Labor & Employment

passed · Illinois · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 5208: BEREAVEMENT LEAVE ACT

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Zachary's Parent Protection Act. Amends the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Bereavement Leave Act. Sets forth provisions concerning family bereavement leave, child extended bereavement leave, and general bereavement leave. Provides for the qualifying requirements, notice requirements, and length of leave provided under those circumstances. Provides that the bereavement leave provided under the Act is in addition to the unpaid leave time allowed under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Provides that the Department of Labor shall review complaints to determine whether there is cause for investigation. Makes changes to definitions. Repeals the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act. Amends the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act and the Child Labor Law of 2024 to make conforming changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands bereavement leave benefits with new provisions for family/child leave, adding to existing protections without reducing rights, directly advancing worker benefits under Labor & Employment.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 5540: PEN CD-IMRF-ANNUITY PAYMENT

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, if the payment of a retirement annuity is made to an annuitant more than one month after that retirement annuity payment became payable, then the Fund shall pay interest to the annuitant in an amount equal to 6% of that payment of the retirement annuity. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the municipal employee's continuance privilege, provides that if an employee has elected to have the monthly premium deducted by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund from the employee's monthly pension payment, then the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund shall promptly remit the premium payments to the insurance company, regardless of whether the employee's monthly pension payment has been paid to the employee. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures 6% interest on delayed retirement annuity payments for municipal employees, protecting retiree benefits as part of employment standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 4980: HUMAN CONTROL OF AI ACT

Creates the Meaningful Human Control of Artificial Intelligence Act. Provides that a public employer, including a contractor or subcontractor of the public employer, shall not use or apply, or authorize any procurement, purchase, or acquisition of any service or system using or relying on any automated decision-making system, directly or indirectly, without meaningful and continuing human review when performing specified functions. Provides that an employer seeking to use or apply an automated decision-making system shall conduct an initial impact assessment and an additional impact assessments at least once every 2 years and prior to any material changes to the automated decision-making system. Sets forth provisions concerning anti-retaliation; enforcement by the Department of Labor; and private rights of action.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires meaningful human review for AI in public employment decisions, preventing automated systems from making unreviewed workplace choices that could impact workers' rights.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI deployment in public sector by mandating human review, limiting automated decision-making systems without oversight90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 4565: FREEDOM TO WORK-HEALTH CARE

Amends the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Provides that any covenant not to compete or covenant not to solicit entered into after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall not be enforceable with respect to individuals employed by health care facilities as health care professionals in the State regardless of whether an individual is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves non-compete restrictions for health care workers, protecting their right to change employment without legal barriers, aligning with worker rights protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2482: PEN CD-CHI POLICE-DISABILITY

Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes disability for police officers denied reinstatement due to incapacity, ensuring access to pension benefits per employment standards.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2484: PEN CD-DNST POLICE-DC PLAN

Amends the Downstate Police and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Removes language providing that a person may not elect to participate in IMRF with respect to his or her employment as a chief of police of a participating municipality, unless that person became a participating employee in IMRF before January 1, 2019. Makes conforming changes. In the Downstate Police Article, provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a municipality is not required to establish a defined contribution plan. Provides that a municipality is required to maintain a defined contribution plan for persons who began participating in the defined contribution plan before the effective date of the amendatory Act. In provisions authorizing certain police officers to elect to participate in the defined contribution plan, restricts participation to police officers who first became police officers before the effective date of the amendatory Act and to municipalities that established a defined contribution plan before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves restriction on police chiefs joining IMRF retirement fund, expanding employment benefits and access to retirement coverage for covered workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2565: UNEMPLOYMENT INS-LABOR DISPUTE

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for a period totaling and not to exceed 2 weeks (rather than an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for any week) with respect to which it is found that his total or partial unemployment is due to a stoppage of work which exists because of a labor dispute at the factory, establishment, or other premises at which he is or was last employed. Provides that, after the 2-week period, the individual will be eligible for benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShortens unemployment benefit ineligibility during labor disputes from indefinite to 2 weeks, expanding worker access to benefits during disputes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 3213: EMPLOYMENT-PROHIBIT COVENANTS

Amends the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2026, no employer shall enter into a covenant not to compete or a covenant not to solicit with any employee. Provides that a covenant not to compete or a covenant not to solicit entered into on or after January 1, 2026 is illegal and void regardless of where and when the covenant not to compete or a covenant not to solicit was entered into. Provides that an employer or former employer shall not attempt to enforce a contract that is void and unenforceable under the Act regardless of whether the contract was signed and the employment was maintained outside of the State. Repeals provisions concerning the legitimate business interest of the employer; ensuring employees are informed about their obligations; and reformation of covenants not to compete and covenants not to solicit. Makes changes to definitions. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits non-compete agreements, protecting employee job mobility and rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 5071: TOLL HWY AUTH-BILINGUAL PAY

Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has the power to establish a special pay supplement for those positions of employment that require that a person employed in that position speak or write a language other than English. Provides that such paid positions may be eligible for a bilingual pay supplement to attract bilingual individuals, to encourage present employees to become proficient in languages other than English, or to retain qualified bilingual employees. Provides that a bilingual pay supplement shall be processed within 30 calendar days after the employee presents to the Authority a certification from either the designated testing program process selected by the Authority or a State community college confirming that language skill proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking has been satisfied by the employee.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides bilingual pay supplement to attract, retain, and encourage bilingual workers, expanding worker benefits for specific roles.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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