HB 5561 Illinois House · 103rd Regular Session

WHISTLEBLOWER ACT

Summary
Amends the Whistleblower Act. Changes the definitions of "employer" and "employee". Defines "adverse employment action", "public body", "retaliatory action", and "supervisor". Provides that an employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee who discloses or threatens to disclose information about an activity, policy, or practice of the employer that the employee has a good faith belief that such activity, policy, or practice violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Includes additional relief, damages, and penalties for violation of the Act. Allows the Attorney General to initiate or intervene in a civil action to obtain appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or entity is engaged in a practice prohibited by the Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims arising or complaints filed on or after January 1, 2025. Effective January 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2024
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
Aug 2024
Introduced May 14, 2024 Signed Aug 9, 2024
Floor votes · House May 14, 2024

How they voted

7038
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 116
May 14, 2024
D Democratic76
69 Yea 7
90% Yea
R Republican40
1 Yea 38 Nay 1
95% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
84
Key actions
14
Committee
17
Amendments
4
Aug 9, 2024
Signed into law
Governor Approved
lower
May 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed Both Houses
lower
May 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Passed; 044-015-000
lower
May 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Do Pass Executive; 011-002-000
lower
May 20, 2024
Committee
Assigned to Executive
lower
May 15, 2024
Committee
Referred to Assignments
lower
May 14, 2024
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 071-038-000
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000
lower
May 14, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000
lower
Apr 30, 2024
Lower · Passed
Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000
lower
Apr 19, 2024
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 19, 2024
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 19, 2024
Committee
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 17, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
lower
Apr 16, 2024
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 16, 2024
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
lower
Apr 16, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 009-005-000
lower
Apr 15, 2024
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
lower
Apr 5, 2024
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 5, 2024
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
lower
Mar 13, 2024
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 010-004-000
lower
Mar 5, 2024
Committee
Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
lower
Feb 9, 2024
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 26 co-sponsors

Sponsors