Illinois · Senate Bill 3509 · 103rd General Assembly

WHISTLEBLOWER ACT

SB 3509 Sponsored by Cristina Castro Died in committee

  1. Introduced Feb 9, 2024
  2. In committee Feb 9, 2024
  3. Died  
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

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…

Read the full title (160 words)

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.

Every action

22 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 14 earlier steps
  1. SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Cristina Castro
  2. SenateFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Executive · Senate Executive
  5. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler
  6. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
  7. SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
  8. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings
  9. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine
  10. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
  11. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin
  12. SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt
  13. SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
  14. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
  1. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Ann Gillespie
  2. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva
  3. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
  4. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris, III
  5. CommitteeRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  6. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam
  7. SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino
  8. SenateSession Sine Die

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 16 cosponsors: 16 Democrats.

All 16 cosponsors

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.