IllinoisLaw protects emergency workers’ support records starting January 1, 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, covered emergency workers and families receive privacy protections for stress-support conversations and records, with exceptions allowing certain disclosures.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, covered workers' and families' support records receive privacy protections. Exceptions include justified subpoenas, imminent serious danger, required abuse reports, consent, and using services to aid crime.
Starting January 1, 2027, first responders' peer-support privacy protections apply across agencies. Exceptions remain for justified subpoenas, imminent serious danger, required abuse reports, consent, and using services to aid crime.
Argument forPrivacy protections could help first responders speak openly about stress, including when they seek peer support outside their own agency.
Argument againstKeeping support-session records out of court could limit evidence available to people pursuing legal claims, though communications remain subject to justified subpoenas.
More detail
The law protects covered support conversations and records from forced disclosure and use as evidence, with exceptions. First responders qualify through critical-incident stress support or wellness services. Civilian police, fire, and emergency medical employees and both groups' immediate families qualify through wellness services. Family includes dating partners and housemates. Protection applies only during covered services. A court can require communications through a subpoena, a legal demand for information, when good cause is shown. Exceptions cover intent to cause imminent death or serious injury and legally required abuse reports limited to necessary information. Participants may consent to disclosure. After death, their surviving spouse or estate representative may consent. Protection does not cover using services to aid a crime or fraud the participant knew, or reasonably should have known, about. Otherwise available evidence remains available from its original source. These provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
The law applies peer-support privacy protections even when the advisor and first responder belong to different agencies. This rule covers first responders receiving peer support from advisors employed by, or affiliated with, another agency. Communications remain subject to subpoenas for good cause and exceptions for imminent serious danger, required abuse reports, consent, and using services to aid crime or fraud. Required abuse disclosures must be limited to information needed for the report. A surviving spouse or estate representative may consent after the participant dies. The cross-agency provision takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 31Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0681Latest
- Jul 31Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Jul 31Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 18Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 20Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20Passed Both Houses
- May 20Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000Passed Senate
- May 14Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
- May 14Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss
- May 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 6Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Do Pass Judiciary; 008-000-000
- Apr 28Assigned to JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 28Referred to Assignments
- Apr 28First ReadingMinor
- Apr 28Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. John F. Curran
- Apr 21Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 28, 2026Minor
- Apr 21Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Cochran
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill
- Apr 16Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
- Apr 16Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 112-000-000Passed House
- Apr 16Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 16House Floor Amendment No. 2 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 8House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 020-000-000Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
- Apr 7Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 7Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 1House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 1House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael J. KellyMinor
- Mar 25Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 020-000-000
- Mar 25House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee; by Voice VoteMajor
- Mar 24Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan
- Mar 23Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman
- Mar 20House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
- Mar 19House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 19House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael J. KellyMinor
- Mar 18Assigned to Judiciary - Civil CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 6First ReadingMinor
- Feb 3Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michael J. KellyIntroduced
Mental HealthPublic Safety