Illinois · House Bill · 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
HB4985
Illinois HB 4985 — Surveillance-Based Price Discrimination Act

Status ● Introduced Effective N/A Passage Likelihood L

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Dual enforcement. The Illinois Attorney General enforces the Act, with rulemaking authority. A private right of action is also available — any person aggrieved by a violation may bring a civil action on their own behalf or on behalf of similarly situated persons. No cure period or safe harbor.
Private Right of Action
private right of action is also available — any person aggrieved by a violation may bring a civil action on their own behalf or on behalf of similarly situated persons.
Penalties
AG enforcement: civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation plus reasonable attorney's fees. Private action: greater of (1) actual damages, (2) $3,000 per violation, or (3) 3x actual damages on clear and convincing evidence of bad faith or intentional violation, plus injunctive relief, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. Each consumer or transaction constitutes a separate violation.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Section 1
Short title

This Act may be cited as the Surveillance-Based PricePrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5 Discrimination Act.

Names the Act the Surveillance-Based Price Discrimination Act. Imposes no compliance obligation.

Section 5
Definitions

As used in this Act: "Automated decision systemAutomated decision system"Automated decision system" means any system, software, or process, including one derived from machine learning, statistics, or other data processing or artificial intelligence techniques and excluding passive computing infrastructure, that uses computation, the result of which is used to assist or replace human decision-making.Section 5" means any system, software, or process, including one derived from machine learning, statistics, or other data processing or artificial intelligence techniques and excluding passive computing infrastructure, that uses computation, the result of which is used to assist or replace human decision-making. "BehaviorsBehaviors"Behaviors" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumer behaviors.Section 5" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 behaviorsBehaviors"Behaviors" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumer behaviors.Section 5. "Biometric informationBiometric information"Biometric information" means data or information generated by the technological, processing, measurement, or analysis of a consumer's biological, physical, or behavioral characteristics, that can be used for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual. "Biometric information" includes fingerprints, voiceprints, scans or records of an eye retina or iris, facial maps, facial geometry, facial templates, genetic information, or other unique biological, physical, or behavioral patterns or characteristics.Section 5" means data or information generated by the technological, processing, measurement, or analysis of a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5's biological, physical, or behavioral characteristics, that can be used for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual. "Biometric informationBiometric information"Biometric information" means data or information generated by the technological, processing, measurement, or analysis of a consumer's biological, physical, or behavioral characteristics, that can be used for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual. "Biometric information" includes fingerprints, voiceprints, scans or records of an eye retina or iris, facial maps, facial geometry, facial templates, genetic information, or other unique biological, physical, or behavioral patterns or characteristics.Section 5" includes fingerprints, voiceprints, scans or records of an eye retina or iris, facial maps, facial geometry, facial templates, genetic information, or other unique biological, physical, or behavioral patterns or characteristics. "ConsumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5" has the meaning set forth in the ConsumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. "Genetic information" has the meaning set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as specified in 45 CFR 160.103. "IndividualizedIndividualized"Individualized" means specific to an individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals with particular personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information.Section 5" means specific to an individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals with particular personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics"Personal characteristics" means individual qualities, features, attributes, or traits, including immutable characteristics, such as race and eye color, mutable characteristics, such as address, weight, citizenship, or parenthood status, and any other personally identifiable information that could be used to identify an individual, including social security number, name, or phone number.Section 5, behaviorsBehaviors"Behaviors" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumer behaviors.Section 5, or biometric informationBiometric information"Biometric information" means data or information generated by the technological, processing, measurement, or analysis of a consumer's biological, physical, or behavioral characteristics, that can be used for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual. "Biometric information" includes fingerprints, voiceprints, scans or records of an eye retina or iris, facial maps, facial geometry, facial templates, genetic information, or other unique biological, physical, or behavioral patterns or characteristics.Section 5. "InsurerInsurer"Insurer" means every person engaged as principal, indemnitor, surety, or contractor in the business of making insurance contracts.Section 5" means every person engaged as principal, indemnitor, surety, or contractor in the business of making insurance contracts. "Personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics"Personal characteristics" means individual qualities, features, attributes, or traits, including immutable characteristics, such as race and eye color, mutable characteristics, such as address, weight, citizenship, or parenthood status, and any other personally identifiable information that could be used to identify an individual, including social security number, name, or phone number.Section 5" means individual qualities, features, attributes, or traits, including immutable characteristics, such as race and eye color, mutable characteristics, such as address, weight, citizenship, or parenthood status, and any other personally identifiable information that could be used to identify an individual, including social security number, name, or phone number. "PricePrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5" means the amount charged to a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 or the value of the good or service to the consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5. "Surveillance dataSurveillance data"Surveillance data" means data obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance of a consumer that is related to personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information of the individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals of which the individual is a part. "Surveillance data" includes information gathered, purchased, or otherwise acquired.Section 5" means data obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance of a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 that is related to personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics"Personal characteristics" means individual qualities, features, attributes, or traits, including immutable characteristics, such as race and eye color, mutable characteristics, such as address, weight, citizenship, or parenthood status, and any other personally identifiable information that could be used to identify an individual, including social security number, name, or phone number.Section 5, behaviorsBehaviors"Behaviors" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumer behaviors.Section 5, or biometric information of the individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals of which the individual is a part. "Surveillance dataSurveillance data"Surveillance data" means data obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance of a consumer that is related to personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information of the individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals of which the individual is a part. "Surveillance data" includes information gathered, purchased, or otherwise acquired.Section 5" includes information gathered, purchased, or otherwise acquired.

