New year, new laws: More than 250 take effect on Jan. 1 in Illinois
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — More than 250 new state laws take effect on New Year’s Day in Illinois, ranging from expanded police background checks to the establishment of the state’s official bean.
Some affect everyone in the state, such as the law enacting the Illinois budget. Others have a narrow focus, like one that allowed for the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District to dissolve and be transferred to the control of the city of Joliet.
Here are 15 new laws to know. We’ve linked to the full list at the bottom of the article.
Missing persons, no waiting
Senate Bill 24 prohibits law enforcement agencies from establishing or maintaining a policy that requires a waiting period before accepting a missing person report. It also states that a second agency is not prohibited from entering a duplicate missing person report in the LEADS statewide computer system.
Gun storage safety
Senate Bill 8 creates the Safe Gun Storage Act, which requires firearms owners to take additional measures to prevent minors from accessing a weapon.
The law prohibits firearm owners from keeping guns stored in an unsecured way where they could be accessed by a minor, a person at risk of harming themself or any other person prohibited from using a firearm. Violations can lead to a fine not to exceed $500.
Expanded police background checks
Senate Bill 1953 expands requirements for background checks for police officers. The law was created in response to the killing of Sonya Massey of Springfield in 2024. Massey was shot and killed by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson while she removed a pot of boiling water from her stove.
Grayson’s employment record came under scrutiny after the shooting when reporters uncovered a history of reprimands at previous law enforcement agencies. He was convicted of second-degree murder in October.
The new law requires law enforcement agencies to request employment personnel files from the applicant’s previous employers, including other law enforcement agencies. The previous employer would be required to share the information within 14 days.
Law enforcement applicants would also be required to sign a document authorizing the release of information, including military service records, police discipline databases, employment and criminal history, driving records, academic credentials, and a credit check, among other records.
AI discrimination protections
House Bill 3773 makes it illegal for employers to use artificial intelligence that discriminates against people based on protected characteristics such as race and religion. It also prohibits the use of ZIP codes as a proxy for discriminating against those traits in hiring, promotion, job training and other areas.
Gym disclosures
Senate Bill 314 requires gyms and other fitness centers to “clearly and conspicuously disclose any change in the customer’s total payment obligations or reduction in benefits” at least 60 days before automatic renewal of a membership payment.
FOID for first-time offenders
Senate Bill 1899 allows first-time gun offenders to obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and legally own a gun after completing a court diversion program.
The law applies to people charged with a Class 4 felony, the lowest level charge for illegal possession of a firearm.
Human trafficking charges
House Bill 2602 removes the statue of limitations on criminal charges for human trafficking of minors.
There was previously a 25-year window for victims of involuntary servitude, sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking to pursue charges.
Health care training
House Bill 2517 creates a professional development course designed to addresses racial disparities in maternal health care. It expands implicit bias training for health care workers to include maternal health risk factors associated with higher mortality rates.
Education for immigrant children
House Bill 3247 prohibits public schools from denying a child education through secondary school based on the child’s or the child’s parents’ or guardians’ perceived or actual citizenship status.
Paid to pump
Senate Bill 212 requires employers to provide a paid break period for nursing mothers so they can pump breast milk for their child. The law states that employers cannot require an employee to use paid leave during break time or reduce the employee’s compensation during that break.
Restaurant reservation anti-piracy
House Bill 2456 creates the Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act.
The law states that third-party restaurant reservation services cannot list, advertise, promote or sell reservations for a restaurant without a written agreement between the reservation service and the restaurant.
K-9 Care
House Bill 3140 creates the Police K-9 Care Program within the Illinois State Police.
The program is designed to provide a stable funding source for the veterinary care of retired police dogs. Illinois State Police will contract with a nonprofit to manage the program through a competitive grant award process for providing care to a retired police dog.
The Police K-9 Care Fund will be funded by gifts, state appropriations, and a percentage of monetary forfeitures due to criminal activity
Baby food testing
Senate Bill 73 prohibits baby food manufacturers from selling a product with “toxic heavy metal” such as arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury. Each manufacturer will be required to test a representative sample of the final baby food product for each toxic metal monthly and make certain information publicly available.
Soy for Illinois
House Bill 4439 designates soybean as the official state bean of Illinois.
The declaration is intended to raise awareness about the importance of soy for the state’s economy and agricultural industry.
Dillon’s Law
House Bill 2462, known as Dillon’s Law, allows trained community members to administer epinephrine in the event of anaphylaxis, a potentially deadly allergic reaction to foods, insect stings and other allergens.
The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and passed unanimously in May. It’s named after Dillon Mueller, 18, who died in 2014 after being stung by a bee without any previous knowledge of an allergy. No epinephrine was available in the first aid kits of either the Eagle Scouts with him or the arriving first responders.
“As a parent of a child with a severe peanut allergy, I understand the fear that comes with not knowing whether help will be there in time. With the passage of this bill, we are ensuring that life-saving epinephrine is more accessible when and where it’s needed most,” West said in a statement at the time. “Today marks a meaningful step forward in protecting children, families, and individuals across Illinois from the devastating consequences of severe allergic reactions.”
Full list
See the full list of new laws HERE.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
