Top 20 new Illinois laws in 2024

More than 300 new laws took effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2024. Here is a look at the top 20. For a full list, click here.

1. Ban on Semi-Automatic Weapons: Illinois’ ban on the sale, possession, or manufacture of automatic weapons remains unchallenged by the U.S. Supreme Court. This law, catalyzed by a 2023 mass shooting, prohibits specific brands and types of rifles and handguns, including .50-caliber guns, and limits magazine capacities. Registered owners of these firearms must comply with state registration requirements.
2. Book-Ban Prohibition: In response to rising censorship attempts, particularly against LGBTQ+ and racially diverse authors, Illinois now disqualifies libraries that ban books from receiving state funds. Libraries must align with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, opposing exclusion based on creators’ backgrounds or views.
3. Paid Time Off: Illinois employers must now offer paid leave, accruable at a rate of one hour per 40 hours worked, with a cap of 40 hours. This law, effective for employees after 90 days of service, empowers workers to take paid vacations for any reason.
4. Air Fresheners Allowed: Addressing concerns over discriminatory traffic stops, Illinois law now prohibits police from pulling over motorists solely for having objects, like air fresheners, hanging from their rearview mirrors​​.
5. No Videoconferencing on the Road: Illinois has tightened road safety laws by banning video meetings, streaming, or social media use while driving, except via hands-free or voice-activated devices, or with single-button activation​​.
6. No Indoor Vaping: Aligning with the 2008 Smoke-Free Illinois Act, the state now bans vaping and the use of electronic smoking devices in indoor public spaces, extending prohibitions initially set for traditional tobacco products​​.
7. License-Plate Reader Restrictions: In a move to protect reproductive rights, Illinois law restricts law enforcement’s use of license-plate reader data for vehicles of women coming into the state for abortions​​.
8. Deepfake Porn: Victims of deepfake pornography, a form of digital forgery, can now pursue civil lawsuits in Illinois. This law makes sharing or threatening to share such manipulated images a legal offense, irrespective of the material’s labeled alterations​​.
9. Fertility Fraud: A new Illinois law provides individuals the right to sue healthcare professionals for fertility fraud. This addresses instances where reproductive material is used without informed, written consent during fertility procedures​​.
10. Overdose Prevention in Schools: Illinois schools must maintain a supply of opioid antagonists, crucial for reversing opioid overdoses, as part of a broader strategy to combat the opioid crisis. Additionally, high schools are required to educate students about the risks of fentanyl in all state-mandated health courses​​.
11. Drug Price Gouging: To combat unfair drug pricing, Illinois now prohibits manufacturers and wholesale distributors from price-gouging essential off-patent and generic drugs​​.
12. Minimum Wage Increase: Continuing its phased approach to wage increases, Illinois raises the minimum wage to $14 per hour for non-tipped workers, effective Jan. 1, 2024. This step is part of a gradual increase towards a $15 minimum wage, slated for 2025. Tipped workers will see their minimum wage rise to $8.40 per hour.
13. School Building Emergency Plans: Under HB 3559, Illinois schools must now include specific strategies in their emergency and crisis response plans for rapid law enforcement entry during emergencies. This measure aims to enhance school safety and preparedness in crisis situations.
14. Protecting Drivers’ Data: New legislation restricts the sale, sharing, and access of automated license plate reader data by law enforcement. This law focuses on protecting abortion rights, especially for out-of-state individuals traveling to Illinois for abortion services. It also limits data usage for detaining or investigating individuals based on their immigration status, safeguarding privacy and civil liberties.
15. Restrooms May Be All-Gender Multioccupancy: Businesses in Illinois now have the option to install all-gender multioccupancy restrooms. Existing restrooms can be renovated to accommodate this change, provided they exclude urinals and have floor-to-ceiling, locking dividers. This move supports inclusivity and respects the diverse needs of the public.
16. Addressing Student Trauma: The Illinois State Board of Education is tasked with developing a “Children’s Adversity Index” to measure community childhood trauma exposure. This initiative will draw on data about homelessness, child welfare system contacts, community violence, etc. Additionally, the state school report card will include data on the availability of counselors, social workers, nurses, and psychologists in schools, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health and trauma in educational settings.
17. Marriage Protections: Repealing a section of the 2013 law that prohibited issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples from states where such unions were illegal, Illinois strengthens marriage equality. This change is a response to concerns about the stability of nationwide same-sex marriage rights following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.
18. Grocery Initiative: The Illinois Grocery Initiative, backed by a $20 million grant program, aims to address food deserts by supporting the opening and preservation of grocery stores in underserved urban and rural areas. The program offers financial assistance and incentives for eligible stores, focusing on enhancing access to fresh food and improving nutritional options across the state.
19. Coverage for Reconstructive Surgeries: A new law mandates that health insurance policies cover reconstructive surgeries aimed at restoring an individual’s physical appearance following trauma. This legislation underscores the importance of comprehensive healthcare, acknowledging the physical and psychological impacts of trauma and the need for recovery support.
20. Increasing Accessibility in Public Buildings: Illinois has introduced a measure to enhance the accessibility of public buildings for individuals with disabilities. This law underscores the state’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access, ensuring that public spaces are accommodating and navigable for all citizens, irrespective of their physical abilities.