# Illinois SB1979: SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Illinois SB1979, SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Willie Preston (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-03-05 (Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1979-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB1979
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-06
- Last action: 2025-03-05, Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
- Sponsor: Willie Preston (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: assignments
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Department of Employment Security Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Employment Security shall create a self-employment assistance program to provide benefits to individuals who are working to start a business in the State and who are otherwise eligible to receive benefits under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that a participant in the program shall be deemed to be actively engaged in seeking work as required under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that benefits paid to a participant in the program are considered to be benefits paid under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Employment Security shall adopt rules to implement and administer the program.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Willie Preston (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Adriane L. Johnson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bill Cunningham (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Laura Fine (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mattie Hunter (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (7)

- 2025-03-05: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham (Senate)
- 2025-02-24: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane L. Johnson (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: First Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Filed with Secretary by Sen. Willie Preston (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1979.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1979.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1979-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).