Legislation News
Legislation
Did IL just try again to ban E-Verify? New law could leave employers facing hard choices, big challenges
The new law could leave Illinois employers facing a choice between abiding by competing state and federal immigrant employment laws and requirements, and leave Illinois facing another day in court defending a law which could stand in defiance to federal laws governing immigrant work eligibility
Legislation
Lawsuit: New IL law tramples business owners' First Amendment speech rights
A new federal lawsuit claims the union-backed so-called "Worker Freedom of Speech Act," which bans so-called "captive meetings" in workplaces, only actually restricts employers' free speech and leaves them exposed to lawsuits and fines for exercising their constitutional rights
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Legislation
IL lawmakers OK bill to limit risk of financial ruin for businesses targeted by biometrics class actions
The Illinois House has passed legislation to reform the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The legislation would specify that the law's costly damages demands should be applied per person, not per fingerprint or other biometric scan. Biz groups say the reforms are welcome, but more are needed
Legislation
IL lawmakers advance law to limit 'annihilative' payouts faced by business under biometrics law
The Illinois State Senate approved SB2979, which would explicitly limit the amount of money trial lawyers and plaintiffs can demand businesses pay under the Biometric Information Privacy Act. The law has spawned thousands of lawsuits generating hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fees
Legislation
Sen. Curran: Judge's ruling declaring forum law unconstitutional should be 'caution sign' to Pritzker on 'government overreach' suppressing citizens' rights
With spring recess coming to a close and the General Assembly’s legislative session picking up steam, Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said Gov. J.B. Pritzker should take note after a Madison County judge declared his forum law unconstitutional as applied to plaintiffs residing or injured outside of his preferred jurisdictions.
Legislation
Judge blocks big piece of IL Dems' temp worker regulation law
A Chicago federal judge ruled that major changes to Illinois' law regulating temp workers and day laborers can't take effect because they are preempted by federal law
Legislation
'A hostile place:' Employers in Chicago and beyond face sweeping lawsuit risk under Chicago PTO rules
'Progressive' supporters cheered passage of the ordinance, which guarantees all workers 10 paid days off every year. Business groups said it will expose any employer, anywhere, who sends workers into Chicago to potential risk of lawsuits if they don't comply with the ordinance
Legislation
List of weapons regulated by Protect Illinois Communities Act; Registration required by Jan. 1
The registry for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s weapons ban opened on Oct. 1; and, unless the Constitutional challenges are successful, all newly regulated firearms must be registered by Jan. 1.
Legislation
New IL anti-doxing law could be used by 'powerful' to silence critics with lawsuits, threats
Supporters say a new Illinois law is needed to give people the recourse to go after those who might 'dox' them, or publish their private info online with the intent to make them a target of hate, threats and harassment. Critics say it goes far beyond that
Legislation
New IL law opens employers, others to risk of massive punitive damages in wrongful death cases; Law could face challenges
HB219, signed by Pritzker, is another controversial state law that appears to have been enacted while ignoring by Democratic state lawmakers who ignored constitutional rules governing how laws must be approved
Legislation
IL lawmakers OK law to force Illinoisans who wish to challenge state laws, official actions to only file suit in Chicago or Springfield
The law would restrict lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of state laws and actions by Gov. JB Pritzker and other state officers to courts in Cook County and Sangamon County. It could yet, in turn, also be challenged as unconstitutional, critics say
Legislation
IL lawmakers poised to expand ability of personal injury plaintiffs to demand bigger paydays in wrongful death suits
Legislation backed by Illinois' powerful trial lawyers has moved rapidly to approval in Springfield. The new law would allow plaintiffs to demand punishing punitive damages from most private companies in personal injury lawsuits alleging wrongful death, while exempting governments and other favored entities from the same risk
Legislation
Federal suit challenging ‘assault weapons’ ban filed in Southern District; Suit: Banned guns do not meet ‘dangerous’ or ‘unusual’ threshold
A St. Clair County veteran joined a group of nonprofit organizations and two gun stores in their legal battle against state and local officials for having the authority to enact House Bill 5471, which bans “assault weapons” and “high capacity” magazines.
Legislation
Illinois gun ban bill advances, poised to pass before end of lame-duck
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with a proposed ban on future sales of certain semi-automatic guns and magazines with more than 12 rounds.
Legislation
'Truth in Politics' bill would criminalize 'false' political advertising; Plummer calls it an assault on free speech
A bill that criminalizes "libel and defamation" in Illinois political advertising has State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) calling the proposal an attack on the right to free speech.
Legislation
Fourth District Appellate Court affirms Cadagin's dismissal of judicial subcircuit challenge
The Fourth District Appellate Court affirmed Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin’s order dismissing a lawsuit challenging the controversial judicial subcircuit law, finding that the Illinois Constitution does not prohibit the legislature from eliminating countywide judicial elections.
Legislation
IL legislation would OK 'predatory lending practices' in third-party lawsuit funding, boost costs for all, biz groups warn
SB1099, the so-called Consumer Legal Funding Act, would produce even more lawsuits, that take longer to settle, while allowing lawsuit investors to charge 18% interest rates, assessed every 6 months, to people borrowing money to fund lawsuits, business groups say
Legislation
Lawsuit lenders say biz opposition to regulation law 'disingenuous' effort to block lawsuit lending in IL
A trade association representing lawsuit lenders in Illinois says business groups' push for greater transparency and disclosure rules for lawsuit lending would unfairly harm plaintiffs
Legislation
Constitutional challenge may thwart new law banning out of state and anonymous contributions to judicial candidates
A new Illinois law prohibiting judicial candidates from accepting out-of-state and so-called "dark money" anonymous contributions is being called unconstitutional by a First Amendment advocacy group.
Legislation
'Why risk it?' Steep hikes in penalties under new IL law could prompt employers to reevaluate policies, perks
New legislation would increase penalties Illinois employers face in certain employment lawsuits by 150%