Labor & Employment

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 maintain 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.

Amends the Illinois Works Job Program Act. Establishes the Illinois Municipal Works Preapprenticeship and Service Trainee Program to be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that the goal of the Program is to create a network of community-based organizations within the region served by Morton College that will recruit, prescreen, and provide preapprenticeship and service trainee skills training to create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers who are prepared for careers in the construction and building trades and in the union service trades that have collective bargaining agreements with municipalities, the health care sector, and other service sectors. Creates the Illinois Municipal Works Preapprenticeship and Service Trainee Fund. Provides that the Fund shall be administered by the Department. Provides that the Fund shall be used to provide funding directly to Morton College and, through Morton College, to trade unions, municipal employers, health care employers, and other service sector employers who are associated with the Program. Provides that every July 1, $250,000 shall be transferred from the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund to the Illinois Municipal Works Preapprenticeship and Service Trainee Fund. Sets forth an annual report for Morton College. Provides for bid credits for employing apprentices who have completed the Program. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall monitor the Program. Provides that, by no later than July 1, 2031, the State Board shall recommend legislation to the General Assembly that will, based upon the experience of Morton College, establish and fund an Illinois Pipeline for the Advancement of the Union Service Workforce Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an employee who is employed as a first responder and who suffers a serious bodily injury in the course of that employment shall be presumed to be entitled to permanent total disability benefits. Provides that the Workers' Compensation Commission shall accelerate any dispute regarding an employee's continuing entitlement to benefits under the provision.

Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that it is unlawful to include in any employment contract, or to require an employee to execute as a condition of employment or a work relationship, a contract that: (1) requires the employee to pay an employer, training provider, or debt collector for a debt if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated; (2) authorizes the employer, training provider, or debt collector to resume or initiate collection of or to end forbearance on a debt if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated; (3) imposes any penalty, fee, or cost on an employee if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated. Provides that the provision applies to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a contract entered into in violation of the provision is void and unenforceable. Sets forth exceptions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Provides that the regulation of allowances for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate is an exclusive power and function of the State. Provides that a home rule unit may not regulate allowances for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate. Effective immediately.

Creates the Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act. Provides that the Director of Labor shall adopt rules to establish excessive heat and excessive cold standards. Sets forth temporary excessive heat and excessive cold standards. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2026, the Director shall establish by rule an occupational temperature-related illness and injury prevention plan. Sets forth provisions concerning retaliation; violations; penalties; and enforcement of the Act.

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.

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.

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.

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.