SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and bill sponsor Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) today announced legislation to strengthen protections against disparate impact discrimination across Illinois. The bill would extend existing housing protections under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) to employment, financial credit, and public accommodations including education and healthcare.

Disparate impact protections have long been established under federal laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This legislation ensures protection in Illinois law, ensuring residents remain protected from practices that appear neutral but result in unfair discrimination regardless of federal policy changes. The bill helps ensure Illinois residents remain protected from unfair discriminatory practices even when those practices appear neutral.

“The intent of the bill is simple; to protect the civil rights that Illinoisans have long relied on,” said IDHR Director Jim Bennett. “Disparate impact protections are essential because they allow us to address discrimination that is built into systems, even when it isn’t explicit. This bill brings consistency to all Articles of the Illinois Human Rights Act.”

The legislation addresses a critical gap in civil rights enforcement: policies that appear neutral on their face but produce discriminatory results. The bill does not create any new rights. Disparate impact is a theory of liability that has been recognized for decades as a fundamental component of federal civil rights laws. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal employment discrimination statute, explicitly recognizes disparate impact claims, and the Supreme Court has also interpreted federal fair housing laws to recognize disparate impact.

“It is so appropriate that we are kicking off the Civil Rights Safeguards Act during Black History Month, because discrimination is not always obvious,” said State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove), bill sponsor.  “Sometimes unfairness hides in everyday rules or systems. It [Civil Rights Safeguards Act] helps uncover hidden barriers. It keeps institutions accountable, and it ensures the status quo. The Civil Rights Safeguard Act would help mitigate the impact of the executive orders on Illinoisans facing discrimination and would provide clarity to employers, businesses, financial institutions and other regulated industries in the state, their responsibilities under the Illinois Human Rights Act.”

Disparate impact has been recognized as a fundamental component of civil rights law for decades, by federal courts, Illinois Human Rights Commission, and IDHR. This legislation does not create new rights. It ensures existing protections remain enforceable under Illinois law.

“Our rights are being rolled back right before our eyes, and services are getting slashed,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “Civil rights should not depend on who occupies the White House. Illinois can and must act now to protect its people, uphold fairness, and provide certainty for everyone who lives and works here. We will not leave Illinois families behind.”

A few examples of who this bill preserves these protections for:

• Survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are disproportionately female
• Black and Brown homeowners and consumers who face barriers from redlining
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens who face barriers to language access
• Disabled veterans who face housing voucher-based discrimination
• LGBTQ+ persons who face sex discrimination
• Students with disabilities who face inequitable school policies 

The bill was filed February 5, 2026. If the proposed legislation is approved during the 2026 legislative session, the law will go into effect January 1, 2027.

About the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)  

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) enforces the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in connection with employment opportunities, housing and real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public services and public accommodations, including educational institutions. Any Illinoisan who believes they have been a victim of discrimination can file a complaint with IDHR within 2 years of the date of the incident (effective Jan. 1, 2025) or within one year of a housing violation. To file a complaint with IDHR, call (877) 236-7703 or 7-1-1 for *TTY users or visit dhr.illinois.gov/filing-a-charge.

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