A. 94-819, eff. 5-31-06.)
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
18becoming law.