Nearly 300 new state laws take effect Jan. 1. Here are key ones to know in Illinois
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Nearly 300 new laws take effect at midnight New Year’s Day across Illinois, covering everything from canceling your gym membership to recovering your belongings after your vehicle is towed.
The new laws include include significant bills approved during the 2024 legislative session and minor changes that may just make a few alterations to language in existing regulations.
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There are 293 total new laws that take effect Jan. 1, 2025. By comparison, there were about 325 new laws that took effect in 2024.
Here are 17 laws to know for the New Year. You can see a complete list published by the Illinois Senate Democrats here.
Minimum wage increases
Minimum wage will increase from $14 to $15 per hour in the state.
The minimum wage for tipped workers will also rise to $9 an hour. Youth workers under the age of 18 who work fewer than 650 hours per year will earn $13 an hour.
This is the seventh and final increase in the state’s minimum wage that stems from legislation passed in 2019.
Salary disclosure
Employers in the state with 15 or more employees will be required to include information about benefits and salary on job postings.
The law, stemming from House Bill 3129, also applies to companies hiring for remote work positions in the state.
Hearing aids
House Bill 2443 requires insurers to cover medically prescribed hearing aids and related services for all ages, rather than just those younger than 18.
Digital driver’s license
House Bill 4592 allows the secretary of state to issue digital driver’s licenses and state ID cards to those who have a physical identification card.
The law also states that displaying a mobile driver’s license to a police officer doesn’t give the officer authorization to search their mobile phone.
Epinephrine costs capped
House Bill 3639 requires insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors at a maximum cost of $60 for a twin pack, regardless of the type of injector.
Cancel your gym membership
Fitness centers and gyms will be required to allow customers to cancel online or via email if those options were used to join.
House Bill 4911 amends the Physical Fitness Services Act to require those options.
Consumer cancellations
Senate Bill 2764 requires businesses that offer free trials longer than 15 days to email customers three days before the deadline to cancel before billing starts.
Whistleblower protections
House Bill 5561 adds further protections to the Whistleblower Act to prohibit employers from retaliating against an employee who disclose information they believe in good faith violates state or federal law.
The law expands the definition of retaliation to include blacklisting an employee from future job opportunities and it gives the Illinois attorney general’s office the authority to sue employers who retaliate.
Autism sensitivity training
Senate Bill 3201 requires law enforcement to go through training on autism-informed responses and the best techniques for situations that include people with autism. The law would also requires police officers and correction officers to complete such training every three years.
AI protections
House bill 4875 prohibits the use of artificial intelligence to recreate a person’s voice, image or likeness for commercial purposes without consent. It also allows recording artists to seek damages in civil lawsuits if such use occurs.
In a separate law surrounding the emergence of artificial intelligence, House Bill 4623 updates child pornography laws to make it illegal to generate such images using AI.
Catalytic converter theft
House Bill 4589 aims to prevent catalytic converter theft by requiring recyclable metals dealers to track vehicle and part information for the catalytic converter itself.
Additionally, the seller of catalytic converters must provide a copy of the certificate or title indicating ownership of the vehicle from which the part was removed.
License plate replacement
Senate Bill 3471 allows Illinois drivers who have their vehicles stole to receive free replacement license plates and registration stickers if they provide a police report or affidavit showing their original plates were stolen.
Waiving the fees for license and registration is intended to help victims of theft after the loss of their vehicle.
Tenant protections
Senate Bill 2601 requires landlords to disclose to potential tenants if they have any knowledge that the property has previously flooded or if it is located in a Federal Emergency Management Agency flood hazard area.
In a separate law, House Bill 4768 prevents landlords from taking retaliatory action against tenants.
When you get towed
Senate Bill 2654 allows you to recover social security cards, passbooks, medical devices and college textbooks from a vehicle being held by a towing company.
The law also states that if a vehicle is stolen and later towed, storage fees cannot be charged if the vehicle is recovered within seven days.
Veteran protections
Senate Bill 3479 makes it illegal for any person or business providing veteran or military benefits to fail to disclose the full terms of the agreement upfront.
Those terms must be clearly provided both vocally and in writing.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
