Here are the new laws for Illinois in 2018

The crystal ball will drop at midnight in Times Square and once it does, a whole slate of new laws will take effect.

Among the 200 new laws created by Illinois lawmakers, some are designed to crack down on crime. Judges will be encouraged to sentence repeat gun offenders to lengthier prison terms, thanks to a new law pushed by Chicago Police Superintendnet Eddie Johnson.

"Because if they're repeat that means they've done the same thing two, three four, five times. And I think those individuals are clearly showing us they don't want to play by the rules of society so we should give them some place to sit down,” Johnson said.

Also in 2018, defendants accused of murder will no longer be able to use the so-called “gay panic" defense -- which means sexual orientation can no longer be considered provocation for murder.

Cyberstalking and sending obscene messages might now be considered a hate crime, under a new law pushed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

And police will have to meet a higher standard of proof before they can seize property like cars and homes that may have been used in the commission of a crime.

A new law also allows 16 and 17 year olds to sign up and become organ and tissue donors when they receive their driver’s license.

"300 people die a year waiting for organ donations. Illinois is only one of two states where 16 and 17 years olds were not organ donors. I think this is a tremendous step in the right direction,” Madigan said.

A new law makes it easier for people who identify as transgender to change their sex on their birth certificates.

Hair salons, barbershops and dry cleaners will be required to provide customers with a price list.

Public schools will be required to provide a designated place for students to breastfeed.

Pet owners who divorce will be able to create custody plans for their animals.

And August 4th in Illinois will now be designated as "Barack Obama Day" -- although state workers won't get the day off.