What happened?

On August 15, 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill (SB) 2487, a measure amending the Illinois Human Rights Act to streamline investigations and strengthen enforcement of civil rights violations.

Overview:

Changes Under SB2487:

1. Fact-Finding Conferences (FFCs) Now Optional: The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) is no longer required to conduct a fact-finding conference for every employment discrimination charge.

• FFCs will only be held if both parties request one in writing within 90 days of the charge being filed and agree to a 120-day extension for investigation.
  • The IDHR retains discretion to hold a conference, but this is expected to be rare due to resource constraints.
  • This change applies to charges filed or pending on or after August 15, 2025.

2. New Civil Penalties for Violations: The Illinois Human Rights Commission (IHRC) may now impose civil penalties to protect the public interest, in addition to existing remedies like backpay or reinstatement.

• Penalties range from up to $16,000 for a first violation, $42,500 for one prior violation in the past five years, and $70,000 for two or more prior violations in the past seven years.
  • Penalties may apply even if the same individual committed violations across different employers.

Source References

• Illinois SB 2487 – HUMAN RIGHTS-IDHR CONFERENCE

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