HB2973
View on ILGAIPLRA-PUB DEF
What this bill does
Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Defines "public sector attorney" as any of the following attorneys who are not managerial employees: Assistant State's Attorneys, Assistant Public Defenders, Assistant Appellate Defenders, Assistant Appellate Prosecutors, and attorneys in the office of the Cook County Public Guardian. Provides that public sector attorneys may not strike. Provides that, if there is an impasse between a unit of public sector attorneys and a public employer, the parties shall submit the dispute to interest arbitration. Effective December 1, 2026.
→ Law
P(Advance)
Chance it ever
reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
Chance it becomes
law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
Low
P(law) at intro —
sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 68%
Calculating prediction drivers...
Pipeline Progress
Current stage: Crossed Chambers · Last action 360 days ago
How does a bill become law in Illinois?
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Introduction of Bill
A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.
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Committee Work — Hearings
The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.
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Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report
The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.
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Floor Debate
The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.
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Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber
If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.
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Gubernatorial Action
The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.
Sponsor Context
Kam Buckner
Moderate Influence (#62)
Bridges legislative blocs (high betweenness)
Bills sponsored by Kam Buckner advance 2% more often than the chamber average.
Public Engagement
10 witness slips filed
6 proponents / 4 opponents
6 organizations
Witness slips
10 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.
| Name | Organization | Representing | Position | Hearing committee | Hearing date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasquale Gianni | Teamsters Joint Council 25 | Teamsters Joint Council 25 | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Sean Stott | Laborers' International Union - Midwest Region | Laborers' International Union - Midwest Region | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Joanna Webb-Gauvin | AFSCME Council 31 | AFSCME Council 31 | Opponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Justin Mahwikizi | American Institute Of Action | Opponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 | |
| Michael Zalewski | Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP | Illinois State's Attorney Association | Opponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Anthony McGee | Teamsters Local 700 | Teamsters Local 700 | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Joanna Webb-Gauvin | AFSCME Council 31 | AFSCME Council 31 | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Pasquale Gianni | Teamsters Joint Council 25 | Teamsters Joint Council 25 | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-03-12 |
| Joanna Webb-Gauvin | AFSCME Council 31 | AFSCME Council 31 | Proponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-04-09 |
| Michael Zalewski | Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP | Illinois State's Attorney Association | Opponent | Labor & Commerce | 2025-04-09 |
Roll-call votes
Total votes and outcome per event. Deciding vote = margin of 1; those voters on the winning side could have changed the outcome by flipping.
| Date | Chamber | Type | Description | Yea | Nay | Present | NV | Outcome | Margin | Deciding voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Committee | Labor & Commerce | 16 | 9 | 0 | 4 | Passed | 7 | — | |
| H | Floor | Third Reading | 78 | 33 | 0 | 7 | Passed | 45 | — |
Action History
25 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-14 — Referred toAssignments. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.
2025-02-06
Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-02-06
Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-02-06
Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-03-04
Committee Assignment
Assigned toLabor & Commerce Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-03-07
Amendment Actions
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-03-07
Amendment Actions
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred toRules Committee
[Amendment] Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-03-11
Amendment Actions
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers toLabor & Commerce Committee
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-03-12
Amendment Actions
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted inLabor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-03-12
Committee Action
Positive
Do Pass as Amended / Short DebateLabor & Commerce Committee; 016-009-000 Rule 3-11(a)(1), Rule 3-12(a)
Committee recommends passage. The most important positive gate — majority of bills never get here.
2025-03-13
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill placed on the Second Reading calendar. Positive — bill is queued for floor action.
2025-03-26
Floor Process
Positive
Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1)
Bill reaches the floor amendment stage on Short Debate calendar. Major milestone — bill has passed committee and is on the floor.
2025-03-26
Floor Process
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill was ready for Second Reading but was paused/held by the sponsor. Usually indicates the sponsor is still negotiating amendments or gathering votes. NOT a negative signal — the sponsor controls the pace.
2025-04-07
Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-07
Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred toRules Committee
[Amendment] Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-04-07
Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers toLabor & Commerce Committee
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-09
Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be AdoptedLabor & Commerce Committee; 016-004-000
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-10
Co-Sponsorship
Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Tracy Katz Muhl Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10
Amendment Actions
Positive
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
[Amendment] Bill or resolution adopted by the chamber.
2025-04-10
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8)
Bill placed on the Third Reading calendar — queued for final vote.
2025-04-10
Floor Vote
Positive
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed078-033-000 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50
Bill PASSED on Short Debate Third Reading. Bill cleared the chamber.
2025-04-14
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
House bill arrives in the Senate after passing the House.
2025-04-14
Procedural
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54
Bill queued for First Reading in the second chamber.
2025-04-14
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Chief Senate SponsorSen. Celina Villanueva Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
Senate sponsor assigned for a House bill.
2025-04-14
Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-04-14
Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
All actions (table)
| Date | Chamber | Action | Category | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-06 | House | Filed with the Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner House Rule 6(b) | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-06 | House | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-06 | House | Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-03-04 | House | Assigned toLabor & Commerce Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-03-07 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-07 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred toRules Committee | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-11 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers toLabor & Commerce Committee | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-12 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted inLabor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-12 | House | Do Pass as Amended / Short DebateLabor & Commerce Committee; 016-009-000 Rule 3-11(a)(1), Rule 3-12(a) | Committee Action | Positive |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-03-26 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-03-26 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 | Floor Process | — |
| 2025-04-07 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk byRep. Kam Buckner | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-07 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred toRules Committee | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-07 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers toLabor & Commerce Committee | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-09 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be AdoptedLabor & Commerce Committee; 016-004-000 | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Added Co-SponsorRep. Tracy Katz Muhl Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) | Co-Sponsorship | Mild + |
| 2025-04-10 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted | Amendment Actions | Positive |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed078-033-000 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50 | Floor Vote | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54 | Procedural | — |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Chief Senate SponsorSen. Celina Villanueva Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |