Illinois 102nd Regular Session Status: In Committee 13 R cosponsors

HB 4239 — COVID-19 RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION

Last action — Session Sine Die

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 102nd Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Creates the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of such person's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief. Requires all health care facilities to adopt written access to care and information protocols that are designed to ensure that belief-based objections do not cause impairment of patients' health and that explain how belief-based objections will be addressed in a timely manner to facilitate patient care. Provides that it is unlawful for any public or private employer, entity, agency, institution, official, or person to deny admission because of, to place any reference in its application form concerning, to orally question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any applicant, in terms of employment, admission to or participation in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on account of the applicant's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination that is against the applicant's beliefs. Provides that it is unlawful for any public official, guardian, agency, institution, or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or to condition the reception in any way of any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify, or discriminate against any person, otherwise entitled to such aid, assistance, or benefits, because that person refuses to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the person's belief. Allows any person injured by any public or private person, association, agency, entity, or corporation by reason of any action prohibited by the Act to bring an action. Provides that a person who brings an action shall recover threefold the actual damages, the costs of the action, and reasonable attorney's fees, but in no case shall recovery for each violation be less than $2,500 plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Session Sine Die

  2. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  3. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mark Luft

  4. Assigned to Executive Committee

  5. Referred to Rules Committee

  6. First Reading

  7. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Grant

  8. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tom Weber

  9. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Windhorst

  10. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste

  11. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Severin

  12. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Morrison

  13. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Randy E. Frese

  14. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Andrew S. Chesney

  15. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. David Friess

  16. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs

  17. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Blaine Wilhour

  18. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Caulkins

  19. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brad Halbrook

  20. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller

  21. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joe Sosnowski

  22. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Adam Niemerg

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 16 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (16)

Not signed on (166)

166 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 166 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4239 do?
Creates the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of such person's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief. Requires all health care facilities to adopt written access to care and information protocols that are designed to ensure that belief-based objections do not cause impairment of patients' health and that explain how belief-based objections will be addressed in a timely manner to facilitate patient care. Provides that it is unlawful for any public or private employer, entity, agency, institution, official, or person to deny admission because of, to place any reference in its application form concerning, to orally question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any applicant, in terms of employment, admission to or participation in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on account of the applicant's refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination that is against the applicant's beliefs. Provides that it is unlawful for any public official, guardian, agency, institution, or entity to deny any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or to condition the reception in any way of any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce, disqualify, or discriminate against any person, otherwise entitled to such aid, assistance, or benefits, because that person refuses to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the person's belief. Allows any person injured by any public or private person, association, agency, entity, or corporation by reason of any action prohibited by the Act to bring an action. Provides that a person who brings an action shall recover threefold the actual damages, the costs of the action, and reasonable attorney's fees, but in no case shall recovery for each violation be less than $2,500 plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney's fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Who sponsors HB 4239?
HB 4239 is sponsored by Adam M. Niemerg (Republican), Joe C. Sosnowski (Republican), Chris Miller (Republican), Brad Halbrook (Republican), Dan Caulkins, Blaine Wilhour (Republican), Paul Jacobs (Republican), David Friess (Republican), Andrew S. Chesney (Republican), Randy E. Frese, Thomas Morrison, Dave Severin (Republican), Daniel J. Ugaste (Republican), Patrick Windhorst (Republican), Tom Weber (Republican), Amy L. Grant (Republican), and Mark Luft.
What is the current status of HB 4239?
This bill died with 102nd Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 4239?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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