I believe strongly in centering the voices of stakeholders in crafting policy and often use the phrase “nothing for us without us” to reflect my belief that the best policies are crafted by those most directly impacted. My areas of legislative focus include criminal justice, reproductive justice and health care protections, and ensuring our laws secure equality for those too often neglected and ignored by our government.
~Representative Kelly Cassidy
"Nothing about us without us."
Legislation
104th General Assembly
2026
Professional Misconduct
This bill creates procedures and accountability measures for medical professionals and facilities that abuse patients. This bill passed both chambers and heads to the governor's desk.
Criminal CD - Traveling Animal Acts
This bill builds on our state’s humane policy of prohibiting the use of elephants in traveling exhibitions and adds similarly vulnerable animals such as non-human primates, bears, and big cats to the law. This bill passed both chambers and now heads to the governor's desk.
HB4255
HB4428
HB4834
Controlled Sub - Testosterone
This bill will purge records of testosterone prescriptions from the Prescription Monitoring Program and will prohibit inclusion of medications used in abortion or gender affirming care if the federal government adds them to the list of scheduled drugs. This bill passed both chambers and now heads to the governor's desk.
Rabies Vaccines in Shelters
This bill allows Certified Veterinary Technicians in the state to provide rabies vaccinations under the direct supervision of a Veterinarian. This bill passed both chambers and heads to the governor's desk.
Electronic Prescriptions
This bill is the companion bill to HB5046 that intends to address at least some of the challenges faced by chronic pain patients and others who depend on medications that face shortages by easing the process for transferring prescriptions between pharmacies and making it easier to determine whether a particular drug is in stock. This bill passed both chambers and heads to the governor's desk.
Crime Victims Rights
This bill is the companion bill to HB5052 and updates the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) passed last year. This year's bill aims to address a shortage in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANEs, who have specialized forensic training to support survivors of sexual assault and abuse. This bill allows for SANEs in training to be supervised by a registered SANE via telehealth while gaining the requisite clinical hours needed for final certification. This bill passed both chambers and heads to the governor's desk.
Mental Health 911 Calls
This bill is the companion bill to HB5468 and a trailer bill for the Community Emergency Services & Support Act (CESSA) passed in 2021. This bill strengthens requirements for public safety answering points. It also clarifies responsibilities and crisis response protocols. Lastly, it adds oversight that ensures the Community Emergency Services Support Act is fully implemented. This bill passed both chambers and heads to the governor's desk.
Epstein Files - Release
This resolution calls for the release of the entirety of the Epstein files with redactions being limited to protecting the identities of the victims. Furthermore, this resolution calls for a special prosecutor, independent of the Trump Administration, to investigate the Trump Administration's handling of the files–specifically whether or not the Trump Administration illegally redacted the Epstein files in an attempt to shield political allies. This resolution was adopted with a vote of 69-0.
2025
HB3352
Crime Victims Rights
This bill provides that crime victims have the right to be treated with fairness and respect during the investigatory process, including the right to be free from deception and free from the knowing communication of false facts about evidence during interviews and conversations with law enforcement.
HB3710
Crim Pro-Assessment Fees
This bill makes permanent the very successful program in the Cook County Court system that allows judges the discretion to waive assessments or fees against criminal defendants. This bill recognizes that fees and fines against indigent defendants can represent an impossible to overcome barrier to completing a sentence and successful reentry.
SB108
SB1602
Sexual Assault Treatment
This bill provides a comprehensive package of improvements on guidance to health care providers to ensure policies center the needs of survivors in all decisions, including guidance for so-called transfer hospitals that comply with the law by partnering with a treatment hospital with the resources to handle the complex cases. This stems from a case where a survivor was told to travel 70 miles one way to receive care when there were indeed closer options.
SB2500
Mobile Mental Health Providers
This bill follows up on discussions on implementation of the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA), making adjustments to allow for practical implementation of mental health first response protocols in areas with diverse needs and resources across the state.