Fabio
177 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
177 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
type: "Bill"
|
||
title: "WHISTLEBLOWER ACT"
|
||
description: "Amends the Whistleblower Act. Changes the definitions of \"employer\" and \"employee\". Defines \"adverse employment action\", \"public body\", \"retaliatory action\", and \"supervisor\". Provides that an employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee who discloses or threatens to disclose information about an activity, policy, or practice of the employer that the employee has a good faith belief that such activity, policy, or practice violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Includes additional relief, damages, and penalties for violation of the Act. Allows the Attorney General to initiate or intervene in a civil action to obtain appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or entity is engaged in a practice prohibited by the Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims arising or complaints filed on or after January 1, 2025. Effective January 1, 2025."
|
||
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
|
||
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
|
||
session: "103rd"
|
||
identifier: "HB 5561"
|
||
citation: "Illinois HB 5561 (103rd)"
|
||
classification: ["bill"]
|
||
subjects: []
|
||
status: "enacted"
|
||
primary_sponsors: ["Cristina Castro", "Marcus C. Evans, Jr."]
|
||
version_count: 5
|
||
action_count: 84
|
||
vote_count: 5
|
||
first_action: "2024-02-09"
|
||
last_action: "2024-08-09"
|
||
source: "openstates"
|
||
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/cd8bdb74-1d60-4b48-ad27-cc2bfdcf4bf6"
|
||
source_url: "https://beta.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5561&GAID=17&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=153931&SessionID=112"
|
||
source_hash: "925f455c835673fc6316c0fdef87df7b615234746d1065bbea355c83413e413d"
|
||
vintage: "2026-07-01"
|
||
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
|
||
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
|
||
confidence: "reported"
|
||
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
# Illinois HB 5561 (103rd) — WHISTLEBLOWER ACT
|
||
|
||
Amends the Whistleblower Act. Changes the definitions of "employer" and "employee". Defines "adverse employment action", "public body", "retaliatory action", and "supervisor". Provides that an employer may not take retaliatory action against an employee who discloses or threatens to disclose information about an activity, policy, or practice of the employer that the employee has a good faith belief that such activity, policy, or practice violates a State or federal law, rule, or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Includes additional relief, damages, and penalties for violation of the Act. Allows the Attorney General to initiate or intervene in a civil action to obtain appropriate relief if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or entity is engaged in a practice prohibited by the Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims arising or complaints filed on or after January 1, 2025. Effective January 1, 2025.
|
||
|
||
## Version chain
|
||
|
||
The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.
|
||
|
||
1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](https://beta.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB5561.pdf)
|
||
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](https://beta.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB5561eng.pdf)
|
||
3. **House Amendment 001** (committee substitute) — [source](https://beta.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB5561ham001.pdf)
|
||
4. **House Amendment 002** (committee substitute) — [source](https://beta.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB5561ham002.pdf)
|
||
5. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](https://beta.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB5561enr.pdf)
|
||
|
||
## Votes
|
||
|
||
- Third Reading — **71–38** (pass) · lower
|
||
- Executive — **11–2** (pass) · lower
|
||
- Third Reading, Amendment 1 — **9–5** (pass) · lower
|
||
- Third Reading — **44–15** (pass) · lower
|
||
- Third Reading — **10–4** (pass) · lower
|
||
|
||
## Sponsors
|
||
|
||
- Cristina Castro — primary (person)
|
||
- Marcus C. Evans, Jr. — primary (person)
|
||
- Abdelnasser Rashid — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Adriane Johnson — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Barbara Hernández — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Camille Y. Lilly — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Curtis J. Tarver, II — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Daniel Didech — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Emil Jones, III — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Hoan Huynh — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Javier L. Cervantes — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Julie A. Morrison — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Laura Faver Dias — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Laura M. Murphy — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Linda Holmes — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Mary Beth Canty — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Mary Edly-Allen — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Maura Hirschauer — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Meg Loughran Cappel — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Mike Porfirio — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Mike Simmons — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Nabeela Syed — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Omar Aquino — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Stephanie A. Kifowit — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Terra Costa Howard — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Theresa Mah — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Will Guzzardi — cosponsor (person)
|
||
- Yolonda Morris — cosponsor (person)
|
||
|
||
## Timeline
|
||
|
||
The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.
|
||
|
||
- **2024-02-09** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. `filing`
|
||
- **2024-02-09** First Reading `reading-1`
|
||
- **2024-02-09** Referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-03-05** Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee `referral-committee`
|
||
- **2024-03-12** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
|
||
- **2024-03-12** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
|
||
- **2024-03-12** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard
|
||
- **2024-03-12** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech
|
||
- **2024-03-13** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
|
||
- **2024-03-13** Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 010-004-000
|
||
- **2024-03-13** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-03-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
|
||
- **2024-03-20** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
|
||
- **2024-04-05** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. `amendment-introduction`
|
||
- **2024-04-05** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-10** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernández
|
||
- **2024-04-15** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-16** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 009-005-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
|
||
- **2024-04-16** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. `amendment-introduction`
|
||
- **2024-04-16** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-17** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
|
||
- **2024-04-17** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
|
||
- **2024-04-17** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-04-17** Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-04-19** Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-19** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-19** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
|
||
- **2024-04-30** Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000
|
||
- **2024-04-30** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-04-30** Third Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024
|
||
- **2024-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted `amendment-passage`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted `amendment-passage`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 071-038-000 `passage, reading-3`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
|
||
- **2024-05-14** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
|
||
- **2024-05-15** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
|
||
- **2024-05-15** First Reading `reading-1`
|
||
- **2024-05-15** Referred to Assignments
|
||
- **2024-05-16** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
|
||
- **2024-05-17** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
|
||
- **2024-05-17** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
|
||
- **2024-05-20** Assigned to Executive `referral-committee`
|
||
- **2024-05-20** Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 24, 2024
|
||
- **2024-05-21** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Waive Posting Notice
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Do Pass Executive; 011-002-000
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 22, 2024 `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Second Reading `reading-2`
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 23, 2024
|
||
- **2024-05-22** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
|
||
- **2024-05-23** Third Reading - Passed; 044-015-000 `passage, reading-3`
|
||
- **2024-05-23** Passed Both Houses
|
||
- **2024-05-24** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
|
||
- **2024-05-24** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
|
||
- **2024-05-24** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
|
||
- **2024-05-25** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III
|
||
- **2024-05-26** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
|
||
- **2024-06-21** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
|
||
- **2024-08-09** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
|
||
- **2024-08-09** Effective Date January 1, 2025
|
||
- **2024-08-09** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0867 `became-law`
|
||
|
||
## Source
|
||
|
||
OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/cd8bdb74-1d60-4b48-ad27-cc2bfdcf4bf6`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).
|
||
|