Employment Law

SB 1

• Sponsor: Sen. Lightford/Rep. Guzzardi
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0001
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download SB 1

The bill would increase the minimum wage for those above the age of 18 from $8.25 (current) to $9.25 by January 2020, $10.00 by July 1, 2020, $11.00 by January 1, 2021, $12.00 by January 2022, $13 by January 2023, $14 by January 2024, and $15 by January 2025.  The bill would also make similar increases for those under 18 with the final wage being $13 per hour by 2025.  The bill also includes a tax credit for employers with less than 50 employees.  However, as drafted, the credit is not as straightforward as it is being sold.  The Chamber will continue to advocate for the passage of HB 2900, which will regionalize the tax credit by census tracts.

SJRCA 1

• Sponsor: Sen. Harmon/Rep. Martwick
• Status: Goes on 2020 Ballot
• Position:

  Oppose

• Attachment: Download SJRCA 1

This proposal would amend the Illinois Constitution to remove the flat tax with a graduated income tax for individuals AND corporations. In addition, this proposal would allow for the legislature to enact multiple income taxes (current constitution only allows for one). For example, legislators could create a new income tax on various industries and income (i.e. a tax on capital gains, a tax on hog farmers, or a tax on financial advisers). For more information, please visit the Chamber's Graduated Income Tax Resource Page.

HB 2026

• Sponsor: Rep. Mussman
• Status: Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT Committee
• Position:

  Oppose

• Attachment: Download HB 2026

Creates the Digital Fair Repair Act.  This bill would mandate original equipment manufacturers to provide owners of equipment the machine repair and diagnostic tools and embedded software.  

HB 255

• Sponsor: Rep. Guzzardi
• Status: Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
• Position:

  Oppose

• Attachment: Download HB 255

Repeals the Rent Control Preemption Act.

HB 834 

• Sponsor: Rep. Moeller
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0177
• Position:

  Opposed

• Attachment: Download HB 834

This bill would amend the equal pay act of 2003 and prohibit screenings of prospective employees based on their wage history, along with other restrictions on employers requesting prior benefits. The Chamber is opposed to this bill due to concerns with how it will limit employers defenses from litigation.  

HB 838

• Sponsor: Rep. Halpin
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 838

Creates the Keep Illinois Business Act. This would disqualify business’s who choose to move their entire operation, or part of their operation, outside of Illinois from receiving any state economic development assistance and require the business to repay any economic development assistance it had received in the past.

HB 881

• Sponsor: Rep. McDermed
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HB 881

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. This bill would make it unlawful for an employer to require an employee to sign a contract that would prohibit them from disclosing their wage or salary. However, an employer may prohibit an employee such as a supervisor, human resource officer or an employee who’s responsibility requires access to wage history from disclosing salary or wage information.

HB 1438

• Sponsor: Sen. Steans/Rep. Cassidy
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0027
• Position:

  NEUTRAL

• Attachment: Download HB 1438

Creates the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act.  The Chamber went neutral on this legislation due to our two requests making it into the final bill.  Those two requests were 1) strong workplace protections and 2) local control.  

SB 54

• Sponsor: Sen. Harmon
• Status: Assigned to Executive Committee
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download SB 54

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. This would create a third-party facilitator license which would establish fees, record keeping requirements and other regulations for these distributors. This bill would also provide that liquor distributors would be able to deliver liquor to homes given that the person accepting the delivery is at least 21 years of age.

HB 1441

• Sponsor: Rep. Moeller
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 1441

Creates the Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drug Act. This bill would require the Department of Public Health design an importation program for prescription drugs coming from Canada. This bill aims to address specific issues in the prescription drug market and aim to make the market more competitive.

HB 2085

• Sponsor: Rep. Harris
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 2085

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. This bill aims to target foreign cooperation’s who are classified as “waters edge” corporations. Provides that corporations that make a waters edge election are limited to a 75% deduction on dividends.

HB 3394

• Sponsor: Rep. Welch/Sen. Belt
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0589
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 3394

HB 3394 (Welch/Belt) requires publicly traded corporations whose principal executive offices are located in Illinois to report whether each member of the corporation's board of directors self-identifies as a minority person and, if so, which race or ethnicity to which the member belongs.   Requires the University of Illinois System to review the reported information and publish on its website a report that provides aggregate data on the demographic characteristics of the boards of directors and executive officers of corporations filing an annual report for the preceding year along with an individualized rating for each corporation.  While the bill originally was much worse, the Chamber remained opposed to the bill.

