Prairie State Wire

Prior to adjourning, the Illinois General Assembly passed several bills that may affect the business community. These legislative changes cover a range of topics, from wage mandates to employee leave policies.

One of the bills, HB 1189 sponsored by Belt, amends the Prevailing Wage Act. It applies Illinois' prevailing-wage mandates and processes to state and local projects funded or partially funded by the federal government when federal requirements are equal to or less than state requirements.

HB 1278, introduced by Didech, amends the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act. This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who use employer-issued equipment to record incidents of domestic violence or other crimes against themselves or their family members. Employers must provide access to any related recordings or documents.

Syed's HB 1616 expands the Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act to include part-time employees who donate organs. The act is applicable to employers with 51 or more employees and requires approval for leave usage.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Act is established under HB 1697 by Manley. It enforces transparency provisions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), bans patient steering and spread pricing, and creates a grant program for qualifying pharmacies.

Johnson's HB 2488 modifies the Prevailing Wage Act for training programs, defining "prevailing wage" as including "full journeyman annualized fringe benefits."

Faver Dias introduced HB 2978, which creates the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act. It mandates unpaid leave for employees with children in neonatal intensive care units based on employer size.

HB 2987 by Stuart requires warehouse operators to develop tornado safety plans under the Warehouse Tornado Preparedness Act. These plans must be updated annually and filed with local fire departments.

Mah's HB 3094 amends the Transportation Benefits Program Act by exempting union contractors and extending it to part-time employees.

Hoffman's HB 3200 initiates a three-year pilot program under the Unemployment Insurance Act for individuals leaving employment due to mental-health disabilities certified by psychiatrists. It also allows recovery of fraudulently received funds through liens.

Williams' HB 3638 expands labor-law coverage under the Workplace Transparency Act, allowing employees to recover consequential damages for violations.

SB 212, sponsored by Fine, revises break rules for nursing mothers under the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, prohibiting employers from requiring paid leave usage during these breaks.

Porfirio's SB 220 amends the Family Military Leave Act, providing up to eight hours of paid leave per month for military funeral honors detail participation for eligible employees at larger companies.

Halpin's SB 1344 extends prevailing-wage mandates to sewer inspections using closed-circuit television without construction work involved and adds penalty provisions.

Peters' SB 1441 limits Secure Choice Savings Programs to IRA accounts and gives employers up to 120 days for new employee enrollment unless they opt out.

SB 1976 by Peters introduces two acts: Workers’ Rights and Worker Safety Act and Safe and Healthy Workplace Act. These require state agencies to adopt rescinded federal workplace regulations at a state level while allowing civil lawsuits against employers from interested parties.

Halpin's SB 2164 removes a requirement in the Wage Payment and Collection Act that necessitated court petitions for enforcement of administrative decisions.

Lastly, Johnson’s SB 2487 imposes civil penalties on businesses violating provisions of the Human Rights Act as a measure "to vindicate public interest."