HB5461 - 104th General Assembly

WAGES-TERMINATION PAYMENTS
Last Action
4/10/2026 - House: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
House Sponsors
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
820 ILCS 115/9.1 new
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Provides that it is unlawful to include in any employment contract, or to require an employee to execute as a condition of employment or a work relationship, a contract that: (1) requires the employee to pay an employer, training provider, or debt collector for a debt if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated; (2) authorizes the employer, training provider, or debt collector to resume or initiate collection of or to end forbearance on a debt if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated; (3) imposes any penalty, fee, or cost on an employee if the employee's employment or work relationship with a specific employer is terminated. Provides that the provision applies to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a contract entered into in violation of the provision is void and unenforceable. Sets forth exceptions. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
820 ILCS 115/9.1 new
Adds reference to:
820 ILCS 90/13 new
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Moves the provisions to the Illinois Freedom to Work Act. Provides that any payments made or wages or other payments deducted or otherwise withheld in violation of the provisions may be recovered as unpaid wages under the Wage Payment and Collection Act. Exempts from the provisions contracts with an apprenticeship program registered with the Office of Apprenticeship within the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.
Actions
Date Chamber Action
2/06/2026 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
2/13/2026 House First Reading
2/13/2026 House Referred to Rules Committee
3/04/2026 House Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee
3/19/2026 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
3/19/2026 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
3/20/2026 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee
3/25/2026 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Labor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote
3/25/2026 House Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Labor & Commerce Committee; 018-010-000
3/26/2026 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
4/10/2026 House Second Reading - Short Debate
4/10/2026 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate