Lake County Gazette

Joyce Mason introduced HB3277 in the Illinois House on Feb. 6, 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 Employee Credit Privacy Act. Provides that an employer shall not order or obtain an applicant's social security number, except for the purpose of conducting a background check of the applicant at the time the background check is completed. Provides that the provision does not prohibit an employer from obtaining an employee's social security number after the employee has been hired."

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

In essence, this bill amends the Employee Credit Privacy Act, stipulating that employers in Illinois are prohibited from obtaining an applicant's social security number unless it is necessary for conducting a background check, and only at the time the check is completed. However, employers are permitted to obtain an employee's social security number after the employee has been hired. The bill continues to prohibit employers from inquiring about an applicant's or employee's credit history or obtaining a credit report unless a satisfactory credit history is a bona fide occupational requirement. Specific scenarios, such as roles requiring bonding, positions with access to significant financial assets, or roles involving confidential information, are exceptions where credit checks may be considered necessary. The bill underscores privacy protections while allowing for exceptions in specific occupational situations.

Joyce Mason has proposed another nine bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Manson graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1991 with a BA.

Joyce Manson is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 61st House District. She replaced previous state representative Sheri Jesiel 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
HB3277	02/06/2025	Amends the Employee Credit Privacy Act. Provides that an employer shall not order or obtain an applicant's social security number, except for the purpose of conducting a background check of the applicant at the time the background check is completed. Provides that the provision does not prohibit an employer from obtaining an employee's social security number after the employee has been hired.
HB3278	02/06/2025	Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules establishing effluent limitations for wastewater, spills, and runoff associated with the production, transport, and packaging of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic materials. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to grant the Agency emergency rulemaking powers. Effective immediately.
HB3284	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a municipality or unit of local government may erect and maintain a specialized traffic control device at an intersection where an emergency response vehicle enters the roadway or within 1,000 feet from a structure where such vehicles are stored. Allows the specialized traffic control device to be controlled by the emergency response unit or fire station as the emergency response vehicle enters or exits traffic.
HB2552	02/04/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rates for all dental services for children shall be increased 50% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2553	02/04/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of sexual misconduct with a student. Provides that a person commits sexual misconduct with a student when he or she is or was an employee of a school and commits sexual misconduct with a student who, at the time the employee was employed by the school, attended the school. Provides that the consent of the student is not a defense to a prosecution under this provision. Provides that a student is deemed incapable of consent, for purposes of this provision, when he or she is a student who attended the school while the employee was employed at the school. Provides that it is not a defense to a violation of this provision that the student was of the age to give consent to sexual penetration or sexual conduct in circumstances not involving a violation of this provision. Provides that a person convicted of violating this provision shall immediately forfeit his or her employment with a school and may not subsequently be employed at a school. Provides that a violation is a Class 3 felony. Provides exemptions. Defines "school" as a public or private elementary or secondary school or a school that operates grades kindergarten through 12. Defines "sexual misconduct" as any act, including, but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, by an employee or agent of the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school with direct contact with a student that is directed toward or with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Defines other terms.
HB2554	02/04/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the rates paid for children's dental comprehensive oral exams, periodic oral exams, problem focused exams, behavior management codes, sealants, resin-based composites-posterior teeth, and extraction and surgical extraction codes shall be increased by 33% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2627	02/04/2025	Creates the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act. Requires a person who breeds, possesses, or intends to breed or possess mink for certain purposes to obtain a license from the Department of Public Health. Lists requirements for a license application and license, including weekly and other testing for SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A subtype H5N1, and other pathogens. Requires each mink facility to pay to the Department an annual fee of $1,000. Creates the Mink Facility Fund. Describes the responsibilities of the Department. Sets out provisions concerning the euthanasia of mink. Provides that a licensee who violates any provision of the Act or any rules adopted under the Act shall be subject to revocation of license and confiscation of all mink at the mink facility. Provides for enforcement by the Attorney General or by the Department subject to rulemaking by the Department. Grants rulemaking powers to the Department. Provides that the Department shall maintain a publicly available list of potentially harmful viruses for testing. Makes findings. Defines terms. Makes corresponding changes to the State Finance Act.
HB2411	01/31/2025	Creates the Tiny Homes Act. Prohibits a person, firm, or corporation from establishing, maintaining, or operating a tiny home park without a license from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Sets forth application and permit requirements. Provides that an annual license fee shall be $500, plus an additional $50 for each tiny home site in the tiny home park. Allows the Authority to revoke or suspend a license granted under the Act. Prohibits a person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity from constructing a tiny home park without first obtaining a permit to do so. Describes requirements concerning the maintenance and operation of a tiny home park, including: provisions requiring management of the tiny home park by a responsible individual; drainage and water supply requirements; setback requirements and limits on tiny home size; requirements concerning the provision of safe and sanitary water, sewage disposal service, garbage service, insect and rodent control services, and fire extinguishers; requirements concerning construction of auxiliary rooms; requirements concerning street maintenance; requirements concerning sanitary, electrical, and safety appliances; requirements concerning electrical outlets; and requirements concerning fire safety. Requires the Authority to maintain records of all tiny home parks. Allows counties or municipalities to provide for licensing of tiny homes within their corporate limits in a manner consistent with the Act. Preempts home rule powers. Allows the Authority to enforce the Act. Requires the Authority to inspect each tiny home park at least once a year. Allows the Authority to adopt rules to carry out the Act. Allows the Authority to assess civil penalties for violations of fire safety provisions in the amount of $500 per day. Sets forth hearing procedures for any person who is refused a permit to construct or license to operate a tiny home park or for any person who has had a permit to construct or a license to operate a tiny home park revoked or suspended.
HB2418	01/31/2025	Creates the Commission on Youth Sports Act. Creates the Commission on Youth Sports. Provides that the purpose of the Commission is to research, study, and make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Human Services concerning the following: (1) the creation of equitable, safe, and sustainable access for youth across the State to participate in sports that meet their skills and match their interests; (2) expanding integration of positive youth development in youth sports; and (3) and the promotion, development, expansion, hosting, and fostering of youth sports, youth sports programs, and youth sporting events and tournaments throughout the State. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Provides for membership; terms; meetings; and expenses. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report of its findings, research, and recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Human Services on or before December 31, 2025, and each year thereafter. Effective immediately.
HB1850	01/28/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1802	01/27/2025	Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 of the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public service company that is a member of a Regional Transmission Organization shall submit a report to the Illinois Commerce Commission on or before February 1 of each year of any recorded vote cast by the public service company during the immediately preceding calendar year. Provides that a public service company that is a member of a Regional Transmission Organization shall include in the report any recorded vote cast by an affiliate at a meeting of a Regional Transmission Organization during the immediately preceding calendar year. Provides that the report shall include: (i) all recorded votes cast by the public service company, regardless of whether the vote is otherwise disclosed; (ii) all votes cast by an affiliate of the public service company, if the public service company did not vote on the matter; and (iii) a brief description explaining how each vote cast by the public service company or its affiliate, as appropriate, is in the interest of the public.
HB1707	01/24/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides gas collection and control system requirements for municipal solid waste landfills, including requirements for gas to be collected from each area in which solid waste has been in place for at least one year, for gas to be drawn toward the gas control devices, for a gas collection and control system to be installed within 12 months of reaching certain thresholds, for gas collection and control design plans to provide for alternative preliminary measures, and for the methane destruction efficiency of flared systems to reach 99%.