SB 1186

• Sponsor: Sen. Koehler
• Status: Re-Referred to Assignments
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download SB 1186

Creates the Administration of Antibiotics to Food-Producing Animals Act. This bill would require that “medically important” antibiotics could only be administered to food-producing animals if they are prescribed by a veterinarian who has visited the farm within the last six months.

HB 2127/ SB 1326

• Sponsor: Sen. Murphy
• Status: Re-Referred to Assignments
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 2127 / SB 1326

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Would require any tech service company that has a contract with the state in excess of $100,000 to install and use software that would verify the hours they billed by tracking keystrokes and taking frequent screenshots.

HB 2839

• Sponsor: Rep. Gong-Gershowitz
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 2839

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. This bill would allow persons or businesses that have suffered “wrongdoing” or have adversely been affected or aggravated by an administrative decision to be entitled to judicial review. Administrative decisions made by the Department of Agriculture, EPA, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Health and the Department of Transportation are subject to these reviews. 

HB 3358

• Sponsor: Rep. Turner/Sen. T. Cullerton
• Status: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 3358

The Data Transparency and Privacy Act and seeks to regulate businesses that collect personal information on Illinoisans. 

HB 2728

• Sponsor: Rep. Mah
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 2728

Amends the Environmental Protection Act.

HB 356/ HB 357

• Sponsor: Rep. Mason
• Status: Referred to Senate Assignments
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 356/ HB 357

Amends the Procurement of Domestic Products Act.

HB 252

• Sponsor: Rep. Guzzardi/Sen. Castro
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0430
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 252

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Changes the definition of "employer" from a person employing fifteen people to one.  

HB 2975

• Sponsor: Rep. Evans
• Status: Postponed in Senate Judiciary Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 2975

Amends the Employment Contract Act. 

SB 1349

• Sponsor: Sen. Weaver
• Status: Assigned to House Revenue & Finance Committee
• Position:

  Support-Chamber Initiative 

• Attachment: Download SB 1349

Amends the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act.

SB 1379

• Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson
• Status: Assigned to House Revenue & Finance Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download SB 1379

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that residents with income producing properties in counties with 3,000,000 or more residents must submit income and expense data for that property. 

SB 1852

• Sponsor: Sen. Curran/Rep. Durkin
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0022
• Position:

  Neutral 

• Attachment: Download SB 1852

Sets forth various requirements for the use of ethylene oxide in Illinois, such as emission restrictions, trapping, and testing. It passed both Chambers. Both Chambers held multiple hearings and negotiated legislation to prevent against ethylene oxide leakages. The bills were in response to the Sterigencis facility issue.   

HB 471

• Sponsor: Rep. Morgan
• Status: Referred to Labor and Commerce Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 471

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act.

HB 1639

• Sponsor: Rep. DeLuca
• Status: Placed on the calendar for 2nd reading
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HB 1639

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code in an Article concerning accident and health insurance.

HB 3823

• Sponsor: Rep. Thapedi
• Status: Referred to House Rules Committee
• Position:

  Support - Chamber Initiative 

• Attachment: Download HB 3823

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

SB 24

• Sponsor: Sen. Link/Rep. Hoffman
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0294
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download SB 24

Mandates freight trains must have a two-person crew. The Chamber opposed the effort to create additional regulations on railroads operating in the state. Despite working against it throughout the spring session, the bill passed both chambers on mostly party lines. However, shortly after passage, the Federal Railroad Administration repealed a proposed rule that would have regulated the size the freight train crews and indicated the repeal was intended to preempt state laws regulating freight train crew sizes.

SB 687

• Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson/Rep. Zalewski
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0008
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download SB 687

Imposes graduated income tax rates effective January 2021, if the constitutional amendment authorizing graduated rates is approved by the voters. The bill would raise the top rate on individuals and corporations to 7.99% (10.49% for corporations with the 2.5% replacement tax), making Illinois’ income tax burden one of the highest in the nation.  For more information, please visit the Chamber's Graduated Income Tax Resource Page.

SB 1719

• Sponsor: Sen. Castro/Rep. Slaughter
• Status: Referred to House Rules Committee
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download SB 1719

Creates a Keep the Internet Devices Safe Act that is different from the introduced bill. Aims to regulate internet devices that contain a microphone. 

