Labor & Employment

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a qualified taxpayer may apply to the Department of Revenue for an income tax credit in an amount equal to 20% of the wages paid by the qualified taxpayer to a qualified energy choice worker based in Illinois in the taxable year. Provides that the term "qualified taxpayer" means a taxpayer that is a regulated utility in the State of Illinois or a power generating company providing baseload or intermediate generation in Illinois and that meets specified criteria and is able to demonstrate an adverse and material operational impact to either its overall Illinois-based workforce or its ability to conduct business in Illinois based on the scheduled phaseout target dates of 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045, as provided in Public Act 102-662. Sets forth limitations on the amount of the credit. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $700,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership for the purpose of expanding education, outreach, and technical assistance related to employee ownership transitions and supporting small businesses in evaluating and pursuing succession through employee ownership. Effective July 1, 2026.

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 Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed as an early childhood teacher or an early childhood assistant during the taxable year and who have a federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year of $75,000 or less. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2027, the amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that, for subsequent taxable years, the credit amount shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning colocation of photovoltaic community renewable generation projects, changes references from "community renewable generation project" to "photovoltaic community renewable generation project" and "community solar projects" to "photovoltaic community renewable generation projects". Requires a project labor agreement for the new construction of certain facilities related to community-driven community solar projects. In a provision applying prevailing wage requirements to facilities for which a renewable energy credit delivery contract is signed, removes an exception for multi-family residential buildings with aggregate geothermal system tonnage, including colocated projects, of no more than 29 tons. Amends the Energy Transition Act. Provides that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall jointly develop activities to support the recruitment of eligible candidates to the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program. Provides that the activities shall include coordinating on sharing with community-based providers the contact information of persons preparing to be released into the community, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, if the person preparing to be released consents to the person's contact information being shared. Makes other changes.

Creates the Transportation Network Drivers Labor Relations Act. Defines "transportation network driver" as an individual who operates a motor vehicle that: (i) is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the individual; (ii) is not a taxicab or for-hire public passenger vehicle; and (iii) is used to provide transportation network company services. Provides that transportation network drivers have the right of self-organization, to form, join, or assist transportation network driver organizations, and to bargain collectively. Sets forth provisions concerning unfair labor practices; the designation of bargaining representatives; administrative fees; bargaining, impasse resolution procedures, and final determinations by the Department of Labor; applicability of other labor standards; and rulemaking. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change.

Amends Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a legacy tax credit for businesses that are headquartered in the State. Creates an employee tax credit and a collective bargaining employee tax credit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that, if an employer employing 75 or more employees in the State conducts a layoff, furlough, or temporary shutdown resulting in the separation of one or more employees, the employer shall submit required claim-initiation information to the Department of Employment Security on behalf of each affected employee. Provides that the Department shall provide written or electronic confirmation to the affected employee that the claim-initiation information has been submitted on their behalf by the employer. Sets forth additional requirements. Provides for civil penalties for a violation of the provision.

Creates the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. Requires each employer to provide to each worker, upon hire or within 30 days after the effective date of the Act, whichever is later, a written description of each quota to which the worker is subject, including the quantified number of tasks to be performed or materials to be produced or handled within the defined time period, and any potential adverse employment action that could result from failure to meet the quota. Provides that a worker shall not be required to meet a quota that prevents compliance with meal or rest periods or use of bathroom facilities, including reasonable travel time to and from bathroom facilities. Requires employers to post a notice of workers' rights under the Act and to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements. Sets forth a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes an adverse employment action against a worker within 90 days of the worker requesting certain information or making a complaint alleging a violation of the Act to the Director of Labor, the Department of Labor, or the employer. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions; enforcement of the Act by the Department; civil penalties; workplace inspections; private rights of action; the Attorney General's powers to intervene or initiate a civil action; and severability. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Defines "grandfathered health plan". Provides that, except for grandfathered health plans, a health insurance issuer in the individual, small group, or large group market shall not deny coverage to an individual or employer due to the individual's or employer's failure to pay premiums owed under a prior policy, certificate, or contract of insurance. Specifies that nothing in the provisions concerning past-due premiums prohibits a health insurance issuer from pursuing the collection of past-due premiums from an individual or employer by any other means permitted by law. Effective immediately.