SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — As 2024 comes to an end this week, WAND News is looking back at the top political stories of the year. Illinois lawmakers addressed a wide variety of issues from union rights to healthcare and protections for renters.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law in July to protect workers from having to hear or read political and religious information unrelated to their jobs. Illinois employers will be banned from threatening, disciplining, firing or retaliating against workers who refuse to attend mandatory workplace meetings that include political, religious or anti-union views.
Democratic leaders said this law will ensure every worker is given dignity and respect.
"When you all go out and fight for your members and get legislation passed and have us thinking every day about what we should be doing to help workers, you're helping every worker in the state of Illinois," Pritzker said. "As people recognize that more and more, they organize and they join a union."
The law will not limit an employer's right to express their belief freely with workers. However, the legislation allows employees to opt out of unwelcome political or religious speech by protecting them from retaliation if they don't participate in these discussions.
Employers could face civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the new law. The Illinois AFL-CIO said this change is critical as captive audience meetings are a direct violation of workers' rights. Employers will be required to post information about the law in a common space for workers within 30 days after the measure takes effect.
State lawmakers also addressed a common issue for renters across the state - landlord retaliation. A new law will ban landlords from terminating leases, increasing rent, limiting services or threatening lawsuits against tenants. It also states that landlords can no longer refuse to renew a lease after a tenant complains about code violations or seeks help from elected leaders.
Democrats argued Illinois must protect families simply seeking proper maintenance of their homes. Yet, GOP leaders believe this change will hurt renters and drive up costs.
"Bills like this force small landlords to sell to the big guys who could care less about a lot of the stuff you're talking about," said Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville). "This is a bad bill that's going to hurt some of the most vulnerable families in our district."
House Bill 4768 passed out of the Senate on a 34-19 vote with two senators voting present. The legislation passed out of the House on a 63-38 vote with one representative voting present.
On the same day Iowa banned most abortions after six weeks, Pritzker signed a plan to require private insurance companies cover abortion care without copays or deductibles. The new law mandates coverage for abortions, pregnancy, postpartum and newborn care. It also calls on insurers to cover services provided by midwifes, doulas and lactation consultants.
"This is not a partisan issue. This is a health issue," said Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago). "It impacts every woman across the state of Illinois. By eliminating the cost-sharing requirements for this care, we can save lives across the board."
Sponsors said they are proud of the $4.4 million budget investment to analyze the state's maternal mortality rate and a $5 million boost for the state's home visiting program to increase birth equity. The new law also increases funding for safety net hospitals and nursing homes. Illinois launched a $1 million diaper distribution program as well.
Most changes included in House Bill 5142 will take effect on January 1, 2026. The Medicaid and doula services will start on January 1, 2025.
Local lawmakers spent most of the 2024 session working on a plan to educate more drivers about vehicles transporting hazardous materials in direct response to the tragic accident in Teutopolis that killed five people and left 11 others injured last year.
A new law will require the Secretary of State to include education on hazardous material placards in the Illinois Rules of the Road book students read during driver education courses.
"It's not to the extent of receiving your hazardous materials license," said Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville). "But, it just allows, in particular, young drivers to recognize the hazards that may be around them on the road."
Davidsmeyer and Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said the hazardous material placard education law is commonsense legislation. They hope all drivers will learn how deadly even minor crashes with vehicles hauling hazardous materials can be.
Senate Bill 3406 passed unanimously out of the Senate and House this spring.
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