Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2597 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2597 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act 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. LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2597 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act 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. LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2597 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	New Act New Act
4	4	New Act
5	5	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.
6	6	LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
7	7	LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
8	8	A BILL FOR
9	9	HB2597LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
10	10	HB2597 LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
11	11	1 AN ACT concerning civil law.
12	12	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
13	13	3 represented in the General Assembly:
14	14	4 Section 1. Short title; references to Act.
15	15	5 (a) Short title. This Act may be cited as the COVID-19
16	16	6 Religious Exemption Act.
17	17	7 (b) References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the
18	18	8 Freedom Act.
19	19	9 Section 5. Findings and policy. The General Assembly finds
20	20	10 and declares that individuals, not government officials, have
21	21	11 the right to make their own health care decisions and that they
22	22	12 hold different beliefs about whether a COVID-19 vaccination is
23	23	13 in their own best interests. It is the public policy of the
24	24	14 State to respect and protect the right of all individuals to
25	25	15 refuse to act contrary to their beliefs on their own behalf or
26	26	16 the behalf of a minor or ward in their care to obtain, receive,
27	27	17 or accept a COVID-19 vaccination, and to prohibit all forms of
28	28	18 discrimination, disqualification, coercion, disability, or
29	29	19 imposition of liability upon such individuals for refusing on
30	30	20 their own behalf or on the behalf of a minor or ward in their
31	31	21 care to act contrary to their beliefs in refusing to obtain,
32	32	22 receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination. It is also the
33	33	23 public policy of the State to ensure that individuals receive
34	34
35	35
36	36
37	37	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2597 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
38	38	New Act New Act
39	39	New Act
40	40	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.
41	41	LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
42	42	LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
43	43	A BILL FOR
44	44
45	45
46	46
47	47
48	48
49	49	New Act
50	50
51	51
52	52
53	53	LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
54	54
55	55
56	56
57	57
58	58
59	59
60	60
61	61
62	62
63	63	HB2597 LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
64	64
65	65
66	66	HB2597- 2 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 2 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
67	67	HB2597 - 2 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
68	68	1 timely access to information and medically appropriate care.
69	69	2 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
70	70	3 "Belief" means a sincerely held conviction based on an
71	71	4 individual's religious faith, morals, or views on health care.
72	72	5 "COVID-19 vaccination" means any vaccine intended to
73	73	6 provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory
74	74	7 syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes
75	75	8 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or any of its subsequent
76	76	9 variants.
77	77	10 "Health care facility" means any public or private
78	78	11 hospital, clinic, center, medical school, medical training
79	79	12 institution, laboratory or diagnostic facility, physician's
80	80	13 office, infirmary, dispensary, ambulatory surgical treatment
81	81	14 center, or other institution or location wherein COVID-19
82	82	15 vaccinations are provided to any person, including physician
83	83	16 organizations and associations, networks, joint ventures, and
84	84	17 all other combinations of those organizations.
85	85	18 "Health care personnel" means any nurse, nurses' aide,
86	86	19 medical school student, professional, paraprofessional, or
87	87	20 other person who furnishes or assists in furnishing a COVID-19
88	88	21 vaccination.
89	89	22 "Physician" means any person who is licensed by the State
90	90	23 under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.
91	91	24 "Undue delay" means unreasonable delay that causes
92	92	25 impairment of the patient's health.
93	93
94	94
95	95
96	96
97	97
98	98	HB2597 - 2 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
99	99
100	100
101	101	HB2597- 3 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 3 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
102	102	HB2597 - 3 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
103	103	1 The above definitions include not only the traditional
104	104	2 combinations and forms of these persons and organizations but
105	105	3 also all new and emerging forms and combinations of these
106	106	4 persons and organizations.
107	107	5 Section 15. Discrimination. It is unlawful for any person,
108	108	6 public or private institution, or public official to
109	109	7 discriminate against any person in any manner, including, but
110	110	8 not limited to, in relation to licensing, hiring, firing,
111	111	9 promotion, transfer, appointment, or any other rights or
112	112	10 privileges, because of the person's refusal, on the person's
113	113	11 own behalf or on the behalf of a minor or ward in the person's
114	114	12 care, to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination
115	115	13 contrary to the person's belief.
116	116	14 Section 20. Duty of physicians and other health care
117	117	15 personnel. Nothing in this Act shall relieve a physician from
118	118	16 any duty, which may exist under any law concerning current
119	119	17 standards of medical practice or care, to inform a patient of
120	120	18 the patient's condition, prognosis, legal treatment options,
121	121	19 and risks and benefits of treatment options. Nothing in this
122	122	20 Act shall be construed to relieve a physician or other health
123	123	21 care personnel from obligations under the law of providing
124	124	22 emergency medical care.
