25 New Illinois Laws That Could Change Your Life In 2023

ILLINOIS — Nearly 200 new Illinois laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Here are 25 of the most significant and interesting changes to laws applying to public safety, fallen service members, women’s health care, schools, snakes, corn and more. See what’s coming your way in the new year.

Public Safety

Cash Bail Ends In Illinois?

UPDATED: The Illinois Supreme Court paused the abolition of monetary bail, pending an appeal of a challenge to the law ending cash bonds from state's attorneys and sheriffs around the state.
In an order filed hours before the Pretrial Fairness Act — the portion of the SAFE-T Act that eliminated monetary bail — was due to take effect, the state's highest court allowed for an expedited appeal of Thursday's Kankakee County judge's ruling finding the legislature had violated the separation of powers and victim's rights provisions of the Illinois Constitution.
"In order to maintain consistent procedures throughout Illinois, the effective date of the Pretrial Fairness Act [in the SAFE-T Act and its most recent amendment] is stayed during the pendency of the appeal," the justices ruled. Read more.

Burglary Tools

Expands the definition of the crime of possessing burglary tools to include devices to unlock or start a vehicle without a key and duplicating a signal from a vehicle’s key fob. (HB 00601)

Re-entry

Requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to hire reentry specialists for every jail and correctional institution or facility, regardless of whether these institutions or facilities have access to a reentry program. (HB 03465)

Carjacking Victims Off the Hook

People whose cars were carjacked are no longer liable for violations, fees, fines or penalties incurred when their stolen vehicles are caught on red light cameras or speed cameras. (HB 03772)

Indefensible

A person accused of soliciting a sexual act from a minor or a person with an intellectual disability may no longer use the criminal defense that they reasonably believed the victim to be 18 years or older or that they did not have a profound intellectual disability at the time of the act giving rise to the charge. (HB 04593)

‘Mandatory Reporters’

Adds physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and athletic trainers to the list of mandated reporters required to report cases of sexual and other abuse to law enforcement. (SB 03833)

Protective Orders

Survivors of domestic abuse may now file a petition for a protective order online, so they do not have to confront their abuser in a courtroom. Counties with a population of above 250,000 must also offer the option of a remote hearing. (SB 03667).

Missing Persons

Driven by the 2021 death of Illinois State University student Jelani Day, this law requires coroners to notify the FBI within 72 hours if human remains are unable to be identified. (SB 3932)

Health and Safety

No more latex

Consumers with latex allergies will no longer have to be concerned if their food is safe to eat or have an allergic reaction in the doctor’s office. The new law ends the use of latex gloves in food preparation, EMS and health care settings. (HB 209)

Time to Grieve

Allows women who experience a miscarriage, stillbirth or fertility issue to take ten days of unpaid leave. (SB 03120)

Breast Reduction Surgery

Requires medically necessary breast reduction surgery to be covered by state-registered private insurance. (HB 4271)

Preventing Osteoporosis

To help women afford treatment that prevents osteoporosis and other side effects, this law requires insurance coverage for post-hysterectomy estrogen and hormonal therapy. (HB 5254)

Keeping Track of Opioids

Changes the Illinois Controlled Substances Act by creating an electronic record for opioid prescriptions to help track doctors who over prescribe. (HB 03596)

Consumer

Cremation

Changes the Crematory Regulation Act to allow for electronic signatures. (SB 3092)

Made In Illinois

To encourage Illinoisans to purchase a made-in-Illinois vehicle, this law reduces vehicle registration fees for cars and small trucks manufactured in Illinois. (SB 3609)

Schools

Return of ‘Shop’

Requires school boards to establish a career and technical education pathway program for grades 6 through 12. (HB 03296)

Civic Pride

Allows every middle or high school student at least one school day excused absence per school year for a civic event, such as an artistic/cultural performances, class, religious worship or educational gatherings that support the mission of a not-for-profit organization. (HB 05488)

Traffic and Vehicles

School Speed Zones

Changes school zone speed limits to apply to local, county and state roadways. Also provides that a “park zone street” applies to state or local streets. (HB 05328)

Seniors Get A Break

Reduces the vehicle registration fee for senior citizens from $24 to $10. (HB 5304)

‘Yay, team!’

Allows the Secretary of State to issue special license plates for professional sports teams, including the Chicago Sky, the Chicago Red Stars and the Chicago Fire. (HB 04461)

Labor

‘Moppets’

Changes the Child Labor Law to allow child performers to work until 10 p.m. without a waiver and gives the Illinois Department of Labor more discretion in allowing or denying waivers for children who work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (SB 03161)

Hair Discrimination

The CROWN Act changes the Illinois Human Rights Act to expand the traits list associated with race, to include hair texture and protect hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists, to combat hair discrimination in the work place.

AND A FEW MORE NEW LAWS

When Did I Eat Corn?

Establishes August 1 as “Sweet Corn Appreciation Day.” (HB 5254)

‘An Act Concerning Snakes’

Establishes the eastern milk snake as the “official Illinois state snake.” (HB 04821)

Honoring Illinois Service Members

Families of Illinois service members who die while on active duty who are presented with a U.S. flag flown at the U.S. Capitol, will also be honored with an Illinois state flag. (SB 3459)