Section 5 defines the scope-defining terms used throughout the Act. Key terms include automated decision system, which is broadly drafted to capture any computational system used to assist or replace human decision-making (excluding passive computing infrastructure), and surveillance data, which sweeps in any data about personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance — including data acquired by purchase from third parties.

Section 10
Prohibit surveillance-based price discrimination
Deployer

(a) 1 A person shall not use surveillance dataSurveillance data"Surveillance data" means data obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance of a consumer that is related to personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information of the individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals of which the individual is a part. "Surveillance data" includes information gathered, purchased, or otherwise acquired.Section 5 as part of an automated decision systemAutomated decision system"Automated decision system" means any system, software, or process, including one derived from machine learning, statistics, or other data processing or artificial intelligence techniques and excluding passive computing infrastructure, that uses computation, the result of which is used to assist or replace human decision-making.Section 5 to inform the individualizedIndividualized"Individualized" means specific to an individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals with particular personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information.Section 5 pricePrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5 assessed to a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 for goods or services. A person does not violate this subsection if the person assesses different pricesPrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5 to different consumersConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 based on the cost of providing the good or service to the different consumersConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5.

(b) This Section shall not apply to: (1) an insurerInsurer"Insurer" means every person engaged as principal, indemnitor, surety, or contractor in the business of making insurance contracts.Section 5 in compliance with the Illinois Insurance Code that only uses risk-relevant data as part of an automated decision systemAutomated decision system"Automated decision system" means any system, software, or process, including one derived from machine learning, statistics, or other data processing or artificial intelligence techniques and excluding passive computing infrastructure, that uses computation, the result of which is used to assist or replace human decision-making.Section 5 that informs decisions related to any costs assessed to a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 for an insurance policy; or (2) an entity that declines to extend credit at specific terms to a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 or enter into a transaction with a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 based on data provided in a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 report in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Section 10 is the operative prohibition. It bars any person from using surveillance data as an input to an automated decision system that produces individualized prices for goods or services. The prohibition is sweeping — it applies to any person, not just to a defined covered entity, and reaches both personalized pricing and tier-based or cohort-based pricing that targets groups defined by personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information.

