The Brief
- Illinois passed the Missing Persons Identification Act, requiring police to take immediate missing person reports and end waiting periods.
- Law enforcement must collect and submit biometric data to national databases like NamUs if a person remains missing for 60 days.
- The law, effective Jan. 1, 2026, was inspired by past investigative gaps and keeps cases active until resolved.
CHICAGO – Illinois will soon have new statewide rules for how police handle missing persons cases, requiring immediate reports and expanded use of federal databases.
What we know:
The Missing Persons Identification Act (SB 24), signed into law Aug. 15 by Gov. JB Pritzker, was championed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart and sponsored by Sen. Michael Hastings and Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin.…