6  ILLINOIS BUSINESS LEADER
6  ILLINOIS BUSINESS LEADER
STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
2026
Since 1919, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce has operated as the 
state’s leading business advocacy organization, representing member 
companies from across every region of Illinois. We are comprised of, and 
guided by, employers of every size, sector, and industry that call the Land of Lincoln home. 
Today, Illinois businesses benefit greatly from the State’s tremendous 
assets: Illinois’ place as a national transportation hub, a strong talent 
pipeline, a world-class higher education system, and a growing center 
of tech development and innovation. However, too often we hear from 
businesses about the rising costs of goods and services, lingering impacts of inflation, 
workforce shortages, and burdensome mandates. 
WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
n HB 5080 (Canty)/SB 3420 (Cervantes) 
 
SUPPORT employers investing in their Illinois workforce by modernizing the 
 
State’s employer-provided childcare tax credit and leveraging recently expanded 
 
federal tax changes that support additional childcare opportunities for Illinois workers. 
n HB 5195 & HB 5194 (Walsh)/SB 3664 & SB 3665 (Belt) 
 
SUPPORT  a comprehensive and holistic approach to energy policy in Illinois that elevates the 
voices of industry by creating a first-of-its kind Illinois Future of Energy Affordability, Reliability, 
and Economic Impact Commission to navigate major energy challenges and tax policy changes 
which incentivize the retention of existing energy workforces that may be impacted by looming 
retirements under the State’s long-term energy goals. 
n HB 4945 (Mason)/SB 3492 (Preston) 
 
SUPPORT innovative workforce guidance at the K-12 level that considers the needs of employers 
both today and in the future and prepares students for new and emerging technologies, such as AI 
and quantum, shaping the workforce of the future.
n HB 5180 (Gill)/SB 3768 (Villivalam) 
 
SUPPORT comprehensive business licensing and permitting reform that embraces technology, 
transparency and quality customer service in the state’s internal and interagency processes.
n HB 5392 (Avelar)/SB 3843 (Joyce) 
 
SUPPORT common sense reforms to sales tax policy regimes that are unfairly impacting the 
innovation economy and creating instances of double-taxation.
n HB 5128 (Ugaste)/SB 3622 (Lewis) 
 
SUPPORT reasonable modifications to the State’s Paid Leave for All Workers Act that creates 
additional flexibility to key industries and small businesses.
n HB 2838 (Ugaste)/SB 3122 (Balkema) 
 
SUPPORT  continued efforts to reform the State’s Biometric Information Protection Act (BIPA) law 
that continues to stifle innovation, creates overly burdensome regulations on certain industries, 
and has led to growing litigation exposure. 
CHAMBER’S 2026 
LEGISLATIVE 
AGENDA
FOCUS

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