Labor & Employment

passed · Illinois · House May 30, 2026

HR 741: FARMWORKERS DAY

Declares March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day in the State of Illinois in recognition of the essential contributions and sacrifices of farmworkers past and present. Recognizes the multiracial, intergenerational coalition of workers, including men, women, and children, whose collective action transformed labor rights in this country. Honors the courage, resilience, and contributions of farmworkers in the State of Illinois and across the United States.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill honors farmworkers' contributions to labor rights, recognizing their role in advancing worker protections and collective action.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House May 28, 2026

HB 2961: BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE ACT

Creates the Best Interest of the State Act. Provides that any collective bargaining unit, contractor, or subcontractor participating in a project labor agreement shall satisfy specified requirements to promote racial inclusion, diversity, and equity. Contains provisions concerning prequalification of collective bargaining units, contractors, and subcontractors; the determination of the demographic make-up of counties; complaints to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion; and penalties. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Construction Training and Development Fund. Amends the Project Labor Agreements Act and the Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires diversity/equity in collective bargaining units and project labor agreements, strengthening worker representation and rights under labor/employment policy.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House May 21, 2026

HB 2490: FIREFIGHTER PAID FAMILY LEAVE

Creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act. Provides that a firefighter shall receive 6 weeks of paid family leave that may be used: (1) for the birth of a child in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age, a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age, or a newly adopted or placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; and (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that an employer shall compensate a firefighter granted leave under the Act at the firefighter's regular rate of pay, paid at the same interval the firefighter was paid while working, for those regular work hours during which the firefighter is absent from work. Sets forth provisions concerning employment protection and maintenance of benefits; prohibited acts, limitations of the Act; waiver of leave under the Act; and collective bargaining agreements. Limits home rule. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 6 weeks paid family leave for firefighters to care for newborns, adopted/foster children, or disabled family members, expanding worker benefits and protecting family care rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 5463: SOCIAL WORK/SCH COUNSEL LOAN

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to the Social Worker and School Counselor Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Allows a school counselor to apply for the Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a grant of up to $8,000 (rather than $6,500) per year for a maximum of 4 years to each qualified applicant. Provides that a grant shall be used for repayment of the recipient's educational loan instead of the Commission encouraging the recipient to use the grant to repay the recipient's educational loan. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases grant amounts ($6,500→$8,000/year) for school counselors' loan repayment, directly supporting educator retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases annual grant funding for social workers/school counselors (up to $8,000/year) to reduce debt burden and support workforce retention in high-need roles, directly advancing employment standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 4416: UNEMPLOYMENT INS-ACADEMICS

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that, with respect to a week of unemployment beginning on or after June 1, 2026, benefits shall be payable to an individual on the basis of wages for employment in other than an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity performed for an educational institution or an educational service agency, as long as the individual is otherwise eligible for benefits. Effective immediately.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes wages from instructional/research roles in unemployment benefit calculations, potentially reducing benefits for educational workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House Oct 30, 2025

HJR 12: ED HEALTH INSURANCE TASK FORCE

Creates the Educator Health Insurance Task Force to study the feasibility of creating regional health insurance purchasing pools of school districts accessible to all public educators in school districts that have a population of less than 500,000.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates task force to study regional health insurance pools for educators, supporting teacher benefits and access to healthcare services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates task force to study regional health insurance pools for educators, aiming to improve access to worker benefits and reduce costs for public educators.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 3638: WORK TRANSPARENCY-CONFIDENTIAL

Amends the Workplace Transparency Act. Provides that no contract, agreement, clause, covenant, waiver, or other document shall prohibit, prevent, or otherwise restrict an employee, prospective employee, or former employee from engaging in concerted activities to address work-related issues. Provides that any agreement, clause, covenant, or waiver that is a mutual condition of employment or continued employment may include provisions that would otherwise be against public policy if it acknowledges the right of the employee or prospective employee to engage in concerted activities to address work-related issues. Provides that an employee, prospective employee, or former employee and an employer may enter into a valid and enforceable settlement or termination agreement that includes promises of confidentiality related to alleged unlawful employment practices if the confidentiality provision expires no later than 5 years after the alleged unlawful employment practices occurred. Provides for the recovery of consequential damages incurred in challenging a contract for violation of the Act. Makes other changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment clauses restricting workers' concerted activities on work issues, directly protecting organizing rights under labor law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 1787: SCH SAFETY DRILLS-TRAIN SUBS

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires a school district to provide training on school evacuation drills and law enforcement lockdown drills to all school personnel serving in a substitute capacity.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires safety training for substitute school personnel, directly improving workplace safety protocols for workers in educational settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 3435: HEALTH CARE VIOLENCE PREVENT

Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. Makes changes to defined terms. In provisions concerning workplace safety, provides that a health care worker may not be discouraged from contacting law enforcement or the Department of Public Health regarding workplace violence, and a health care provider may not hold a policy that limits such contact. Adds additional requirements to the workplace violence prevention program, including reporting requirements and identifying the need for additional security and alarms, adequate exit routes, monitoring systems, barrier protections, lighting, entry procedures, and systems to identify and flag persons who have previously committed violent acts in the health care provider space. Sets forth provisions concerning violent incident investigations, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements for health care providers regarding violent incidents. Establishes penalties for failure to comply with the Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from public disclosure workplace violence records maintained by health care providers as required under a specified provision of the Health Care Violence Prevention Act.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects health care workers' right to report workplace violence without employer retaliation, enhancing workplace safety protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 2978: NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE LEAVE

Creates the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act. Provides that an employee of an employer with 16 or more employees and no more than 50 employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 10 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while any child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that an employee of an employer with 51 or more employees shall be entitled to use 20 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that, upon the conclusion of leave taken under the Act, an employee shall be reinstated to his or her former position or a substantially equivalent one with no loss of benefits held or accrued prior to taking leave. Sets forth provisions concerning unlawful employer practices; Department of Labor responsibilities; and enforcement. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Fund.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates new unpaid leave entitlements for employees with newborns in NICU, expanding worker benefits and protecting family care rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment