Labor & Employment

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the vendor portal for the Department of Transportation must include any locally-applicable project labor agreement requirements.

Amends the Employee Blood Donation Leave Act. Provides that an employee who does not have available paid leave is entitled to take one hour of unpaid leave every 56 days to donate blood. Provides that the leave to serve as an organ donor is unpaid unless the employer has a policy allowing the leave to be paid or unless the employee has available paid leave. Provides that, if the employer does not have a policy providing paid leave and the employee does not have enough available paid leave to cover the absence, the employee is entitled to up to 10 days of unpaid leave in any 12-month period in order to serve as an organ donor. Makes other changes.

Creates the Employee Ownership Development Act. Provides that the State Treasurer shall segregate a portion of the Treasurer's State investment portfolio in the Employee Ownership Development Account. Provides that moneys in the Employee Ownership Development Account shall be invested by the State Treasurer to provide employee ownership capital to employee ownership development projects seeking to locate, expand, or remain in the State. Sets forth provisions concerning Employee Ownership Development Account-Recipient Funds. Provides that the Employee Ownership Development Fund is created as a non-appropriated trust fund within the State treasury, which may receive a portion of earnings from the Employee Ownership Development Account. Provides for reporting requirements. Provides that the State Treasurer may adopt rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

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.

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that, no later than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Labor shall adopt rules that require specified employers doing business in the State to file an annual report, that will be made available to the public on a dedicated page of the Department's website, regarding workforce management policies, practices, and performance with respect to the employer. Describes the information required to be reported. Sets forth provisions concerning the standardization of data and exemptions to the provision.

Creates the Illinois Railway Safety Act of 2026. Requires a locomotive engineer to be present in the locomotive cab of every train operating on a line and to be capable of taking control of the operation of the train in the event of a safety issue occurring. Requires a locomotive engineer to take full control of the train when a safety issue occurs in order to mitigate the safety issue and any safety risks. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to work with each railroad company to ensure that wayside detector systems are installed and operating along railroad tracks on which the railroad operates and to ensure that specified standards are met. Sets forth investigation and reporting requirements for the Commission and the Department of Transportation if a railroad company refuses to work or otherwise cooperate with the Commission. Sets forth wayside detector system installation distance requirements, waivers, and exemptions. Provides that when a wayside detector system detects a defect, if the message regarding the defect is not immediately sent to the operator, the person that receives the message shall immediately notify the operator of the defect. Requires visual inspections not less than twice a week for all main track designated within the State for operation at class III carrier speeds or higher. Allows the Commission to enforce the Act, which may include civil penalties for a violation of the Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a driver is involved in a collision at a grade crossing resulting in the injury or fatality of a railway worker, that driver shall have the driver's driving privileges suspended for a period of not less than 6 months up to revocation. Prohibits a railroad from operating on any main line or any other line any train which exceeds 8,500 feet in length.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for each taxpayer that is an eligible small employer in an amount equal to the amount paid during the taxable year by the eligible small employer to its employees as paid leave that is required by the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that an eligible small employer is an employer that employs 50 or fewer employees during the taxable year and is subject to the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Revenue shall conduct a study to determine the living wage in the State and shall make recommendations concerning how to increase the minimum wage to ensure residents of the State earn a living wage. Provides that, no later than July 1, 2027, the Department shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. Repeals the provision on January 1, 2028.

Amends Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, an employer who collects gratuities through electronic means shall compile and submit a quarterly report to the Department of Labor containing specified information concerning the collection and distribution of electronic gratuities. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, an employer shall make available on the pay stub provided to any employee who receives gratuities collected through electronic means specified information concerning the collection and distribution of electronic gratuities. Effective January 1, 2027.

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.