More than 200 new laws took effect in Illinois Jan. 1, 2026, and that means a number of things will look different for residents when it comes to healthcare, insurance, employment and more.
Some laws will change how much some prescription drugs may cost, while others make cocktails-to-go permanent in the state. One law designates the soybean as the official state bean of Illinois, and another gives police more authority to treat squatters like trespassers.
Here’s a full list of new Illinois laws for 2026, and below is a list of a few to look out for.
Workplace laws
SB 0212: Will require employers to provide paid breaks for nursing mothers to pump breast milk.
HB 0297: Creates a mandatory interest arbitration procedure for educational supervisors in CPS when a collective bargaining impasse occurs.
HB 1278: Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who use company equipment to record crimes against themselves or their families.
HB 3094: Extends pre-tax commuter benefits to part-time workers.
HB 3638: Expands employee protections around confidentiality agreements and no-rehire clauses.
HB 3773: Prohibits discriminatory use of AI in employment.
HB 1616: Extends paid organ-donation leave to part-time employees.
HB 1787: Updates safety drill requirements for substitute teachers.
SB 1295: Requires CPR-training blocks for medical dispatchers to assist 911 callers over the phone.
Healthcare and insurance
SB 0773: Requires group insurance plans to cover IVF services for most women, and annual menopause visits for women over the age of 45.
SB 1238: Expands insurance coverage for non-opioid pain management medication.
HB 1287: Requires nursing homes to have automatic external defibrillators by Jan. 1, 2030.
HB 1431: Requires hospitals to develop a policy to inform patients they may be charged a facility fee if the hospital charges the fee for outpatient services separate from a professional fee.
SB 1418: Require insurance companies to cover medically necessary screening tests for peripheral artery disease, a move cardiologists and medical experts say could help prevent thousands of unnecessary amputations each year.
SB 1950: Allows for physician-assisted death, making Illinois the first Midwest state to legalize “medial aid in dying.” The law won’t take effect until later in 2026 to allow time for health officials to put processes and protocols in place.
SB 2215: IDPH must provide fertility-assessment information to women aged 25 and older.
HB 2462: Allows trained individuals to carry and administer epi-pens.
HB 2589: Requires pharmacists to sell sterile hypodermic needles to patients who need them for medication administration.
HB 2425: Prohibits life insurance companies from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or charging higher rates if an individual has a past felony conviction.
SB 2672: Requires insurance companies to cover brand-name drugs when generics are unavailable due to shortages.
HB 3248: Requires insurance cover medically-necessary laser hair removal for gender-affirming care.
HB 3327: Requires hospitals to provide information on early intervention programs to parents whose children are admitted to the neonatal intensive care department.
HB 3489: Allows pharmacists to dispense contraceptives, including emergency contraceptives and requires Medicaid coverage.
HB 4180: Insurance coverage required for molecular breast imaging or breast MRI’s when medically necessary.
SB 0073: Requires baby food manufacturers to test monthly for heavy metals, including arsenic and lead.
Education
SB 1920: Directs the Illinois State Board of Education to develop statewide guidance on AI use in schools, and to compile educational materials about the benefits of American Sign Language.
HB 3000: Requires school districts serving students grade 6 and up to have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline on all employee IDs.
HB 3039: Allows 7th and 8th graders to enroll in high school-level courses for credit.
SB 0008: Strengthens requirements for firearms to be placed in secured, locked containers when they are located in areas where children could access them. The bill also requires gun owners to report a firearm stolen within 48 hours instead of 72.
SB 0024: Bans waiting-period requirements before filing a missing-person report.
SB 1941: Allows municipalities to install flashing light indicators at school crosswalks.
HB 3247: Guarantees public education access to all students regardless of immigration status.
State agencies and buildings
SB 0727: Requires Illinois to adopt federal PFAs drinking-water standards and mandate sampling for 1,4-Dioxane in water supplies.
SB 0784: Allows Illinois public safety agencies to assist agencies in neighboring states during disasters like fires, floods and earthquakes.
SB 0899: Authorizes IDOT to restrict vehicle length on state roadways.
HB 1910: Requires all Illinois libraries to stock opioid antagonists and ensures trained staff are present.
HB 1615: Allows courthouses to display the U.S. flag on the grounds rather than exclusively on the roof.
HB 1302: Strengthens procedures and expands rights for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
SB 1883: Prohibits obstructing vehicle-registration plates with tape or other devices.
HB 2409: Requires PFAs disclosure in firefighter gear, with phased bans beginning in 2027.
HB 2774: Requires the Department of Human Services to create a single, simple-to-use phone number for public access to information and referral services for victims of domestic violence.
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