These IL Laws Take Effect This Summer

A handful of bills are set to take effect this summer in Illinois, with some aimed at older drivers, schools and workers in Chicago.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, most of the new laws are technical changes to existing statutes, but several could affect residents and their families in the years ahead.

Rules For Older Drivers

One of the most significant statewide changes is House Bill 1226, which takes effect July 1 and updates driver's license renewal rules for older motorists. Under the law, every applicant age 79 or older must renew a driver's license in person. Applicants age 87 or older and commercial driver's license holders age 75 or older must also prove through an actual demonstration that they can exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.

The law also allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State about a person's medical condition if that condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

School Rules

Schools will also be affected by several measures. House Bill 3851 changes the definition of cyberbullying, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Under the new definition, cyberbullying will include the posting or distribution of an unauthorized digital replica by electronic means if that posting or distribution creates any of the effects already listed in the state's definition of bullying. The law also deletes the definition of generative artificial intelligence and defines an unauthorized digital replica as the use of a digital replica of an individual without that person's consent.

Senate Bill 0408 changes what can be included in a student's permanent record. Under that measure, a student's permanent record can include a summary of performance within special educational programs. It also allows the Department of Education to provide that information to the Department of Human Services for the purpose of assessing whether a student is eligible for Medicaid.

House Bill 2962 adds another school-related requirement by mandating that drivers of school buses or school activity buses that can transport up to 15 people obtain a school bus driver permit.

Chicago Minimum Wage Increase

In Chicago, the minimum wage will increase from $16.60 per hour to $17.05. The minimum wage for subsidized youth employment programs and subsidized transitional employment programs will also be $17.05.

Under the One Fair Wage Compromise Ordinance, tipped workers who earn a subminimum wage of $12.96 per hour will remain at that rate until the next scheduled increase on July 1, 2028.

No Gas Tax Increase — For Now

Most notably absent from the swath of new laws going into effect this summer is a gas tax hike, which was temporarily suspended last week.

According to Illinoispolicy.org, the tax had been set to rise to 49.6 cents per gallon under the automatic annual inflation increase in the 2019 Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office, the newly passed FY2027 budget delays that increase for six months.