Rep. Rashid-Led Bill to Protect Workers From Unchecked AI Decision-Making Passes Committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview) passed House Bill 4980 out of committee Thursday to protect Illinois workers from the growing harms caused by AI systems that make high-stakes decisions about people’s lives without accountability.

HB 4980, the Meaningful Human Control of Artificial Intelligence Act, would require transparency, bias auditing, and meaningful human oversight for automated decision-making systems (ADS) used by government agencies in employment decisions.

“Without this bill, many workers could be at the mercy of artificial intelligence to evaluate performance, determine disciplinary actions, and decide who gets hired or fired–without any notice or recourse,” said Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid. “When these systems get it wrong, and they often get it wrong, workers could lose their jobs and public services would be worse for Illinois families. We can’t wait to take action; AI can’t be allowed to operate in the dark when people’s rights and livelihoods are on the line.”

“Workers deserve to know when AI is being used to make decisions about their jobs, and they deserve a seat at the table when it is. HB 4980 establishes exactly that: transparency, human oversight, and enforceable bargaining rights,” said Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “This is smart, responsible legislation that guarantees a human being, not a black box, is responsible for decisions that affect people’s livelihoods.”

“This is the moment for Illinois lawmakers to lead the way in creating guardrails for the careful use of AI,” said Roberta Lynch, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, the largest union of state workers. “This bill is a strong first step toward preventing the misuse of AI in the public sector by ensuring that Automated Decision-Making Systems are fair, accurate, and always subject to human oversight.”

What HB4980 Does

HB 4980 establishes much-needed oversight and transparency to automated decision-making systems (ADS) in the public sector, protects jobs and workplace rights by:

• Requiring meaningful human control over any ADS that affects benefits, employment, civil liberties, safety, or legally protected rights of public sector workers.

• Protecting workers and collective bargaining rights by requiring negotiation before proceeding or deploying ADS, prohibiting job loss, displacement, or transfer of duties to ADS; and allowing employees and unions access to employee data collected by such systems.

• Requiring ceasing use of an AI function if an assessment finds bias or inaccuracies until remedied.

• Providing enforcement mechanisms, including oversight and penalties enforced by the Department of Labor; anti-retaliation protection for employees who refuse to follow incorrect or discriminatory AI outputs.

• Banning certain uses outright, including use of automated systems in hiring, firing, discipline, promotion, performance evaluation, or other employment conditions in the public sector.