Illinois is poised to become the eighth state to enact such a ban after the legislature passed a bill outlawing employers from holding mandatory meetings of a political or religious nature. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to sign the legislation by the end of this month, a spokesperson told HuffPost.
That would add Illinois to a list that already includes Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, New Jersey and Washington.
Meanwhile, at least another 10 states are considering passing similar legislation, potentially covering more than 60 million workers around the country, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank.
But the captive audience meeting bans have come under fire from business groups that argue they violate employers’ First Amendment rights and conflict with federal labor law. Bans like Illinois’ include a private right of action, meaning workers can sue in court when they believe their employer has violated its provisions. Lawsuits are challenging the bans in Connecticut and Minnesota.
