Hundreds of new laws will take effect in Illinois at the start of the new year, impacting the health, safety and education of residents throughout the state.
Numerous new laws will impact insurance coverage in the state, with medically necessary colonoscopies, laser-hair removal for gender affirming care, and menopause visits for women over 45 now required to be covered on plans issued in the state.
Illinois employees will also be protected against discriminatory use of AI in employment, with employers required to inform workers about the usage of AI in hiring decisions.
The statute of limitations on involuntary servitude and human trafficking will be eliminated in the new year, while waiting periods for filing missing persons reports will also be eliminated.
A lot more laws will go into effect in the new year, and here are some of the most noteworthy that will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Health and Wellness
HB 1910: Requires all Illinois libraries to stock opioid antagonists and ensures trained staff are present.
HB 2363: Bans certain compact fluorescent lamps beginning in 2026.
HB 2385: Requires insurance cover medically necessary colonoscopies.
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 3248: Requires insurance cover medically-necessary laser hair removal for gender-affirming care.
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.
SB 0727: Requires Illinois to adopt federal PFAs drinking-water standards and mandate sampling for 1,4-Dioxane in water supplies.
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.
SB 1295: Requires CPR-training blocks for medical dispatchers to assist 911 callers over the phone.
SB 1418: This bill will 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 2215: IDPH must provide fertility-assessment information to women aged 25 and older.
HB 2409: Requires PFAs disclosure in firefighter gear, with phased bans beginning in 2027.
SB 2672: Requires insurance companies to cover brand-name drugs when generics are unavailable due to shortages.
Worker Rights and Employment
HB 1278: Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who use company equipment to record crimes against themselves or their families.
HB 1616: Extends paid organ-donation leave to part-time employees.
HB 2801: Requires ISBE to publish a list of externship and internship opportunities for students.
HB 2987: Mandates stricter safety standards and requires tornado emergency plans for new warehouse facilities.
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.
Education
HB 3039: Allows 7th and 8th graders to enroll in high school-level courses for credit.
HB 3728: Tightens restrictions on how schools may use physical restraint and isolation.
SB 1616: Requires ISBE to produce a calendar of cultural and religious observances to aid school districts in scheduling.
HB 1787: Updates safety drill requirements for substitute teachers.
SB 1920: Directs the Illinois State Board of Education to develop statewide guidance on AI use in schools.
SB 1958: Requires universities to support smoother transfer of credits between institutions.
Immigration
HB 1312: This bill prohibits schools from threatening to disclose the citizenship or immigration status of any employee or student. It also protects residents from civil arrest at courthouses, requires hospitals to establish protocols for immigration agents’ interactions with patients, and prohibits immigration enforcement agents from entering daycares without a signed judicial warrant, among other items.
HB 3247: Guarantees public education access to all students regardless of immigration status.
Criminal Justice
HB 1302: Strengthens procedures and expands rights for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
HB 2548: Bans the sale of self-administered sexual assault evidence-collection kits.
HB 2602: Eliminates the statute of limitations for involuntary servitude or human-trafficking.
HB 2690: Closes legal loopholes related to charging the offense of grooming.
HB 2774: this bill 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.
HB 3140: Establishes a public fund to pay veterinary costs for retired police dogs.
HB 3388: Allows fire departments to use ATVs, watercraft and aircraft for emergency responses.
HB 3671: Allows prosecution of nonconsensual sexual image distribution in either the sender’s location or the victim’s residence.
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 1563: The measure will allow police more authority to remove squatters from properties they have no legal title to. Squatters will in most cases be treated as trespassers, making it possible for police to remove them immediately upon receiving a complaint
Transportation
SB 0899: Authorizes IDOT to restrict vehicle length on state roadways.
SB 1507: Requires UIC to conduct a safety review of traffic on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, including crash data and potential AI camera implementation.
SB 1883: Prohibits obstructing vehicle-registration plates with tape or other devices.
SB 1941: Allows municipalities to install flashing light indicators at school crosswalks.
Various Laws
HB 0042: Allows library boards to charge nonresident library fees quarterly or biannually instead of in one lump sum.
HB 1615: Allows courthouses to display the U.S. flag on the grounds rather than exclusively on the roof.
HB 3176: Requires gaming-related restrictions in the DNR land agreement with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation for Shabbona Lake State Park.
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