Illinois · House Bill 1353 · 104th General Assembly

VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY WORKERS

  1. Introduced Jan 14, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 28, 2025
  3. Passed the House Apr 17, 2026
  4. Passed the Senate May 19, 2026
  5. To the governor Jun 18, 2026
  6. Became law Jul 24, 2026

What it does

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

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that employment protections for volunteer emergency workers apply to volunteer emergency workers participating in required training, including a prohibition on termination and penalizing (rather than only termination). Provides that the employer may not require the employee to take vacation time or other compensatory time in order to respond to an…

Read the full title (92 words)

Amends the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job Protection Act. Provides that employment protections for volunteer emergency workers apply to volunteer emergency workers participating in required training, including a prohibition on termination and penalizing (rather than only termination). Provides that the employer may not require the employee to take vacation time or other compensatory time in order to respond to an emergency or participate in training. Provides that the Act does not apply to any employer that is a municipality with a population of 15,000 or more (currently 7,500 or more). Makes conforming changes.

Every action

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

Show the 61 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Brandun Schweizer
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
  5. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
  6. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt
  7. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal
  8. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. William E Hauter
  9. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson
  10. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
  11. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
  12. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy L. Grant
  13. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Travis Weaver
  14. CommitteeAssigned to Police & Fire Committee · House Police & Fire Committee
  15. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dennis Tipsword
  16. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jeff Keicher
  17. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer
  18. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joe C. Sosnowski
  19. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan
  20. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs
  21. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis
  22. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Martin McLaughlin
  23. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller
  24. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Brad Halbrook
  25. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Blaine Wilhour
  26. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill
  27. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
  28. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
  29. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella
  30. CommitteeDo Pass / Short Debate Police & Fire Committee; 014-000-000 · House Police & Fire Committee
  31. HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
  32. HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
  33. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Cochran
  34. HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  35. HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Anthony DeLuca
  36. CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  37. CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Police & Fire Committee · House Police & Fire Committee
  38. HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  39. HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  40. HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  41. HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 102-000-000
  42. HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled
  43. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
  44. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
  45. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste
  46. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Swanson
  47. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier
  48. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Severin
  49. HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Windhorst
  50. SenateArrive in Senate
  51. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading April 28, 2026
  52. SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. John F. Curran
  53. SenateFirst Reading
  54. CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  55. CommitteeAssigned to Labor · Senate Labor
  56. SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci
  57. SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills
  58. CommitteeDo Pass Labor; 017-000-000 · Senate Labor
  59. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
  60. SenateSecond Reading
  61. SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
  1. SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
  2. SenateThird Reading - Passed; 058-000-000
  3. HousePassed Both Houses
  4. SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner
  5. HouseSent to the Governor
  6. HouseGovernor Approved
  7. HouseEffective Date January 1, 2027
  8. HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0581

Roll calls

4 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 2 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Third Reading · Full House

Passed 102–0
Apr 17, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 102 No 0 Not voting 16
Democrats: 69 yes, 0 no Republicans: 33 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 102

Not voting · 2

Excused · 14

Third Reading · Full Senate

Passed 58–0
May 19, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 58 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 40 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 58

Not voting · 1

Committee and other votes

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 37 cosponsors: 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats.

All 37 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.