SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The new year is almost here and for Illinois residents, that means several laws will be taking effect.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed dozens of bills this year, some taking effect immediately and others beginning on Jan. 1, 2024.
Below is a list of a few that could impact you next month:
Minimum Wage Law
The minimum wage in Illinois will increase from $13 to $14 on Jan. 1, 2024. Tipped workers will see a jump from $7.80 to $8.40. Employers can pay tipped workers 60% of the minimum wage. Overtime must be paid to certain employees who work more than 40 hours a week.
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Illinois enacts mandatory paid leave ‘for any reason’
Illinois will become one of three states to require employers to offer paid time off for any reason after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law on Monday that will take effect next year.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
Illinois will become one of three states to require employers to offer paid time off for any reason.
Illinois employers must offer workers paid time off based on hours worked, with no need to explain the reason for their absence as long as they provide notice in accordance with reasonable employer standards.
Grocery Initiative Act
The bill addresses food deserts across Illinois and aims to expand access to grocery stores through research in urban and rural areas.
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The Whole Child Act
The legislation is aimed at making education more equitable and inclusive for students. It also implements recommendations for the Whole Child Task Force, creating a "trauma responsive learning environment."
Under the measure, trauma-related training will be part of licensure requirements for K-12 teachers.
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Illinois gun owners hesitate to register assault weapons amid national debate
Assault weapon owners in the state have until the end of the year to register their firearms and attachments with the Illinois State Police.
Protect Illinois Communities Act
Gov. Pritzker signed Public Act 102-1116 into law on Jan. 10, 2023. The act went into effect immediately. However, Illinois residents who own assault weapons and high-capacity magazines have until the end of the year to register their firearms and attachments with the Illinois State Police.
SB67
Illinois has become the first state in the nation to screen newborns for a rare, genetic condition. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy will now accompany other conditions on the state's newborn test that are often misdiagnosed but treatable if caught early.
SB1817
The new legislation amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to ban landlords from discriminating against potential tenants based on their immigration status.
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Mixed reaction after new Illinois law allows non-citizens to become cops
Governor JB Pritzker recently signed more than 130 bills, including one allowing non-citizens to become police officers in Illinois.
HB 3751
Police officers in Chicago and statewide had been required by federal law to be citizens of the United States.
Illinois will soon allow non-citizens who are eligible to become members of law enforcement upon completion of training.
HB 1540
The bill adds electronic smoking devices to the 2008 Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which banned smoking in most public spaces in the state.
The act was amended to ban electronic smoking devices in any place where smoking is already prohibited.
HB2068
Creates the Transportation Benefits Program Act. It requires eligible employers to allow eligible workers to exclude public transit costs from taxable wages.
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Illinois lawmakers push for legislation to combat deep fakes
Lawmakers Friday urged Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign into law a proposal aimed at a growing problem posed by computer-generated images.
HB2123
This legislation creates a cause of action for individuals who are the target of deep fakes and other digitally altered sexual images.
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Illinois lawmakers approve hotline for tracking stolen cars to combat rising crime
An anti-carjacking initiative, crafted by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, has been approved by the state's General Assembly.
HB2245
The bill mandates automakers selling vehicles in the state to establish a 24/7 hotline for tracking carjacked cars or cases involving kidnappings. The hotline would relay location information to the police, and tracking is available on most cars from 2015 onwards.
HB3203
This new legislation allows pharmacists in Illinois to all fentanyl test strips over-the-counter and allows county health departments to distribute the tests for free.
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Illinois looks to ban 'Zoom' calls while driving
The Illinois legislation would ban video calls while driving, along with streaming videos or scanning social media on your phone.
HB2431
No more Zooming and driving. This new law makes it illegal to videoconference while driving.
HB 3882
The bill allows undocumented immigrants to obtain standard Illinois driver's licenses that can serve as a valid form of identification.
The new driver's licenses will replace the current Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL) and will last for four years. Over 300,000 people in Illinois currently have a TVDL.
For a list of all the new laws that take effect on Jan. 1, click her. or visit Illinois.gov.