Collins Bills to Crack Down on Lead Poisoning, Cut Property Tax Red Tape, Protect Workers Rights, All Signed Into Law

CHICAGO – On Friday, state Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, had numerous bills signed into law by Gov. Pritzker, including measures to crack down on lead poisoning, cut red tape surrounding property taxes for property held by the Cook County Land Bank Authority and secure workers’ rights to time off and meal breaks.

“Today, I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish for my community and for the people of Illinois,” Collins said. “These new laws are going to do substantial good in several different areas. To begin, the toxic effects of led contamination are clear and we must ensure that all mitigation needs are met. IDPH and local health authorities have a duty to Illinoisans to clear out harmful lead contamination, and we now have a law that guarantees those steps are taken.”

House Bill 4369 ramps up efforts to prevent future lead poisoning by creating requirements for the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments to ensure necessary work has been done and safety precautions followed after lead mitigation notices. The bill received robust bipartisan support in the House and Senate before being signed into law by Gov. Pritzker.

“We are also taking steps forward on property tax reform by streamlining the process for exempting properties health by Cook County for future development from property taxes,” Collins said. “Cutting red tape in our tax processes will save taxpayers money, increase government transparency and create more efficient governance. We have seen delays as high as a year before exemptions for these properties are approved, and it’s avoidable.”

House Bill 5532 exempts property held by the Cook County Land Bank Authority from property taxes and provides that local governments are not required to pay fees when mailing tax sale notices. This is designed to get rid of unnecessary wait times in the property tax exemption process in Cook County, as well as lower operating costs for local governments. HB 5532 was backed by the Cook County Land Bank Authority and Office of the Cook County President. It received strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker.

“Finally, I am taking steps to ensure that Illinois workers get the rest and time off they deserve,” Collins said. “It’s time to get rid of outdated and inconsistent enforcement practices and set firm guidelines to prevent people from being overworked. People—often low-income workers—are being forced to work more than seven days straight, or go long hours without sufficient meal breaks. This law will set that straight.”

Senate Bill 3146 creates a penalty structure for employers who violate the ‘One Day Rest in Seven Act’, as well as changes the definition of a calendar week to any consecutive seven days. It further requires meal breaks for any employees who work in excess of 7.5 hours. The penalty structure is two-tiered, with more limited financial penalties for small businesses. This measure was backed by the Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Nurses Association, the Illinois Department of Labor and others.