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:


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