Lake County Gazette

Bob Morgan introduced HB2925 in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Whistleblower Act. Prohibits retaliation by an employer or third party related to a past, current, or future activity that the employee has a good-faith belief violates a municipal, county, State, or federal law, rule, or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to employees, public health, or safety. Changes the damages an employee may receive for violations of the Act to include compensatory damages."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Whistleblower Act to prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who disclose or threaten to disclose information about activities, policies, or practices they believe, in good faith, violate laws or pose significant risks to safety and health. It also protects employees who refuse participation in such activities due to similar beliefs. Retaliatory actions include firing, demotion, or other forms of employment discrimination. The bill expands potential damages for wrongful retaliation to include compensatory damages, alongside existing remedies such as reinstatement, back pay, liquidated damages up to $10,000, and additional costs. This bill takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Bob Morgan has proposed another 14 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Morgan graduated from the University of Illinois in 2002 with a BA and again in 2005 from Northern Illinois University with a JD.

Bob Morgan is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 58th House District. He replaced previous state representative Scott Drury in 2019.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB2925	02/05/2025	Amends the Whistleblower Act. Prohibits retaliation by an employer or third party related to a past, current, or future activity that the employee has a good-faith belief violates a municipal, county, State, or federal law, rule, or regulation or poses a substantial and specific danger to employees, public health, or safety. Changes the damages an employee may receive for violations of the Act to include compensatory damages.
HB2922	02/05/2025	Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Adds infection preventionists, minimum data set assessment nurses, other social workers, certified nursing assistant interns, and medication aides to the list of direct care staff used to compute staff to resident ratios. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, 100% of the hours worked by the specified staff shall be counted toward the staff to resident ratio. Provides that no monetary penalties shall be imposed unless the variance between a facility's minimum staffing ratios and the Department of Public Health's computations exceeds 20%. Removes a provision prohibiting waiver of a monetary penalty for non-compliance. In provisions concerning reporting requirements for facilities that violate the minimum staffing requirements, provides that the facility must have a variance that exceeds 20% of the requirements. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB2923	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. In provisions requiring a law enforcement agency to report misconduct committed by the agency's police officers, provides that the chief administrator of the law enforcement agency may be brought before the Certification Review Panel if the law enforcement agency fails to comply with the provisions. Provides that, upon a recommendation of the Panel, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board may suspend the chief administrator's law enforcement certification for a period of no less than 30 days. Allows the Board to bring a discretionary decertification action against the chief administrator for a second or subsequent violation of the provisions. Effective immediately.
HB2924	02/05/2025	Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that the articles of incorporation of any corporation (currently, any corporation incorporated after December 31, 1981) may limit or eliminate cumulative voting rights in all or specified circumstances, or may limit or deny voting rights or may provide special voting rights as to any class or classes or series of shares of such corporation.
HB2926	02/05/2025	Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that all cannabis products purchased by a qualifying patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver from a licensed dispensing organization shall be lawful products (rather than all medical cannabis products purchased by a qualifying patient at a licensed dispensing organization shall be lawful products and a distinction shall be made between medical and non-medical uses, with other requirements). Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Changes and adds definitions. Makes changes to provisions regarding operational requirements and prohibitions. Provides that a dispensing organization shall not sell cannabis or cannabis-infused products to a purchaser unless the purchaser has been verified to be 21 years of age or older, or the person is verified to be a registered qualified patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver (removing requirements referencing the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program). Removes prohibitions for a dispensing organization to operate drive-through windows. Provides an exception to the prohibition for a dispensing organization to transport cannabis for delivery. In provisions regarding an inventory control system, adds that all dispensing organizations shall maintain internal, confidential records of all deliveries to any registered qualified patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver, with certain requirements. In provisions regarding dispensing cannabis, adds a requirement that the agent verify the qualifying patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver registration card, if applicable. Provides that a dispensing organization may offer pickup or drive-through for cannabis or cannabis-infused products to purchasers over 21 years of age and certain patients and caregivers. Provides that a dispensing organization may offer delivery for cannabis or cannabis-infused products to certain patients and caregivers. Adds requirements to provisions regarding security for a dispensing organization. Adds provisions permitting delivery by dispensing organizations to the residence of a qualifying patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver, with certain requirements.
HB1804	01/27/2025	Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Specifies that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall not award grants from the IEMA State Projects Fund to those entities whose primary purpose is to provide reproductive health care services (rather than medical or mental health services). Effective immediately.
