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 26, 2026

HB 4791: SMART START GRANTS-HEAD START

Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for Head Start/Early Head Start workforce compensation, increasing funding access for early childhood education programs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workforce compensation program eligibility to Head Start childcare workers, directly supporting wage benefits for this employment sector.90% 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 May 15, 2026

HB 3266: PREVAILING WAGE-TIF DISTRICT

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, the term "public works" also includes all private projects that are located in a tax increment financing district and paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, unless the total cost of the project is less than $25,000 or the project is performed in a designated historic district requiring specialty contractors because of that designation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands prevailing wage requirements to private projects in TIF districts funded by public money, protecting workers' wage rights under labor standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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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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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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passed · Illinois · House Feb 4, 2026

HJR 44: DHS-DELAY CUTS-DSP SERVICE HRS

Urges the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Pritzker Administration to delay cuts to Direct Service Professional (DSP) service hours set to begin January 1,2026, until such time as the State is prepared to implement the "Zero Hour" Staffing Model, to protect the services depended on by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill urges delay of DSP service hour cuts to protect I/DD services, maintaining current funding levels and preventing defunding of essential programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill delays cuts to DSP service hours for I/DD individuals, protecting essential healthcare services and preventing reduced access to care under the current system.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents cuts to DSP service hours, protecting employment conditions for workers serving I/DD individuals by maintaining current staffing levels.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Illinois · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 620: 2022 HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES

This Illinois House Resolution (HR 620) calls on Congress to reinstate healthcare subsidies that were part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which expired on January 1, 2026. It directly addresses Illinois residents, small businesses, and self-employed individuals who rely on the Get Covered Illinois marketplace, as they face significantly higher premiums and deductibles without these subsidies. The resolution requests immediate action to reverse the expiration of these cost-saving subsidies, which the bill claims would prevent up to 140,000 Illinoisans from affording coverage. Note: The resolution inaccurately attributes the subsidy expiration to former President Trump; the Inflation Reduction Act was enacted under President Biden, and subsidies expired due to legislative inaction, not Trump's policies. This is a symbolic resolution, not a binding law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill seeks to reinstate federal healthcare subsidies reducing costs for lower/middle-income residents/businesses, aligning with tax relief indicators for fiscal support.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly calls to reinstate healthcare subsidies to prevent higher premiums, directly expanding affordable coverage for Illinois residents and small businesses.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReinstating healthcare subsidies protects workers' access to affordable benefits, directly supporting employment standards by reducing financial burdens on residents and small businesses.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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