Belt Law Bans Bait-and-Switch Gym Membership Sales Tactic Starting Jan. 1
"Lifetime" gym memberships face new transparency rules to protect Illinois consumers in 2026.
SPRINGFIELD – For too long, consumers have been left tricked when gyms and fitness centers offer a lifetime membership, only to change the terms of the deal after the fact. That will change come Jan. 1, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Christopher Belt ensuring these businesses keep their word.
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“If you run an honest business that provides quality service to your customers, then this law won’t concern you,” said Belt (D-Swansea). "We are going after bad actors in the fitness industry looking to nickel and dime their customers to death with cheap gimmicks.”
Under the new law, physical fitness centers that offer so-called “lifetime memberships” must be upfront and transparent about any provisions in the contract that would allow them to raise prices or reduce benefits. These terms must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed — no fine print, no legal gymnastics.
Another provision in the law requires physical fitness centers to provide a copy of a lifetime membership contract to a customer upon request.
The law also includes commonsense exceptions. If the customer agrees in writing to new terms, or if the gym is sold to an unaffiliated company, those are legitimate reasons to revisit the contract.
“No more sifting through fine print to see where the catch is,” said Belt. “The days of bait-and-switch tactics of selling someone on a lifetime deal and then changing the rules a year later are coming to an end.”
Senate Bill 314 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
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