New Illinois Laws 2018: Business, Commerce, Labor, Regulation

Mobilization payments (HB 284): Requires mobilization payments to be made to subcontractors, such as start-up costs or the purchase of specialized equipment, when the contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation provides for mobilization payments.

Barack Obama Day (SB 55): Designates Aug. 4 of each year as Barack Obama Day in honor of our 44th POTUS, to be celebrated throughout the state.

Esther Golar Day (SB 282): Designates April 16 of each year as Esther Golar Day.

Prompt Payment of Subcontractors (HB 2664): Prohibits contractors, subcontractors or material suppliers with DOT contracts from offsetting, decreasing, or diminishing payments due to subcontractors or material suppliers without reasonable cause.

Life Insurance, Unclaimed Benefits (HB 302): Insurance companies are required to periodically check any unclaimed life insurance policies against a state death registry to ensure families are receiving their due life insurance payouts.

Comptroller Act and Salary Report (HB 623): Changes the State Comptroller Act by requiring State employee salaries to be rounded to the nearest hundred dollar when listing the most recent past year’s salary amounts and the current year’s total amount or monthly amount for the public.

Small Business Grant Program (HB 736): Establishes a small business grant program that will provide money to low‐ income individuals on public aid who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

Banks and Community Reinvestment (HB 823): Requires the Division of Banking to review the federal Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations.

Controlled Substances and Analogs (HB 2534): Adds and removes several scheduled substances from the Illinois Controlled Substances Act to prohibit synthetic drugs like bath salts.

Business-Corporation Expedited Service (HB 2713): Requires that a LLC first obtain a certificate of registration before providing professional services.

Speech‐Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act (SB 771): Extends the repeal date of the Illinois Speech‐Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to Jan. 1, 2028.

Nurse Anesthetist License (SB 1094): Requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to issue a certified registered nurse anesthetist license to an advanced practice nurse who applies for the license before July 1, 2023 (rather than July 1, 2018) and meets certain other requirements.

Cancellation of Insurance Notification (HB 1954): Requires notice of a cancellation of an insurance policy to be mailed to the named insured at the last mailing address known by the company, not to any relevant mortgage or lien holder of the property.

Dry Hydrants (HB 2382): Regulates "dry hydrants" under the Fire Hydrant Act.

Personnel Payroll Certification (HB 2704): Amends the Personnel Code by stating that payroll certifications must be made by an agency head, rather than director of Illinois Central Management Services.

Mortgage Loan Arrears Payment (HB 2965): Amends the Illinois Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987 by requiring a licensee to accept payment in whole month amounts when a mortgage is in arrears more than one month.

Security Deposit Disclosures (HB 3001): Puts regulations in place to ensure transparency when landlords deduct fines and penalties from renters.

Expatriate Entities (HB 3419): Places restrictions on the conditions under which "expatriate entities" may submit bids or enter into contracts with State agencies.

Real Estate Education (HB 3528): Changes the Real Estate License Act to create an education provider license for schools that offer courses in pre‐license, post‐license, or continuing education real estate content, and eliminates licensure for continuing education schools and pre‐license schools.

State Finance Liabilities (HB 3649): Requires each state agency to provide a report to the State Comptroller that details the liabilities held at the agency.

Notary Public Seal Notice (SB 265):Requires notaries to state they are not attorneys or providing legal advice in electronic communications and advertisements, and makes other guidelines for notaries.

Genetic Information (SB 318): Bars employers from penalizing employees who refuse to disclose their genetic information or participate in workplace wellness programs that require disclosure of such information.

Abolish Advisory Board (SB 1478): Abolishes the Radiologic Technologies Accreditation Advisory Board.

Food Service Certification (HB 3684): Eliminates a redundant food handling certificate from the state.

Collateral Recovery Exceptions (SB 1834): Exempts third‐party contractors from the law requiring re‐possessors to register as repossession agents.

Illinois Pension Code (HB 3122): Amends Illinois Municipal Retired Fund provisions of the Illinois Pension Code, providing that any person who holds part‐time office as a member of a governing body is prohibited from participating in an IMRF plan.

Land Surveyor Intern (HB 3322): Provides that when an individual or entity that is not a school district, religious organization, school bus vendor, or school bus company sells a school bus, the recipient must perform certain modifications to the vehicle.

Human Cremated Remains (SB 1586): Allows DNR to establish rules for the public to scatter ashes in a state park.

Criminal History (SB 1688): Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to consider mitigating factors when considering applications for certain licenses, certifications, certificates and registrations.

Volunteer/Emergency Worker (SB 1895): Provides that volunteer firefighters or EMS personal cannot be terminated by their employer for responding to an emergency call or text.

Demographic Data (SB 1670): Requires the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions to offer an option for sexual orientation in applications and requires it to report those numbers.

Designating Official State Exercise (HB 2895): Amends the Illinois State Designations Act by designating cycling as the official State exercise.

Also Watch: New Illinois Laws in 2018 That Could Change Your Life