NASL member firm Third Reading Consulting Group shares the latest news below:
General Assembly Returns for Bill Filing Deadline
After a two-week break, the Illinois General Assembly returned to Springfield for the second week of the 2024 legislative session. With the bill introduction deadline approaching Friday, February 9, members filed hundreds of bills throughout the week. Many House and Senate committees also held their first meetings of the year. The General Assembly will be off next week and return to Springfield on February 20. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will give his annual State of the State and Budget address on February 21.
Legislators Eye Statewide Elimination of Tipped Minimum Wage
In October 2023, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance (SO 2023-2295) to phase out the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers. This ordinance will increase wages for tipped workers by 8% starting July 1. Tipped worker wages will continue to rise 8% per year until the city’s full minimum wage is reached in 2028.
Four months after the Chicago City Council voted to eliminate the tipped minimum wage, some legislators in the Illinois General Assembly hope to pass legislation eliminating the sub-minimum wage statewide. House Deputy Majority Leader Elisabeth “Lisa” Hernandez (D-Cicero) introduced HB 5345, which would eliminate the tipped sub-minimum wage across the state on January 1, 2025. This proposal comes amid advocacy efforts from groups such as One Fair Wage, a national coalition seeking to end sub-minimum across every state and increase the sustainability of wages and working conditions in the service sector.
Currently, tipped employees have a minimum wage of $8.40 per hour plus tips. Conversely, the state minimum wage currently stands at $14 per hour and is already set to increase to $15 per hour in 2025. Under the proposed legislation, every Illinois employee would earn at least $15 per hour, starting next year, regardless of whether they receive tips. Many tipped workers are restaurant employees, and this bill would create more parity between restaurant workers in Chicago and the rest of the state. Conversely, Chicago wages tend to be higher than other parts of the state across the board, justifying a higher wage for tipped workers. Restaurants and other businesses employing tipped workers outside of Chicago could experience financial hardship from having to pay their employees an additional $6.60 per hour.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
February 9 – House and Senate Bill Introduction Deadline
February 21 – Governor’s Budget and State of the State Address
March 15 – Senate Committee Deadline
March 19 – 2024 Primary Election
April 5 – House Committee Deadline
April 12 – Senate Third Reading Deadline
April 19 – House Third Reading Deadline
May 3 – Opposite Chamber Committee Deadline
May 17 – Opposite Chamber Third Reading Deadline
May 24 – Adjournment
May 25-31 – Contingent Session Days for Budget
November 5 – 2024 General Election