HB1805	01/27/2025	Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Changes the repeal date of the Illinois Dental Practice Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Adds a definition for "email address of record". Provides that all applicants and licensees shall provide a valid address and email address to the Department upon application for licensure or renewal of a license and inform the Department of any change in the applicant or licensee's address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change. Adds Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to provisions concerning information that an applicant must include in an application to the Department. Adds concealment in the application for a license under the Act to causes that allow the Department to take action on a license. Provides that the Department may subpoena the dental records of individual patients of dentists and dental hygienists under the Act, upon a determination that reasonable cause exists, without patient consent. Removes provision that states that exhibits in a judicial review proceeding shall be certified without cost. Adds a definition of "agent of a dentist" to provisions concerning third-party financing for dental services. Makes conforming and other changes. Provides that the changes to the Regulatory Sunset Act are effective immediately.
HB1806	01/27/2025	Creates the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act. Defines terms. Provides that an individual, corporation, or entity may not provide, advertise, or otherwise offer therapy or psychotherapy services to the public in the State unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are conducted by an individual who is a licensed professional. Provides that a licensed professional may use an artificial intelligence system only to the extent the use of the artificial intelligence system meets the definition of permitted use of artificial intelligence systems. Provides that a licensed professional may not use an artificial intelligence system in therapy or psychotherapy services to make independent therapeutic decisions, directly interact with clients in any form of therapeutic communication, or generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without the review and approval by a licensed professional. Provides that any individual, corporation, or entity found in violation of the Act shall pay a civil penalty to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation, as determined by the Department, with penalties assessed based on the degree of harm and the circumstances of the violation. Provides that the civil penalty shall be assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in accordance with the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Requires that an individual, corporation, or entity found in violation of the Act shall pay the civil penalty within 60 days after the date of an order by the Department imposing the civil penalty. Provides that the Department shall have authority to investigate any actual, alleged, or suspected violations of the Act. Effective immediately.
HB1365	01/14/2025	Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act, and the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. Allows an applicant for licensure under those Acts to temporarily practice under supervision while the applicant's application for licensure is pending under specified circumstances. Removes good moral character standards as qualification requirements for the licensing of social workers and music therapists. Creates procedures for placing a license on inactive status for social workers and professional counselors. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation must allow reasonable exam accommodations for licensed marriage and family therapists and clinical psychologists whose primary language is not English if a test in the therapist's or psychologist's primary language is not available.
HB0033	01/09/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act concerning the Firearm Transfer Inquiry Program. Provides that the Illinois State Police may charge a fee not to exceed $10 and any processing fee. Provides that the processing fees shall be limited to charges by the State Treasurer for using the electronic online payment system. Provides that $4 from each fee collected under this provision shall be deposited into the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund. Currently, the Illinois State Police may use existing technology which allows the caller to be charged a fee not to exceed $2.
HB0034	01/09/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that any person who carries or possesses a firearm while present in a polling place, except a peace officer in the performance of his or her official duties, shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
HB0035	01/09/2025	Creates the Artificial Intelligence Systems Use in Health Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance's regulatory oversight of insurers includes oversight of an insurer's use of AI systems to make or support adverse determinations that affect consumers. Provides that any insurer authorized to operate in the State is subject to review by the Department in an investigation or market conduct action regarding the development, implementation, and use of AI systems or predictive models and the outcomes from the use of those AI systems or predictive models. Provides that an insurer authorized to do business in Illinois shall not issue an adverse consumer outcome with regard to the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that result solely from the use or application of any AI system or predictive model. Provides that any decision-making process for the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that results from the use of AI systems or predictive models shall be meaningfully reviewed, in accordance with review procedures determined by Department rules, by an individual with authority to override the AI systems and determinations. Authorizes the Department to adopt emergency rules to implement the Act and to adopt rules concerning standards for full and fair disclosure of an insurer's use of AI systems. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
HB0039	01/09/2025	Amends the Time Standardization Act. Provides that daylight saving time shall be the year-round standard time of the entire State. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
HB0040	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve training programs in crimes motivated by bias. Includes requirements for the training programs. Requires the training for new law enforcement officers and allows continuing education credits for current law enforcement officers who complete the training.
HB0043	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Creates the Task Force on Firearm Insurance to review current and potential future insurance policy offerings for the safe and legal possession of firearms and to offer policymaking recommendations related to the use of that insurance. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall provide administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of specified members. Provides that the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership. Provides that appointments shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of findings, recommendations, and other information to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.
HB0062	01/09/2025	Creates the Junk Fee Ban Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to: (1) offer, display, or advertise an amount a consumer may pay for merchandise without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; (2) fail, in any offer, display, or advertisement that contains an amount a consumer may pay, to display the total price more prominently than any other pricing information; (3) misrepresent the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; (4) fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously before the consumer consents to pay, the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay that is excluded from the total price, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; or (5) offer, display, or advertise, including through direct offerings, third-party distribution, or metasearch referrals, a total price for a place of short-term lodging that does not include all required fees. Requires total price disclosures for retail mercantile establishments and food service establishments; and the disclosure of delivery fees. Provides for limitations of the Act. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce violations of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Preempts home rule.