Labor & Employment (Apprenticeships)

Declares April 26 to May 2, 2026 as Apprenticeship Week 2026 and urges stakeholders and partners to recognize the value of registered apprenticeships and to promote awareness and expansion of apprenticeships.

Amends the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act. Provides that, unless driving is an essential job function or is related to a legitimate business purpose for a position, an employer or employment agency shall not: (1) refuse to hire, segregate, or act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, or privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of an applicant or employee not possessing a driver's license; or (2) include a statement in a posting for a job opening for the position that an applicant must have a valid driver's license. Defines "driver's license". Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that the provisions of the Act apply to projects financed or funded, in whole or in part, by a grant, loan, incentive, or tax subsidy, credit, or rebate provided through a program established by State law and administered by a State agency and that require the payment of prevailing wages to employees. Makes changes to the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative. Provides that the Department of Labor may reduce or waive the apprenticeship requirements under certain conditions. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Repeals the Opportunities for At-Risk Women Act. Amends the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act. Provides that the Council on Women and Girls may create the Opportunities for At-Risk Women Subcommittee to research and analyze organizations that support at-risk women in the State. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that provisions requiring the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's official website to contain a comprehensive list of State, local, and federal economic benefits available to businesses in each of the State's counties and municipalities are repealed on July 1, 2026. Provides that the following reports shall be filed on or before January 31 of each year (instead of January 1): a report on entrepreneurial assistance centers; reports on the Enterprise Zone Loan Fund and the Large Business Attraction Fund; and reports concerning cannabis social equity. Amends the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act. Makes changes concerning the membership of the Board of the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the sunset for the apprenticeship education expense tax credit, the research and development tax credit, the angel investment tax credit, and the River Edge Redevelopment Zone tax credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, if a laborer, mechanic, or other worker, to whom the prevailing rate of wages is required to be paid, is classified in 2 or more trade titles for any amount of time during a day on which the individual is employed on a public works project, the individual shall receive the prevailing rate of wages that is the highest among those trade titles for all hours worked that day. Provides that a laborer, mechanic, or other worker, to whom the prevailing wage is required to be paid, may be paid at an apprentice rate of pay if the laborer is enrolled in an apprenticeship and training program. Provides for the withholding of payments for violations of the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. In provisions concerning goals of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative related to the percentage of labor hours performed by apprentices, provides that, for contracts and grant agreements executed after January 1, 2029 and before January 1, 2031, at least 25% (instead of 50%) of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Provides that, on and after January 2031, at least 50% of the labor hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Removes provisions setting goals for those apprentices before January 1, 2029. Makes changes concerning circumstances under which the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may grant a reduction or a waiver of those goals. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall maintain a list of graduates of the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program for a period of not less than 3 years (instead of one year) after the participant graduates from the Program. Effective immediately.

Creates the Workplace Accountability in Labor Act. Provides that the Department of Labor may post to a list on its website the name of any person found to be in violation of any State wage, benefit, or tax law and against whom a final order has been issued. Provides that a person placed on the list shall be prohibited from contracting with any public body until the liability for violations of State wage, benefit, and tax laws has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Director of Labor. Sets forth additional procedures concerning a person's placement on the list.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that the term "community-based organization" includes a high-school based program. Provides that funding from the Illinois Works Fund shall be categorized based on Illinois Department of Transportation regions. Adds a member to the Illinois Works Review panel who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that addresses high school-based workforce programs. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that the term "community-based organization" includes a high-school based program. Provides that funding from the Illinois Works Fund shall be categorized based on Illinois Department of Transportation regions. Adds a member to the Illinois Works Review panel who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that addresses high school-based workforce programs. Makes other changes.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to availability of funds, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish the Illinois Apprenticeship Voucher Program for the purpose of providing funds to apprentices to pay for their tools and equipment upon completion of their registered apprenticeship program. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall disburse the sum of $300 to each recipient in the form of a voucher for the purpose of paying for tools and equipment required in their intended line of work. Creates the Illinois Apprenticeship-to-Career Starter Kit Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department for the purposes of the voucher program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.