25 New Illinois Laws in 2019 That Could Change Your Life

When you wake up in the New Year, there will be more than 250 new laws taking effect on Jan. 1, 2019 in Illinois. Here are 25 of the most significant and interesting changes to laws applying to police, public safety, pets, veterans, schools, drunken drivers, intoxicants, health, breastfeeding, the elderly, driving and more. See what’s coming your way in the new year:

Transportation, Vehicle Regulation

DUI

Makes driving the wrong way on a one-way road an aggravating factor for DUIs. (HB 0554)

Rear-Facing Child Car Seats

Any child under the age of 2 years old is now required to be properly secured in a rear facing child restraint system. (HB 4377)

‘Dutch Reach’

The “Dutch Reach” method will be included in the Rules of the Road publication and on the written driving exam. Drivers are instructed to look over their left shoulder when parking their vehicles along the curb, so as it not to hit cyclists when opening their car doors. (HB 5143)

Suspended Licenses

Penalties for Drivers caught driving with a license suspended for unpaid parking fines, automated camera enforcement or unpaid child support will be lowered to a petty offense. (HB 03920)

Corrections

Expectant Mothers In Jail

Women who are pregnant and in jail while awaiting trial shall be given an alternative to custody is there is reason to believe they will give birth while in custody. (HB 01464)

Inmate Visits

Allows inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections to have seven in-person visits per month. Each inmate may submit a list of 30 people that are authorized to visit. (HB 4741)

Crime

Revenge Porn

Victims of revenge porn or posting of their identifying or graphic information on a pornographic website may be eligible to receive compensation under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. (HB 5267)

Carnies, Roustabouts

Carnivals, amusement enterprises or fairs will be required to conduct background checks on all of their employees. (SB 03240)

Violent Offenders

Registrants of the Illinois Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry may petition for removal from the list. (SB 03489)

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Adds synthetic cannabinoids to the Controlled Substances Act. (SB 2341)

Mugshots and Criminal Records

Any website displaying an individual’s criminal record or mugshot will be required to remove information within 30 days upon written request without charging a fee. (SB 02560)

Law

Suing Pimps

Victims of sex trafficking or involuntary servitude can bring civil action against their traffickers, if he/she pleads guilty to or his convicting of his or her trafficking. The law allows victims to recover actual sustained damages, court costs determined by the court. (HB 2063)

Nursing Mothers

Nursing mothers will be excused from jury service upon request. (HB 05745)

Domestic Violence Survivors

This law waives the publication requirement for domestic violence survivors filing a name change petition. (SB 02330)

Public Safety

FOID Card Ineligibility

Expands the definition of “patient” and other changes to the FOID Card Act, making more individuals ineligible to hold a FOID card. (HB 4855)

Lethal Order of Protection

Family members or police who believe someone is a threat to themselves or others, may go to a judge to temporarily remove that person’s guns. (HB 2354)

Schools and Education

Active Shooter Drills

Schools will be required to conduct at least one active shooter drill in conjunction with local law enforcement at least once per year. (SB 2350)

High School Dental Exams

Children entering the ninth grade of any public, private or parochial schools will now be required to have a dental examination. Currently, dental exams are required for students entering kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade. (HB 4908)

Black History Month

Community colleges and public institutions of higher education in Illinois will be required to offer a course studying Black History. (HB 04346)

Animals

Pet Micro-chipping

If a dog or cat has been micro chipped and primary contact listed by the chip manufacturer cannot be located or refuses to reclaim the pet, an attempt must be made to contact secondary contacts listed by the chip manufacturer or if the purchaser is a non-profit organization, animal shelter, animal control facility, pet store or vet’s office prior to adoption, transfer or euthanization. (SB 2380)

“Reckless” Dog Owner

The owner of a dog that is deemed dangerous for killing another dog and is found running at large twice in 12 months, could be determined as a “reckless dog owner.” A reckless dog owner is prohibited from owning dogs for between 12 and 36 months. (SB 2386)

Threatened Animals

A law enforcement officer will be allowed to take temporary custody of a dog or cat, if the animal is exposed to a life-threatening situation that may result in injury. (SB 02270)

Me Too

Sexual Harassment Training

Applicants and license renewal applicants for licensing through the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation are now required to provide a sexual harassment training program. (HB 04953)

EDGE Credits

A sexual harassment policy will be required for all companies bidding under the state’s procurement code. Companies that claim EDGE credits will also be required to include their sexual harassment policy in their annual report to the state. (SB 00405)

Business

Patient Brokering Ban

Bans the practice of “patient brokering” where companies use false or misleading advertising directing patients to out-of-state mental health or addiction recovery where there insurance may not be accepted. (HB 04949)

Check Out All New Illinois Laws 2019

Review ALL the new laws that take effect on Jan. 1:

• Animals, Agriculture, Natural Resources
• Business, Commerce, Labor, Regulation
• Children and Families
• Consumers
• Crime, Courts, Corrections, Cops
• Energy and Environment
• Ethics, Transparency, Local Government
• Health and Human Services
• Schools and Education
• State Government
• Taxes, Revenue, Fees
• Transportation and Vehicle Regulation
• Veterans