SB 1624

• Sponsor: Sen. Glowiak/Rep. Andrade
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0343
• Position:

  Neutral 

• Attachment: Download SB 1624

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Require that a data collector inform the Attorney General if a data breach of more than 500 residents takes place in the most expedient time possible. 

HB 345

• Sponsor: Rep. Lilly/Sen. Morrison
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0002
• Position:

  Oppose 

• Attachment: Download HB 345

Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Prohibits the sale and distribution of Tabacco products to individuals under the age of 21. 

SB 690

• Sponsor: Sen. Link/Rep. Rita
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0031
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download SB 690

This bill was the vehicle for vertical infrastructure growth in the state. Data centers, gaming, and other bipartisan economic incentives were contained in this bill.

SB 689

• Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson/Rep. Harris
• Status: Passed Both Houses
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download SB 689

Other measures were included in the final budget deal including several other pro-business reforms. Those reforms included the reinstatement of the manufacturers purchasing credit, phase-out elimination of the franchise tax, creation of the Blue-Collar Jobs Act, and data center tax incentives. These are reforms that the Chamber, along with others in the business community, have advocated for years.

SB 75

• Sponsor: Sen. Bush/Rep. Williams
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0221
• Position:

  Neutral 

• Attachment: Download SB 75

Legislation that provides extensive changes to limiting unilateral employment agreements for sexual harassment and employment discrimination related to NDAs and arbitration. The legislation requires disclosure by any employer of a final adverse administrative or final judicial ruling to the Illinois Department of Human Rights. And, all Illinois employers will be required annually to have all its employees trained regarding sexual harassment. The Illinois Chamber led the negotiations on behalf of employers and went neutral on the bill.

SB 2088

• Sponsor: Sen. Fine
• Status: Re-refereed to Assignments
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download SB 2088

Would both create the Digital Fair Repair Act (aka Right to Repair) and would force original equipment manufacturers to give up proprietary information, repair documentation and diagnostic code to any owner of the device or equipment. This ranges from cell phones, to TV’s to tractors.

SB 1407

• Sponsor: Sen. Hastings
• Status: House Labor and Commerce Committee
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download SB 1407

created the Illinois Hazardous Materials Workforce Training Act. It passed the Senate but did not pass the House. SB1407 would have required all construction and maintenance work at privately owned petroleum refineries, petrochemical facilities, and ethanol facilities within the state to be exclusively performed by members of certain trade unions. It was not considered in the House as part of Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s requests in exchange for Republican votes on the remaining legislative issues at the end of session. Expect this issue to come back.

SB 1596

• Sponsor: Sen. Sims/Rep. Hoffman
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0006
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download SB 1596

Provides that specified Sections limiting recovery do not apply to injuries or death resulting from an occupational disease as to which the recovery of compensation benefits under the Act would be precluded due to the operation of any period of repose or repose provision. As to any such injury or occupational disease, the employee, the employee's heirs, and any person having the standing under law to bring a civil action at law has the nonwaivable right to bring such an action against any employer or employers. The Illinois Chamber opposed and requested a veto.

HB 2233

• Sponsor: Rep. Thapedi/Sen. Mulroe
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0184
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 2233

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure providing that within the discretion of the court, the jury may be asked (rather than required by the court and must be required on the request of any party) to find specially upon any material question or questions of fact submitted to the jury in writing. Any party may request special interrogatories

SB 9

• Sponsor: Sen. Bennett/Rep. Ammons
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0171
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download SB 9

Regulates coal ash and passed both Chambers. It is the product of much improvement, but work remains. Particularly how it will marry impending federal coal ash rules and liability issues for off-site pollution. Without these changes, the risks to job losses and actual environmental harm are real.  A trailer bill may be explored over the summer

HB 1633

• Sponsor: Rep. Hoffman
• Status: Tabled By Sponsor
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HB 1633

Sets stricter penalties for intentionally damaging critical infrastructure facilities. It did not advance in the Senate. While the bill passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 77-28 and was amended significantly to appease environmental groups concerns, it was not considered by the Senate. Significant misinformation was being spread and opponents were arguing against points that no longer applied with the amendment.

HB 3481

• Sponsor: Rep. Gabel/Sen. Ellman
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0373
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 3481

Repeals the Kyoto Protocol Act. The bill will enable state agencies to regulate greenhouse gases. We believe that any attempt to regulate greenhouse gases should be a national approach.

