Illinois Rep. Kelly’s EMS licensing and discipline reform bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Michael J. Kelly aims to update EMS licensing requirements and disciplinary review procedures, seeking more consistent standards and clearer processes for personnel across Illinois, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 68 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 20 Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 40 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Kelly introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 16, 2026 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as HB4477, was passed on May 19, 2026 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Defines “digital license”, “Just Culture Matrix”, and “physical license”. Provides that the Department of Public Health, by rule, shall publish a Just Culture Matrix, and it shall recommend that each EMS System include the Just Culture Matrix in its Program Plan for evaluating and responding to errors or failures to perform emergency and nonemergency medical services in accordance with the defined scope of practice of the EMS personnel. Provides that the Just Culture Matrix shall be a framework for fairly and consistently applying EMS System participation suspensions. Sets forth provisions concerning membership of the local System review board. Provides that the local System review board shall only have the authority to affirm, reduce, or rescind the EMS Medical Director’s suspension order. Provides that the function of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board is to review and affirm, reduce, or rescind disciplinary orders (instead of review and affirm, reverse, or modify). Makes conforming changes. Provides that the Department shall issue to EMS personnel a physical license, and all EMS personnel shall have access to a digital license. Requires a licensee to possess a copy of a physical license or a digital license.”

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 Emergency Medical Services Systems Act to define digital and physical EMS licenses and a “Just Culture Matrix,” a Department of Public Health decision-making tool for evaluating EMS personnel performance and guiding fair, consistent system participation suspensions. It revises EMS System Program Plan requirements to incorporate that framework and restructures local system review boards, requiring three members and two alternates from the same professional category as the person facing suspension, with authority limited to affirming, reducing or rescinding an EMS medical director’s order. It narrows the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board’s role to affirming, reducing or rescinding disciplinary orders and clarifies hearing rights and timelines. The bill also requires the department to issue EMS personnel a physical license, ensure access to a digital license, and require licensees to carry either form.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. David Koehler (Democrat-46th District), Sen. Emil Jones, III (Democrat-14th District), and Sen. Michael W. Halpin (Democrat-36th District), along with two other sponsors.

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.

Kelly graduated from Quincy University with a BA.

Kelly, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 15th House District, replacing previous state representative John C. D’Amico.

Lawmakers listed as “Not Voting” were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an “Excused Absence” were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.