A cost-of-service safe harbor permits price differentiation based on the actual cost of providing a good or service to different consumers. Two carve-outs apply: (1) insurers compliant with the Illinois Insurance Code that use only risk-relevant data, and (2) entities making credit decisions under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
No person may use surveillance dataSurveillance data"Surveillance data" means data obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance of a consumer that is related to personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information of the individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals of which the individual is a part. "Surveillance data" includes information gathered, purchased, or otherwise acquired.Section 5 — data about a consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5's personal characteristicsPersonal characteristics"Personal characteristics" means individual qualities, features, attributes, or traits, including immutable characteristics, such as race and eye color, mutable characteristics, such as address, weight, citizenship, or parenthood status, and any other personally identifiable information that could be used to identify an individual, including social security number, name, or phone number.Section 5, behaviorsBehaviors"Behaviors" mean an individual's observable, measurable, or inferred actions, habits, preferences, interests, or vulnerabilities, including an individual's political, personal, or professional affiliations, web browsing history, purchase history, financial circumstances, or consumer behaviors.Section 5, or biometric informationBiometric information"Biometric information" means data or information generated by the technological, processing, measurement, or analysis of a consumer's biological, physical, or behavioral characteristics, that can be used for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual. "Biometric information" includes fingerprints, voiceprints, scans or records of an eye retina or iris, facial maps, facial geometry, facial templates, genetic information, or other unique biological, physical, or behavioral patterns or characteristics.Section 5 obtained through observation, inference, or surveillance — as an input to an automated decision systemAutomated decision system"Automated decision system" means any system, software, or process, including one derived from machine learning, statistics, or other data processing or artificial intelligence techniques and excluding passive computing infrastructure, that uses computation, the result of which is used to assist or replace human decision-making.Section 5 that sets an individualizedIndividualized"Individualized" means specific to an individual or group, band, class, or tier of individuals with particular personal characteristics, behaviors, or biometric information.Section 5 pricePrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5 for goods or services. Cost-of-service-based pricePrice"Price" means the amount charged to a consumer in relation to a transaction, including all related costs and fees, and any other material terms of the transaction that has a direct bearing on the amount paid by the consumer or the value of the good or service to the consumer.Section 5 differentiation is permitted, as are insurance pricing using only risk-relevant data and FCRA-compliant credit decisions.
CP-01.10
Section 15
Enforcement

The Attorney General shall enforce this Act. A person who violates this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation and reasonable attorney's fees. A violation of any provision of this Act shall constitute a separate violation with respect to each consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 or transaction.

Designates the Illinois Attorney General as the public enforcer. Civil penalties are capped at $10,000 per violation, with each consumer or transaction counting as a separate violation — meaning a single non-compliant pricing system could generate enormous aggregate exposure. Reasonable attorney's fees are also recoverable.

Section 20
Private right of action

(a) A person aggrieved by a violation of this Act may bring a civil action on behalf of themselves or a group of similarly situated persons to restrain further violations and to recover damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, including the greater of: (1) the amount of actual damages sustained; (2) $3,000 for each violation; or (3) 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained, if it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the person who violated this Act engaged in bad faith conduct or intentionally violated this Act.

(b) A violation of any provision of this Act shall constitute a separate violation with respect to each consumerConsumer"Consumer" has the meaning set forth in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.Section 5 or transaction.

Creates a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation, exercisable individually or on behalf of similarly situated persons. Recoverable amounts are the greater of actual damages, $3,000 per violation, or treble actual damages where bad faith or intentional violation is shown by clear and convincing evidence. Injunctive relief, costs, and attorney's fees are also available. Each consumer or transaction is a separate violation.

Section 25
Relationship with other laws

Nothing in this Act, including the enforcement authority granted to the Attorney General, preempts or otherwise affects any other right, claim, remedy, presumption, or defense available at law or in equity.

Savings clause: nothing in the Act preempts or affects any other right, claim, remedy, presumption, or defense available at law or in equity. Creates no new compliance obligation.

Section 30
Rulemaking

The Attorney General may adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce this Act.

Authorizes the Attorney General to adopt rules to implement and enforce the Act. Imposes no compliance obligation on regulated parties.

Passage Likelihood

Low
Status Introduced
Chamber No passage
Committee No action
Majority party Yes
Bipartisan No
Prior session None

Legislative History

2026-02-04 Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Nabeela Syed
2026-02-06 First Reading
2026-02-06 Referred to Rules Committee
2026-03-18 Assigned to Consumer Protection Committee
2026-03-27 Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-20
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