Metro East Sun

Jay Hoffman introduced HB1309 in the Illinois House on Jan. 13, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the rebuttable presumption concerning specified conditions or impairments of health of an employee employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic is intended to shift the burden of proof to the employing entity and any party attacking the presumption must establish by clear and convincing evidence an independent and non-work related cause for the condition or disability and prove that no aspect of the employment contributed to the condition. Provides that the rebuttable presumption relating to hearing loss cannot be overcome with evidence allegedly showing that the injured employee did not meet specified exposure thresholds."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act to reinforce the rebuttable presumption regarding certain health conditions of firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics. It is designed to shift the burden of proof to the employer by requiring them to demonstrate, with clear and convincing evidence, that a condition or impairment is due to an independent, non-work-related cause and that no part of the employment contributed. This presumption applies to disabilities resulting from bloodborne pathogens, certain contagious infections, respiratory diseases, and more, including hernias and hearing loss, except in cases of employees with less than five years of service or EMTs working primarily on non-emergency medical transfers for private employers. The bill highlights compelling policy considerations to support affected workers and their families.

Jay Hoffman has proposed another 13 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Hoffman graduated from Illinois State University in 1983 with a BS and again in 1986 from Saint Louis University School of Law with a JD.

Jay Hoffman is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 113th House District. He replaced previous state representative Scott Penny in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1309	01/13/2025	Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that the rebuttable presumption concerning specified conditions or impairments of health of an employee employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic is intended to shift the burden of proof to the employing entity and any party attacking the presumption must establish by clear and convincing evidence an independent and non-work related cause for the condition or disability and prove that no aspect of the employment contributed to the condition. Provides that the rebuttable presumption relating to hearing loss cannot be overcome with evidence allegedly showing that the injured employee did not meet specified exposure thresholds.
HB1285	01/13/2025	Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning notices.
HB1286	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning a firefighters' continuance privilege.
HB1310	01/13/2025	Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that reduces the amount of the pension for a Tier 2 firefighter who retires with at least 10 years of creditable service before attaining age 55, provides that the pension of a Tier 2 firefighter who is retiring after attaining age 50 with 20 or more years of creditable service shall not be reduced. Makes a conforming change. Provides that each annual increase for Tier 2 firefighters shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) or the first anniversary of the pension start date, whichever is later, and shall be calculated at 3% of the originally granted pension (instead of calculated at the lesser of 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for a 12-month period ending in September preceding each November 1). Provides that the changes shall apply without regard to whether a Tier 2 firefighter is in active service under the Article on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
HB1079	01/09/2025	Amends the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1090	01/09/2025	Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes formatting changes to the definition of "public works".
HB1180	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1181	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
HB1182	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning veteran's and educational preference.
HB1183	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning appointments by the board of fire and police commissioners.
HB1184	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.
HB1185	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.
HB1186	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.
HB1189	01/09/2025	Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes all federal construction projects administered or controlled by a public body if the prevailing rate of wages is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage determination by the United States Secretary of Labor for the same locality for the same type of construction used to classify the federal construction project. Makes a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1226	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.