104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4981
 
Introduced , by Rep. Mary Gill
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 605/605-1119 new
    Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish an office to serve as a single point of contact for the purpose of guiding businesses through the various registrations required by Illinois law and any unit of local government. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall prepare a report on the various registration or licensing requirements for small business and provide the report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Effective immediately.


LRB104 19708 HLH 33157 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB4981LRB104 19708 HLH 33157 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic 
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois 
6is amended by adding Section 605-1119 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 605/605-1119 new)
8    Sec. 605-1119. Supporting small business creation.
9    (a) Small businesses are the lifeblood of Illinois' 
10economy, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the 
11businesses created in Illinois since 2020 have fewer than 20 
12employees. Those businesses have created more than 172,000 
13jobs. However, various State and local laws impose 
14requirements on new businesses that can create difficulties 
15for those businesses. This is particularly true for businesses 
16with little to no capital or those located in areas with 
17limited legal resources. In Illinois, new small businesses are 
18often required to register or provide information to multiple 
19State agencies, including, but not limited to, the Secretary 
20of State, the Department of Revenue, the Department of 
21Employment Security, the Department of Labor, the Department 
22of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Environmental 
23Protection Agency, and the Department of Financial and 
 
 
HB4981- 2 -LRB104 19708 HLH 33157 b

1Professional Regulation. Additionally, counties and some 
2municipalities have established their own regulatory 
3requirements. Each registration requires an additional fee. 
4Navigating these registration requirements often requires 
5legal assistance. It is the intent of the General Assembly to 
6ensure that small businesses have an opportunity to thrive and 
7help grow the State's economy without the burden of 
8overregulation. 
9    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall 
10establish an office within the Department to serve as a single 
11point of contact for the purpose of guiding businesses through 
12the various registrations required by Illinois law and any 
13unit of local government. This includes, but is not limited 
14to, registrations required by the Secretary of State, the 
15Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor, the Department 
16of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Environmental 
17Protection Agency, and the Department of Financial and 
18Professional Regulation. 
19    (c) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 
20shall prepare a report on the various registration or 
21licensing requirements for small business and provide the 
22report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 
2331, 2026. 
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
25becoming law.