Bill
HB 3762
Establishes statewide protections against extreme workplace heat and cold, requiring employer plans, temperature rules, and engineering controls to protect workers.
Status and key dates
- Bill: HB 3762 — Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act (introduced 2/18/2025).
- House Amendment 001 filed 3/20/2025 (Rep. Edgar González, Jr.).
- Current procedural status: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee (4/11/2025).
- Important deadlines in the bill: Director to adopt occupational temperature plan by January 1, 2026; adopt excessive heat and cold rules by January 1, 2027. Temporary numeric standards take effect January 1, 2028 if rules are not adopted.
Purpose / intent
- Establish statewide workplace protections against extreme temperature hazards (both heat and cold) to reduce temperature‑related illness, injury, and death among employees in private and public employment.
Major provisions
- Establishes the "Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act" and a set of definitions (e.g., acclimatization, heat stress, cold stress, engineering controls).
- Rulemaking deadlines:
- Director of Labor must adopt an occupational temperature‑related illness and injury prevention plan by Jan 1, 2026.
- Director must adopt rules establishing excessive heat and excessive cold standards by Jan 1, 2027.
- Temporary default numeric standards (apply beginning Jan 1, 2028 if rules are not adopted):
- Excessive heat (outdoor): heat index ≥ 80°F.
- Excessive heat (indoor): temperature ≥ 80°F and heat index ≥ 85°F; also triggers when employees wear heat‑restrictive clothing at ≥ 80°F. If heat index ≥ 90°F (indoor or outdoor), employers must implement additional protections, possibly including personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Excessive cold (outdoor): wind chill ≤ 40°F.
- Excessive cold (indoor): for heavy work, temperature ≤ 60°F; for light work, temperature ≤ 65°F (exceptions if prohibited by process requirements).
- Measurements are to be based on National Weather Service readings.
- Employers must develop, implement, and maintain an employer‑specific plan under the Director’s occupational temperature plan rule (content requirements to be established).
- Engineering controls defined to include fans, heating stations, misting stations, and air conditioning (explicitly excludes wearable items).
- Protections apply broadly to employees and employers, including public entities (State, counties, municipalities, school districts, etc.).
Enforcement, penalties, retaliation
- The bill’s synopsis indicates provisions regarding retaliation, violations, penalties, and enforcement; the full amendment text available to date is truncated and does not provide complete enforcement details in the published excerpt.
Fiscal/implementation note
- Implementation is contingent on sufficient appropriations to the Department of Labor. If funds are not appropriated by specified dates, statutory implementation deadlines may be extended (typically by up to 6 months under the amendment text).
Who is affected
- All Illinois employers and employees in private and public sectors exposed to extreme heat or cold — notably agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and other outdoor/indoor workplaces where temperature hazards exist.
Uncertainties / textual gaps
- Some numeric details (e.g., the indoor high‑radiant heat temperature threshold) and portions of enforcement/plan requirements are truncated in the available text; final rulemaking by the Director will flesh out operational obligations and sanctions. The timing of full implementation depends on appropriations.
Potential impacts
- Employers will likely need to adopt written plans, provide engineering controls and training, monitor temperatures/heat indices, and possibly supply PPE or alter work/rest schedules. The law aims to reduce worker illness and fatalities from extreme temperature exposure.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