HB 156

• Sponsor: Rep. Flowers
• Status: Re-Referred to Assignments
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 156

Creates the Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act. Requires health insurers to disclose certain rate and spending information concerning prescription drugs and certain prescription drug pricing information to the Department of Public Health

HB 815

• Sponsor: Rep. Morgan
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 815

Would have created the Freedom from Aggressive Insurance Increases Review Act. Creates the independent, quasi-judicial Health Insurance Rate Review Board to ensure insurance rates are reasonable and justified. Sets forth duties and prohibited activities concerning the Board. Sets forth the procedures for appointment to the Board.

HB 2604

• Sponsor: Rep. Crespo
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 2604

Would mandate nursing staff levels for hospitals. This legislation would have added costs and compliance would have resulted in staffing and service reductions in other areas. 

HJR 8 

• Sponsor: Rep. Batinick
• Status: Assigned to Executive Committee
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HJR 8

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to commence a procurement process for a project to provide additional highway capacity along Interstate 55 from Interstate 355 to Interstate 90/Interstate 94 in DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties, and toll the additional capacity pursuant to the authority provided under the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. The resolution, which is needed for the approval of public-private-partnerships, was never called for a vote. The Chamber supports the authorization for the I-55 managed lanes program.

HJR 80

• Sponsor: Rep. Walsh
• Status: Assigned to Transportation Committee
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HJR 80

Authorizes the Illinois Tollway to commence a procurement process for a project to provide additional highway capacity along Interstate 80 from Interstate 55 to the Illinois-Indiana border in Cook and Will Counties and toll the additional capacity. The resolution, which is needed for the Tollway to participate in building and tolling additional capacity was never called for a vote. The resolution was a Chamber initiative.

SB 2134

• Sponsor: Sen. Barickman
• Status: Re-Referred to Assignments
• Position:

  Chamber initiative 

• Attachment: Download SB 2134

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Removes the private right of action from current law. This was a Chamber initiative.

HB 2557

• Sponsor: Rep. Andrade/Sen. Martinez
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0260
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HB 2557

Creates the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act. This bill seeks to regulate employer’s use of artificial intelligent applicant interviews. Employers who utilize this technology would need to disclose the use of this technology to the applicant. In addition, destruction of the videos is contingent upon an applicant's request for destruction within 30 days. The Chamber worked with the sponsor and ended up being supportive of its passage

HB 2785

• Sponsor: Rep. Williams
• Status: Re-Referred to Rules Committee
• Position:

  Opposed 

• Attachment: Download HB 2785

Would have created the Geolocation Privacy Protection Act. This legislation sought to regulate the use of geolocation technology.

HB 2900

• Sponsor: Rep. DeLuca
• Status: Rules Committee
• Position:

  Support 

• Attachment: Download HB 2900

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to allow for the regionalization of the minimum wage tax credit for small businesses.

SB 689

• Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson/Rep. Harris
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0009
• Position:

  SUPPORT

• Attachment: Download SB 689

SB 690

• Sponsor: Sen. Link/Rep. Rita
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0031
• Position:

  SUPPORT

• Attachment: Download SB 690

This bill was the vehicle for the vertical infrastructure plan.  This bill also included several tax provisions including parking excise tax, the Chamber's data center legislation initiative, trade-in cap for cars, cigarette tax increase, and a video gaming tax increase.  This bill also included the "Leveling the Playing Field for Retailers Act."  In addition, this bill also contained the gaming expansion provisions (i.e. new casinos, sports wagering, etc.).  

SB 1515

• Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson/Rep. Manley
• Status: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0585
• Position:

  SUPPORT

• Attachment: Download SB 1515

Effective for tax years ending on or after 12/31/20, provides that, for purposes of being liable for income tax, compensation is paid in this State if some of the individual's service is performed within this State, the individual's service performed within this State is nonincidental to the individual's service performed without this State, and the individual's service is performed within this State for more than 30 working days during the tax year. 

SB 1656

• Sponsor: Sen. Weaver
• Status: Re-referred to Assignments
• Position:

  SUPPORT - Chamber Initiative 

• Attachment: Download SB 1656

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to reinstate and extend the sunset date of the personal property tax replacement income tax investment credit. Section 201(e) authorizes the personal property tax replacement income tax investment credit. This bill provides that the personal property tax replacement income tax credit for investments in qualified property applies for costs incurred on or before December 31, 2023. Currently, the credit expired December 31, 2018.