HB5071 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

TOLL HWY AUTH-BILINGUAL PAY
Last Action
4/09/2026 - House: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-029-000
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
605 ILCS 10/8  from Ch. 121, par. 100-8
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has the power to establish a special pay supplement for those positions of employment that require that a person employed in that position speak or write a language other than English. Provides that such paid positions may be eligible for a bilingual pay supplement to attract bilingual individuals, to encourage present employees to become proficient in languages other than English, or to retain qualified bilingual employees. Provides that a bilingual pay supplement shall be processed within 30 calendar days after the employee presents to the Authority a certification from either the designated testing program process selected by the Authority or a State community college confirming that language skill proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking has been satisfied by the employee.

House Floor Amendment No. 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes. Provides that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shall submit, on or before December 31 of each year, to the General Assembly and the Governor a report on the bilingual pay supplements processed within the last calendar year and the needs of bilingual positions left unfilled in the last calendar year.
Fiscal Note (Illinois Tollway Authority)
It is estimated that the bilingual pay supplement would result in an annual increase in direct expenditures of $5,948 (5-year cost estimate: $31,579 (assuming 3% annual inflation but no other changes). This amount would be paid from the Tollway’s operating budget. There is no foreseen long-range fiscal effect beyond this recurring expense. The reporting requirement is expected to be absorbed into the agency's existing operational budget; no new staff, funds, or other resources would be required for reporting compliance. Stipend amounts, eligibility, and duration would be subject to union negotiations.
Actions
DateChamberAction
2/04/2026HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
2/10/2026HouseFirst Reading
2/10/2026HouseReferred to Rules Committee
2/24/2026HouseAssigned to Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges
3/03/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
3/03/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
3/18/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges
3/24/2026HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges; 013-005-000
3/24/2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
3/25/2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
3/25/2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
3/25/2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
3/26/2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges
3/26/2026HouseFiscal Note Requested by Rep. Dagmara Avelar
3/31/2026HouseFiscal Note Filed
4/07/2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges; 011-006-000
4/08/2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
4/08/2026HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
4/08/2026HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
4/09/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz
4/09/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
4/09/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
4/09/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
4/09/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
4/09/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
4/09/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
4/09/2026HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson
4/09/2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
4/09/2026HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-029-000