HB 2973 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

IPLRA-PUB DEF

Summary

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Defines "public sector attorney" as any of the following attorneys who are not managerial employees: Assistant State's Attorneys, Assistant Public Defenders, Assistant Appellate Defenders, Assistant Appellate Prosecutors, and attorneys in the office of the Cook County Public Guardian. Provides that public sector attorneys may not strike. Provides that, if there is an impasse between a unit of public sector attorneys and a public employer, the parties shall submit the dispute to interest arbitration. Effective December 1, 2026.

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 14, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to simplify the section it modifies by removing references to Section 17 of the Public Labor Relations Act. Additionally, new text was added to clarify rules for water system workers, define 'fair share agreements,' and correct formatting inconsistencies. These changes refine the bill's legal framework without altering its core purpose of regulating public sector attorney strikes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the amendment to Section 17, which previously covered different labor relations topics.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the instruction to amend Section 17 of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, limiting the bill's changes to Section 3 only.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'fair share agreement' to clarify what costs non-union employees must pay in collective bargaining units.

ELIGIBILITY

Inserted new provisions regarding the exclusive representation of workers at water systems formerly owned by public utilities.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and spacing errors in existing text to ensure legal consistency.

Floor votes · House Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

78–33

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 118

Apr 10, 2025

D Democratic78

75 Yea 3

96% Yea

R Republican40

3 Yea 33 Nay 4

82% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Assignments

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Introduced

Arrive in Senate

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 078-033-000

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Labor & Commerce Committee; 016-004-000

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kam Buckner

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Labor & Commerce Committee; 016-009-000

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Labor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kam Buckner

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules Committee

lower

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor