Almost 300 new laws took effect in Illinois as of Jan. 1, including ones governing how citizens get IDs, what information is included in job postings and how people can cancel gym memberships.
Here some of the changes that Hinsdale residents should be aware of, including ones co-sponsored by the village’s General Assembly lawmakers, with contributing reporting by Capitol News Illinois.
The state’s minimum wage is now $15, completing a six-year ramp-up initiated during Gov. JB Pritzker’s first month in office in 2019.
Also in the workplace, employers with 15 or more employees must now include information about benefits and salary range on job postings. And companies are prohibited from discriminating or taking adverse action against employees because of their responsibilities as a caregiver for a family member, which could cause them to miss work.
The secretary of state can begin creating a process to issue digital driver’s licenses and state IDs this year. Residents will still be required to receive a physical ID, and agencies or private entities will not be required to accept digital IDs in place of physical IDs.
Gyms and fitness centers must accept multiple ways for people to cancel their membership, including by mail, email and online.
Businesses that offer a free trial or promotional period for their product or service longer than 15 days must notify customers at least three days before the subscription automatically renews at a paid rate.
Several new regulations relating to artificial intelligence have taken effect. Child pornography can no longer be generated using AI, and protections have been instituted to prohibit using AI to recreate a person’s voice, image or likeness for commercial purposes without the person’s consent.
To help first responders, Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-82, Lemont) co-sponsored legislation to provide police officers and firefighters with mental health counseling without any cost-sharing requirement.
“I value supporting our men and women who serve our communities and see their wellbeing as a priority,” La Ha remarked in a posted statement.
Also in the area of health care, short-term health insurance plans have been deemed illegal because they do not meet the minimum standards of the federal Affordable Care Act. A ban also has been enacted on so-called “step therapy,” which requires patients to try and fail treatments preferred by insurance companies before they can receive the treatment recommended by their doctor.
State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-23, Western Springs) sponsored a measure prohibiting pharmacists from refusing to fill paper or non-electronic prescriptions.
“Pharmacies must accept doctors’ prescriptions for approved medication regardless of how the prescription is sent to them,” Glowiak Hilton said in a statement.
The move was in response to 2021 legislation that required prescriptions of controlled substances to be sent electronically to counteract the opioid epidemic. However, Hilton stated some pharmacists have been refusing to fill non-electronic prescriptions despite exceptions under the law.
“Denying someone of their medication could have serious medical consequences,” Glowiak Hilton commented. “These are unnecessary barriers that must be addressed in our pharmacies to prevent potential harm.”
