Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 5413: WORK COMP-FIRST RESPONDERS

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes entitlement to permanent disability benefits for first responders, strengthening access to compensation and reducing dispute delays.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 5508: WORK COMP-PUBLIC EMPLOYERS

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2026, if a public employer files a petition to review an award of an arbitrator of the Commission, the award shall draw interest, retroactive to the date of the injury, at a rate equal to 10% or at a rate equal to the yield on indebtedness issued by the United States Government with a 26-week maturity next previously auctioned on the day on which the decision is filed, whichever is greater. Sets forth limitations on interest assessed under the provision. Defines "public employer". Effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires retroactive interest on workers' comp awards at favorable rate, strengthening compensation benefits for injured workers under Labor & Employment protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 7, 2026

SB 3076: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISABILITY

Amends the Public Employee Disability Act. Provides that, for purposes of provisions in the Act concerning disability benefits, "eligible employee" includes any part-time or full-time county correctional officer or any other full-time or part-time employee of a county sheriff. Provides that, when an eligible employee suffers an injury in the line of duty that causes the employee to be unable to perform the employee's duties, the employing public entity shall continue to provide health insurance benefits on the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to the injury.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public entities to continue health insurance for injured county employees, protecting existing coverage under disability benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands disability benefits to include correctional officers with mandatory health insurance continuation for work-related injuries, strengthening worker protections under Labor & Employment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Employees Workers' Compensation

signed · Illinois · House Jul 24, 2026

HB 4491: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISABILITY

Amends the Public Employee Disability Act. Provides that, whenever an eligible employee suffers any injury or illness in the line of duty (rather than suffers any injury in the line of duty) which causes that employee to be unable to perform the employee's duties, the employee shall continue to be paid by the employing public entity on the same gross pay basis, inclusive of all pensionable salary, as the employee was paid before the injury (rather than paid by the employing public entity on the same basis as he was paid before the injury), with no deduction from and with continued accrual of any sick leave credits (rather than with no deduction from his sick leave credits) and specified other compensation, with other requirements. Makes technical changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures public employees injured in line of duty receive full pay including pensionable salary, strengthening disability benefits and worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees Workers' Compensation

in committee · Illinois · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 4226: WORK COMP-HOSPITAL SECURITY

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that any condition or impairment of health of an employee employed as a hospital security guard which results directly or indirectly from specified diseases or conditions resulting in any disability to the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and in the course of the employee's hospital security employment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates rebuttable presumption for hospital security guards' work-related injuries under workers' comp, easing compensation claims and strengthening workplace injury protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 1309: WORKERS COMP-PRESUMPTION

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the rebuttable presumption concerning specified conditions or impairments of health of an employee employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic is intended to shift the burden of proof to the employing entity and any party attacking the presumption must establish by clear and convincing evidence an independent and non-work related cause for the condition or disability and prove that no aspect of the employment contributed to the condition. Provides that the rebuttable presumption relating to hearing loss cannot be overcome with evidence allegedly showing that the injured employee did not meet specified exposure thresholds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareShifts burden of proof to employers for work-related health conditions of medical professionals (firefighters, EMTs), protecting their access to compensation under workers' comp.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShifts burden of proof to employers for first responders' work-related health claims, strengthening compensation access under Workers' Comp Act.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 35: WORK COMP-SOLE PROPRIETORS

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the provisions of the Act shall apply automatically and without election to all employers and all their employees, including, but not limited to, sole proprietors and general contractors and their subcontractors (currently, all employers and all their employees), engaged in any department enterprises or businesses which are declared to be extra hazardous. Removes a provision that the Act shall not be construed to apply to any sole proprietor or partner or member of a limited liability company who elects not to provide and pay compensation for accidental injuries sustained by himself, arising out of and in the course of the employment according to the provisions of the Act. Provides that the definition of "corporate officer" does not include a sole proprietor.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands mandatory workers' compensation coverage to sole proprietors and contractors, removing prior opt-out provisions and strengthening workplace injury protections for previously excluded workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Illinois · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 1258: WORKERS COMP-SHOULDER-HIP

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, for purposes of awarding compensation for injuries, an injury to the shoulder shall be considered an injury to a part of the arm and an injury to the hip shall be considered an injury to a part of the leg. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies injury classifications under workers' comp, ensuring shoulder/hip injuries qualify for compensation as part of arm/leg injuries, advancing worker benefit access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 1702: WORKERS COMP-PTSD PRESUMPTION

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that post-traumatic stress disorder is to be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and to be causally connected to the hazards of employment of a person employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePresumes PTSD coverage for emergency workers under workers' comp, expanding mental health access without requiring proof of work connection.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes PTSD work-related for first responders, easing compensation claims and strengthening benefits under workers' comp.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 4177: WORK COMP-BURIAL EXPENSES

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the sum of $10,000 (rather than $8,000) for burial expenses shall be paid by the employer to the widow or widower, other dependent, next of kin, or person or persons incurring the expense of burial.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases burial expense benefit from $8,000 to $10,000 under workers' compensation, expanding financial support for dependents of deceased workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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