7 ways Illinois lawmakers just made it easier to work

The Illinois General Assembly passed seven bills that expand the ability of professionals to work in Illinois. Lawmakers need to keep going and reduce the number of government permission slips needed to earn a living.

Illinois is the eighth-worst state in the nation for occupational licensing burdens, but state lawmakers did some repair work this past legislative session by removing seven barriers.

Here are the seven bills passed by the Illinois General Assembly to remove work restrictions.

Health care

House Bill 1270 removes the “volunteer license” designation and fee, allowing licensed health care professionals in volunteer status to return to active practice without additional paperwork or cost, so long as it’s within the same renewal period.

House Bill 3849 revises the Pharmacy Practice Act and Controlled Substances Act to permit any authorized hospice or home health employee – not just advanced-practice staff – to receive and deliver prescriptions, including controlled substances.

Senate Bill 2153 amends the Physical Therapy Act to permit initial physical therapy evaluations via telehealth under defined conditions, expanding patient access while maintaining licensure safeguards.

While those were three positive moves, state lawmakers under pressure from unions missed a major opportunity to bring more nurses to Illinois. Illinois is 1 of just 9 states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses to work across state lines without obtaining additional licenses. That limits the ability of nurses to move in and out of Illinois and strains the state’s health care system, which expects a 15,000-nurse shortage by the end of the year.

Dentistry

Senate Bill 1463, as amended, adds specialties such as orofacial pain and pathology, while reinforcing the supervised license model for students entering clinical settings. The bill also creates a “license-pending” designation for both general dentists and dental hygienists, allowing qualified applicants to practice under the supervision of a licensed dentist while awaiting final licensure.

Agricultural and environmental

Senate Bill 849 increases the duration of restricted commercial driver’s licenses for agricultural workers from 180 to 210 days per year, aligning the regulation with the seasonal needs of the agricultural workforce. Illinois’ $19 billion agriculture industry employs about 55,000 seasonal workers.

House Bill 1699 as amended, directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Administration to establish “operator‑in‑training programs” for water and wastewater systems. The bill allows individuals, even without a high school diploma, to work under direct supervision in wastewater and community water systems after passing required exams and demonstrating competence. Nationally, 30% to 50% of operators are expected to retire in the next 5 to 10 years.

Financial licensing

House Bill 2459 updates the Public Accounting Act to define “CPA firm” to include professional limited liability companies. HB 2459 also replaces the “substantial equivalency” standard with the national “enhanced mobility” model. This allows out-of-state CPAs to work in Illinois without obtaining a new license if they meet national standards. Over 53,000 accountants are employed in Illinois and growth is projected at 10.6% by 2030.

Illinois’ occupational licensing

Nearly 30% of Illinois’ workforce must obtain a license or certification to work, wasting an estimated $15 billion in resources. With the 41st worst unemployment rate in the country, the state cannot afford barriers that block people from jobs they are qualified for.

Since 2019, lawmakers have taken modest steps to ease employment restrictions, reviving sunset reviews to evaluate whether licensing laws still serve the public interest. Though limited in impact, these reviews helped renew legislative interest.

In the final weeks of the 103rd General Assembly, four reform bills were signed into law. Momentum continued into the 104th General Assembly, where lawmakers this year passed these seven additional bills.

Illinois is seeing meaningful progress, but more must be done.

Besides the nurse licensure reform, the General Assembly should have passed House Bill 3533, which would have created apprenticeship pathways for all licensed occupations. House Bill 3019, the Dental Practice Act, would have added new recognized specialties and created temporary supervised licenses for dental hygiene students preparing for full certification, extending through 2036. Instead, lawmakers gutted the bill and used it to change insurance law.

Illinois needs to dismantle unnecessary licensing obstacles. The blueprint for reforms is in the Illinois Policy Institute report, “Unlocking Opportunity,” which outlines how modernizing licensing can promote upward mobility statewide.