Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois state Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) called a law that made it easier for employers to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates and testing "a dangerous precedent" when it comes to religious protections in the workplace. 

The legislation had language that made it clear it was not a violation of the law for employers "to take any measures or impose any requirements" that were put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"The proposal before us diminishes religious protections in the workplace. This is a dangerous precedent and a slippery slope," Curran said on the Senate floor. 

Curran added that the law would eliminate protections given to workers in the workplace in an effort to impose vaccinations on employees. Curran voted against the bill in the Senate and encouraged his colleagues to do the same.

"My objection isn't about vaccinations. I'm vaccinated. That's not the issue here," he said. "This diminishment of protections in the workplace for workers, today this is the issue."

Curran stated his concern is what the law would mean for other workplace religious protections in the years to come.

"In the future it could be a diminishment of protections that allows one to take a prayer break in the workplace, allows one to wear a religious garment, a religious headdress in the workplace. If we go down this we don't know where it ends," he said. 

The bill passed both chambers at the end of October. It received 64 yes votes, 52 no votes and two present votes in the state House of Representatives. In the Senate, 31 Senators voted for it while 24 voted against it. The law will take effect on June 1, 2022. 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) approved the bill and signed it into law earlier this month. 

The legislation was supported and sponsored by Reps. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) and Sens. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).