HB0850 / Public Act 104-0005: Stolen Firearms Data Analysis and FOID Card Reforms

What the Bill Would Do

Public Act 104-0005 (originally HB0850) addresses two primary areas: stolen firearms data tracking and FOID card procedural reforms^[1].

Stolen Firearms Data Analysis: The act requires the Illinois State Police (ISP) to analyze cumulative data on the disposition of cases involving stolen firearms or firearms with obliterated serial numbers. ISP must publish the results in a report delivered to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Attorney General. Law enforcement agencies statewide are required to report firearm serial numbers to ISP when a firearm is alleged to have been used in an offense. Additionally, sentencing courts must determine whether a stolen firearm from the ISP database was used in the commission of the offense being adjudicated.

FOID Card Appeal Reforms: The act expands FOID card appeal procedures by creating a dedicated review board for FOID denials and revocations. This provides an administrative pathway for individuals whose FOID applications have been denied or whose cards have been revoked to seek review before resorting to circuit court. The act also provides liability protection for the FOID Review Board and ISP personnel involved in FOID proceedings.

Current Status

HB0850 was signed into law on June 16, 2025, as Public Act 104-0005^[2]. The act is in effect, and ISP is implementing the data reporting and FOID review board requirements.

What to Watch

The stolen firearms data provisions will produce the first comprehensive Illinois-specific dataset on how stolen guns and firearms with obliterated serial numbers flow through the criminal justice system. The FOID review board is significant for gun owners — Illinois has long been criticized for slow and opaque FOID denial and revocation processes, and this dedicated board could reduce the burden on circuit courts while giving applicants a more accessible appeal pathway. The liability protections for ISP and the review board may draw scrutiny from gun rights organizations concerned about accountability in FOID adjudication.