Rep. Blair-Sherlock supports HB5228 to boost workers' compensation insurance enforcement

Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-46th) supported HB5228 in the 104th General Assembly by voting Yes on May 31, 2026, as noted by the Illinois House. The legislation passed with an 89-27 margin.

The bill's official description is: "WORK COMP-STATE LICENSURE."

The following summary is based on the bill's actual text and includes explanations intended to clarify its provisions.

The bill updates the Workers’ Compensation Act to require that any corporation, limited liability company or partnership—which must provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance to hold a state license—will face civil penalties under Section 4(d) if they fail to meet insurance requirements. The only way for an entity to avoid such penalties is to present clear and convincing evidence that it was not conducting business while its license was active. The bill is designed to tighten enforcement for licensed businesses who retain active licenses without maintaining mandatory workers’ compensation coverage.

The official legislative action on HB5228 reports: 'Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 House Concurs'.

Blair-Sherlock earned an AA from College of DuPage in 1985, a BS from Northern Illinois University in 1987, and a JD from John Marshall Law School in 1993.

She joined the Illinois State House as a Democrat in 2023, representing the 46th House District after succeeding Deborah Conroy.

In Illinois, legislative proposals undergo a multi-step process beginning with introduction in either chamber, followed by committee review, debates, and floor votes before reaching the governor for final approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, with only a portion of thousands of introduced bills each session ultimately becoming law.