125	125	23 Section 25. Access to care and information protocols. All
126	126
127	127
128	128
129	129
130	130
131	131	HB2597 - 3 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
132	132
133	133
134	134	HB2597- 4 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 4 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
135	135	HB2597 - 4 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
136	136	1 health care facilities shall adopt written access to care and
137	137	2 information protocols that are designed to ensure that
138	138	3 belief-based objections do not cause impairment of patients'
139	139	4 health and that explain how belief-based objections will be
140	140	5 addressed in a timely manner to facilitate patient care. These
141	141	6 protocols shall, at a minimum, address the following:
142	142	7 (1) The health care facility, physician, or health
143	143	8 care personnel shall inform a patient of the patient's
144	144	9 condition, prognosis, legal treatment options, and risks
145	145	10 and benefits of the treatment options in a timely manner,
146	146	11 consistent with current standards of medical practice or
147	147	12 care.
148	148	13 (2) If requested by the patient or the legal
149	149	14 representative of the patient, the health care facility,
150	150	15 physician, or health care personnel shall (i) refer the
151	151	16 patient to, (ii) transfer the patient to, or (iii) provide
152	152	17 in writing information to the patient about other health
153	153	18 care providers who they reasonably believe may refrain
154	154	19 from requiring a COVID-19 vaccination in accordance with
155	155	20 the beliefs of the patient or legal representative of the
156	156	21 patient.
157	157	22 (3) If requested by the patient or the legal
158	158	23 representative of the patient, the health care facility,
159	159	24 physician, or health care personnel shall provide copies
160	160	25 of medical records to the patient or to another health
161	161	26 care professional or health care facility designated by
162	162
163	163
164	164
165	165
166	166
167	167	HB2597 - 4 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
168	168
169	169
170	170	HB2597- 5 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 5 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
171	171	HB2597 - 5 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
172	172	1 the patient in accordance with State law, without undue
173	173	2 delay.
174	174	3 Section 30. Permissible acts related to access to care and
175	175	4 information protocols. Nothing in this Act shall be construed
176	176	5 to prevent a health care facility from requiring that
177	177	6 physicians or health care personnel working in the facility
178	178	7 comply with access to care and information protocols that
179	179	8 comply with the provisions of this Act.
180	180	9 Section 35. Discrimination by employers or institutions.
181	181	10 It is unlawful for any public or private employer, entity,
182	182	11 agency, institution, official, or person, including, but not
183	183	12 limited to, a medical, nursing, or other medical training
184	184	13 institution, to deny admission because of, to place any
185	185	14 reference in its application form concerning, to orally
186	186	15 question about, to impose any burdens in terms or conditions
187	187	16 of employment on, or to otherwise discriminate against, any
188	188	17 applicant, in terms of employment, admission, or participation
189	189	18 in any programs for which the applicant is eligible, or to
190	190	19 discriminate in relation thereto, in any other manner, on
191	191	20 account of the applicant's refusal, on the applicant's own
192	192	21 behalf or on the behalf of a minor or ward in the applicant's
193	193	22 care, to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination
194	194	23 that is against the applicant's beliefs.
195	195
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199
200	200	HB2597 - 5 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
201	201
202	202
203	203	HB2597- 6 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 6 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
204	204	HB2597 - 6 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
205	205	1 Section 40. Denial of aid or benefits. It is unlawful for
206	206	2 any public official, guardian, agency, institution, or entity
207	207	3 to deny any form of aid, assistance, or benefits, or to
208	208	4 condition the reception in any way of any form of aid,
209	209	5 assistance, or benefits, or in any other manner to coerce,
210	210	6 disqualify, or discriminate against any person otherwise
211	211	7 entitled to such aid, assistance, or benefits, because that
212	212	8 person refuses, on the person's behalf or on the behalf of a
213	213	9 minor or ward in the person's care, to obtain, receive, or
214	214	10 accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the person's belief.
215	215	11 Section 45. Actions; damages. Any person injured by any
216	216	12 public or private person, association, agency, entity, or
217	217	13 corporation by reason of any action prohibited by this Act may
218	218	14 commence an action therefor, and shall recover threefold the
219	219	15 actual damages, including pain and suffering, sustained by the
220	220	16 person, the costs of the action, and reasonable attorney's
221	221	17 fees, but in no case shall recovery for each violation be less
222	222	18 than $2,500 plus costs of the action and reasonable attorney's
223	223	19 fees. These damage remedies shall be cumulative and not
224	224	20 exclusive of other remedies afforded under any other State or
225	225	21 federal law.
226	226	22 Section 50. Other Acts. This Act supersedes all other Acts
227	227	23 or parts of Acts to the extent that any Act or parts of an Act
228	228	24 is inconsistent with the terms or operation of this Act.
229	229
230	230
231	231
232	232
233	233
234	234	HB2597 - 6 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
235	235
236	236
237	237	HB2597- 7 -LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b HB2597 - 7 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
238	238	HB2597 - 7 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b
239	239
240	240
241	241
242	242
243	243
244	244	HB2597 - 7 - LRB104 10337 JRC 20411 b