summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that in the Articles governing employment, financial credit, and public accommodations it is a civil rights violation to use criteria or methods including practices, policies, and groups of practices or policies that has the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination prohibited under the Act. Changes the definition of "unlawful discrimination" to mean discrimination against a person, whether by purpose or effect, because of his or her actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, reproductive health decisions, or unfavorable discharge from military service as those terms are defined in the Act.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the Civil Rights Safeguard Act, amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to expand protections against discrimination. It clarifies that "unlawful discrimination" now includes actions that have the *effect* of discriminating, not just those done with discriminatory intent, based on a broad list of protected characteristics including race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and reproductive health decisions. Crucially, the bill introduces the concept of "criteria or methods" which refers to practices, policies, or groups of policies that may result in discrimination. It establishes that using such criteria or methods is a civil rights violation in employment (Article 2), financial credit (Article 4), and public accommodations (Article 5) if they are not necessary to achieve a substantial, legitimate, and non-discriminatory interest, or if that interest could be met by an alternative practice with less discriminatory impact. This change aims to prevent discriminatory outcomes even if the practices themselves are not intentionally discriminatory.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin (on 02/25/2026)
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