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IllinoisHB2978104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE LEAVE

Sponsored By: Laura Faver Dias (Democratic)

Became Law

labor & commerceassignmentsexecutive

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Job and health coverage during NICU leave

When your NICU leave ends, you get your old job or a similar one back. You keep the benefits you had and your health insurance stays in place. Your employer cannot make you find a replacement worker. It is illegal to punish you for using or helping others use these rights, including filing a complaint or testifying.

Deadlines and penalties for NICU leave

You must file a complaint with the Labor Department or sue within 60 days of the last violation. Employers who break the law can be fined up to $5,000 per affected employee. One long NICU stay with ongoing violations counts as one violation. The Illinois Department of Labor runs and enforces the law. It can make rules, investigate, issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and supervise payments to workers. The Attorney General can sue to collect civil penalties. Employers who lose may have to pay costs. Twenty percent of collected penalties goes into a state fund to support enforcement.

Unpaid NICU leave for parents

If your baby is in a neonatal intensive care unit, you can take unpaid leave. Employers with 16–50 workers must allow up to 10 days; 51 or more, up to 20 days. You may take the time all at once or in blocks of at least 2 hours. This leave comes after and in addition to any FMLA leave. You may choose to use your paid leave, but your employer cannot force you. The law covers State employees. “Child” includes biological, adopted, foster, step, a ward, or a child you act as a parent to.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Abdelnasser Rashid

    Democratic • House

  • Anna Moeller

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Bill Cunningham

    Democratic • Senate

  • Camille Y. Lilly

    Democratic • House

  • Dagmara Avelar

    Democratic • House

  • Diane Blair-Sherlock

    Democratic • House

  • Edgar González, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Hoan Huynh

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Sanalitro

    Republican • House

  • Julie A. Morrison

    Democratic • Senate

  • Justin Slaughter

    Democratic • House

  • Kelly M. Cassidy

    Democratic • House

  • Kevin John Olickal

    Democratic • House

  • Kimberly Du Buclet

    Democratic • House

  • Martha Deuter

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Beth Canty

    Democratic • House

  • Maura Hirschauer

    Democratic • House

  • Maurice A. West, II

    Democratic • House

  • Meg Loughran Cappel

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nabeela Syed

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole La Ha

    Republican • House

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Sonya M. Harper

    Democratic • House

  • Sue Scherer

    Democratic • House

  • Will Guzzardi

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 9

Senate vote • 6/1/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 55 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/15/2025

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 91 • No: 7

House vote • 3/12/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Labor & Commerce Committee;

Yes: 21 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0259

    8/15/2025House

  2. Effective Date June 1, 2026

    8/15/2025House

  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/24/2025House

  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

    6/4/2025Senate

  6. Passed Both Houses

    6/1/2025House

  7. Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000

    6/1/2025Senate

  8. 3/5 Vote Required

    6/1/2025Senate

  9. Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025

    5/23/2025Senate

  10. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison

    5/21/2025Senate

  11. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2025

    5/15/2025Senate

  12. Second Reading

    5/15/2025Senate

  13. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading

    5/15/2025Senate

  14. Do Pass Executive; 013-000-000

    5/15/2025Senate

  15. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025

    5/9/2025Senate

  16. Assigned to Executive

    4/23/2025Senate

  17. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh

    4/22/2025House

  18. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

    4/10/2025House

  19. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer

    4/10/2025House

  20. Referred to Assignments

    4/8/2025Senate

  21. First Reading

    4/8/2025Senate

  22. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham

    4/8/2025Senate

  23. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

    4/8/2025Senate

  24. Arrive in Senate

    4/8/2025Senate

  25. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller

    4/7/2025House

Bill Text

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