Politics & Government
25 New Illinois Laws in 2018 That Could Change Your Life
Elephant ban, Obama day, pet custody, breastfeeding and spreading ashes in state parks all subject to new laws taking effect Jan. 1.
More than 200 new Illinois laws go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. Here are 25 of the most significant and interesting changes to laws applying to police, public safety, pet custody, veterans, drunken drivers, intoxicants, health, internet security, breastfeeding, the elderly, schools, divorce, driving violations, elephants and more. See what’s coming your way in the new year.
Vehicle Code
Donate Life
Sixteen- and 17-year-old drivers now have the option to sign up to become organ and tissue donors when they apply for a new Illinois driver’s license or state ID, providing hope for hundreds of Illinoisians waiting for organ transplants. (HB 1805)
DUI
Removes the statute of limitations on prosecution for aggravated DUIs causing death. (HB 3084)
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Dealership Stickers
Car dealers are prohibited from letting motorists drive off the premises in a vehicle with any signs, painting or decals on windows that could obstruct the driver’s view. (HB 733)
Schools, Education
Pre-School Expulsions
Early childhood education programs that receive funding from the Illinois State Board of Education will have to find other options to help children who’ve been expelled from preschool. (HB 2663)
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Breastfeeding
Public and charter schools will be required to provide reasonable breastfeeding accommodations for students. (HB 2369)
Tampons and Sanitary Napkins
School districts will make feminine hygiene products available and free for students. (HB 3215)
Government
Spreading Ashes
Allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to establish rules for the public to scatter human cremated remains in a state park. (SB 1586)
Reproductive Rights
Abortion
Removes the trigger provision from the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 that would make abortion illegal again in Illinois in the event Roe vs. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. (HB 40)
Public Safety
Repeat Gun Offenders
Creates tougher sentencing guidelines for repeat gun offenders while working to keep nonviolent offenders out of prison. (SB 1722)
Hate Crimes
Adds crimes committed on the grounds of a religious facility to the definition of a hate crime. Removes the $1,000 restitution cap and allows courts to impose a fine based on the severity of the crime and damages. (HB 2390)
Drug Induced Homicide
Creates an imprisonment term for a person who delivers a fatal dose of a controlled substance to another person. (SB 639)
Internet Security
Cyberstalking
Intimidation, stalking and cyberstalking including the transmission of obscene messages could be considered hate crimes. (HB 3711)
~and~
A related measure expanding cyberstalking penalties and tracking software. (HB 3251)
Family Law
Empowering Domestic Violence Victims
Domestic violence victims won’t have to break cell phone contracts and can keep their numbers when leaving abusers. The new law also allows victims to save related costs for a new account. (SB 57)
Consumer Law
Haircuts and Dry Cleaning
A bill that aims to expose gender-based price discrimination, especially for woman who often end up paying more for haircuts, dry cleaning and other services. Dry cleaners, barbers and tailors are now required to provide price lists for standard services upon request so that consumers can make more informed choices. (SB 298)
Freedom to Yelp
A new law protects consumers’ right to leave positive and negative reviews about a business or restaurant’s services, products or quality of food on Internet sites such as Yelp. (SB 1898)
Animals
Forever Homes
Labs and other facilities shall make reasonable efforts to find homes for dogs and cats used for research. (SB 1884)
Who Gets the Dog?
Who gets custody of Fido or Fluffy can now be included in divorce proceedings when pets are considered marital assets. (SB 1261)
Elephant Ban
African and Asian elephants can no longer be used in circuses or traveling animal acts in Illinois. Confinement and brutal training practices often result in abuse of pachyderms. (SB 1342)
LGBT
Gender Designation
Individuals can now change their gender designation on their birth certificates without undergoing gender transition. (HB 1785)
Veterans
Service Contracts
Military service members can terminate services contracts, such as cable and cellular phone, during deployments. (HB 2449)
Credits for College
Veterans returning to college can transfer military experience into high education credits. (HB 3701)
AND A FEW MORE NEW LAWS
Barack Obama Day
A new Illinois law sets aside Aug. 4 birthday of our 44th president as Barack Obama Day, to honor President Obama’s historic elections in 2008 and 2012. (SB 55)
Official State Grain
Amends the Illinois State Designations Act by designating corn as the official grain of Illinois. (HB 470)
Official Exercise
Amends the Illinois State Designations Act by designating cycling as the official State exercise. (HB 2895)
Check Out All New Illinois Laws 2018
Review ALL the new laws that take effect on Jan. 1:
- AGRICULTURE, ANIMALS AND HUNTING
- BUSINESS, COMMERCE, LABOR AND REGULATION
- CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- CONSUMERS
- CRIME, COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
- ENERGY, UTILITIES, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
- ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
- TAXES AND FEES
- TRANSPORTATION AND VEHICLE REGULATION
- VETERANS
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