House Bill 4758 passed the Illinois Senate on Friday, advancing a ban on requiring valid driver's licenses in job postings unless driving is essential to the role and a business necessity.
The measure targets hiring practices that Senator Christopher Belt said unfairly block people with disabilities and others from jobs that do not actually involve operating a vehicle.
Advocates estimate nearly 1.85 million Illinois residents face employment barriers because they lack a driver's license, including many who rely on public transit, paratransit, caregivers or family rides.
The proposal is part of a broader push to widen workforce access by stripping nonessential screening requirements from job listings.
Will removing the driver's license barrier truly unlock jobs for 1.85 million Illinoisans?
Beyond this law, what is Illinois' next move to close the transportation gap for its workforce?
How will businesses verify worker reliability without asking for a driver's license?