New Illinois laws for 2025 and what's next for lawmakers
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The Illinois General Assembly is back in Springfield next week, with the chance to advance legislation lawmakers couldn't knock out before the holidays.
Why it matters: Legislators are considering a bill that would make name changes easier, something transgender people and survivors of domestic violence support.
- The bill would eliminate a requirement to publish a public notice of a name change, and petitioners could request that their address be omitted from court documents if it could put them or their family in danger.
State of play: Domestic violence survivors and other advocates are also hoping lawmakers take action on "Karina's Bill," which would allow law enforcement to remove a person's firearm immediately if requested by a domestic violence survivor in an emergency order of protection.
Context: Karina's Bill was back in the news late last year after a man allegedly killed his wife after a judge denied a petition to retain the man in jail until his trial.
Also potentially on the docket: Legislation that would make it easier for children in foster care to live with family members, something child welfare advocates say would offer children more stability, Capitol News Illinois reports.
Zoom out: In addition to new bills to consider, about 300 new laws are in effect as of Jan. 1.
Minimum wage: The state minimum wage increased from $14 to $15.
- Tipped workers in Illinois are now getting $9 an hour, up from $8.40.
- Illinois is one of 21 states where the minimum wage is going up this year.
- Tipped workers in Chicago got a bump earlier this year up to $11.02 an hour, something some restaurant owners worried would affect their profits.
Pay transparency: Employers with 15 or more employees now need to list pay scale and benefits for every posted position.
- Women and people of color are historically paid less than their white male counterparts, and proponents of the transparency practice say this would help mitigate that by making pay public.
Reproductive rights: An expansion of the Human Rights Act, the new law protects people from discrimination based on medical decisions such as fertility assistance and abortion.
- It applies to the workplace, housing, financial credit and other areas.
Statute of limitations: Illinois residents now have two years, up from 300 days, to file a complaint if they faced discrimination, harassment or retaliation during employment or while seeking public and financial services.
- Caveat: The extension does not apply to housing complaints, which allow for one year to file a charge.
Insurance coverage: A number of new laws require group insurance to cover various medical needs and dependents including:
- Police officer and firefighter mental health therapy
- A parent who relies on the insured for care
- Genetic cancer screening
- Doulas and midwives
- At-home pregnancy tests prescribed by a doctor.
What's next: The legislative session begins Wednesday.
Go deeper: More new laws in 2025