New IL laws in 2026 address missing persons investigations, sexual assault victims, police hiring

CHICAGO (WLS) -- New laws will go into effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2026.

Here's a look at some of the legislation.

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Squatter Bill

The Illinois "Squatter Bill" will make it easier for police to remove squatters from someone's home, bypassing a possibly months-long eviction process.

Previously, squatters were allowed to stay at the property during the court process to get them out.

Rights for safer homes

A new Illinois law will require landlords to include a summary of the special housing rights that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault have under six state statutes on the first page of each written residential lease or lease renewal.

A University of Illinois Chicago professor and her students from a domestic violence law course helped create the legislation.

Safety on DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Another law aims to reduce crashes and fatalities on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

The legislation commissions the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago to study crash data, driving behavior and whether traffic enforcement technologies could prevent hazardous driving on the Chicago traffic corridor.

Grocery Tax Change

The new year also brings changes that will impact your wallet.

The state is eliminating the 1% tax on groceries, but the new law does allow local municipalities to impose their own, which more than 600 have done. Chicago is not one of them.

Scott's Law Expanding

Protections will be strengthened for roadside emergency workers, pedestrians and others who step in to help during traffic incidents.

Building on Illinois' existing "Move Over" law, the measure ensures people are safe at active emergency scenes - not only when vehicles are stopped.

Safe Schools for All

Illinois schools will be prohibited from disclosing or threatening to disclose information about a student's immigration status or the immigration status of a person associated with the child.

House Bill 3247, which passed the General Assembly in the final days of the spring session in May and was signed into law Aug. 15, prohibits schools from excluding or discouraging students from attending school or taking part in school programs based on their immigration status or that of their parents or guardians.

"In the face of federal threats to our schools and students, our communities came together and organized to demand that our state leaders stand up for education for all Illinois children," Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said in a statement after the bill's final approval.

"While the right to safe and free public education remains under attack from Trump and leaders in other states, Illinois has the opportunity to continue to uphold our values."

The law specifically prohibits schools from requesting or collecting information from a student, their parents or guardians about their citizenship or immigration status unless the information is required by state or federal law.

It also prohibits schools from disclosing information about their immigration or citizenship status to any other person or entity, including immigration and law enforcement agencies, unless required to do so under federal law.

In addition, starting July 1, schools that violate those prohibitions can be sued in civil court for actual damages.

It also ensures that children are not denied a free public K-12 education based on theirs or their parents' perceived or actual immigration status.

Scholarships and immigration status

Another new law expands the types of publicly funded scholarships students can qualify for regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

Illinois law already extends eligibility for state-funded student financial aid such as the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants, to any student who meets Illinois residency requirements. House Bill 460, which was signed into law in August, expands that to include programs administered by local units of government.

Felony gun possession diversion program

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke supported this law that will streamline the process for first-time nonviolent offenders charged in the lowest-level felony gun possession cases to come into compliance with state possession requirements for firearms.

It allows eligible offenders to participate in a court-approved diversion program and apply for their Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) Card when all conditions of the program have been met.

Enhanced opioid overdose reporting measure

To increase transparency and provide additional data on opioid overdose in Illinois, this law will enhance reporting standards.

It will ensure all municipalities report overdoses using the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program tool - a free web-based tool that works to provide the most up-to-date suspected overdose surveillance data to support public safety and health efforts.

This law requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with stakeholders to utilize overdose data collected by EMTs to identify areas of need and bolster harm reduction efforts. It also strengthens patient protections to ensure ODMAP data is used to guide public health strategies, not for law enforcement purposes.

Previously, Illinois law only required Chicago EMS providers to report overdose information using the ODMAP tool.

Police K-9s to receive long-term care following retirement

House Bill 3140 establishes the Police K-9 Care Program and Police K-9 Care Fund. With many K-9s having spending their entire lives training to protect the state, the new law ensures they get the care they need after they complete their service. The initiative, started by the Illinois State Police Command Officers Association, will provide funding to support the medical needs of retired K-9 officers.

The fund ensures retired K-9s will receive stable, consistent support for their ongoing veterinary needs.

End-of-life Medication of Terminally Ill Patients

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law allowing some adults with a terminal illness to take their own lives with medical help. Senate Bill 1950, or the Medical Aid And Dying Bill, will take effect on Sept. 12, 2026.

It allows terminally ill adults, with a six-month or less prognosis, the option to request a prescription, which they can self-ingest to die on their own terms, from their doctor.

Effort to streamline missing persons investigations

Senate Bill 24 eliminates any law enforcement policy requiring the observance of a waiting period before accepting a missing persons report. The bill also requires information from a missing persons report to be immediately entered into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System upon reception of a report. Under the measure, law enforcement agencies must adopt a strategy regarding missing persons investigations, reporting and follow-up action.

If a person remains missing for 60 days, law enforcement agencies are required to obtain and enter their photographs, fingerprint records and dental or skeletal radiographs and biological samples into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The bill requires law enforcement to keep missing persons cases under active investigation until the person is located and returned or law enforcement cannot close a case due to exhaustion of leads.

Expanding access to comprehensive care for sexual assault survivors

This law strengthens how hospitals provide care in the aftermath of an assault - ensuring survivors receive the timely treatment and support they need.

It builds on the work of the state's Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Services Task Force, which was formed in 2018 to strengthen Illinois' landmark sexual assault care law. The law focuses on removing barriers and ensuring hospitals provide timely and trauma-informed care to survivors.

It makes a number of updates to how hospitals respond to sexual assault cases, including directing the Illinois Department of Public Health to consider whether travel requirements for a survivor are reasonable when evaluating transfers. The law ensures area-wide hospital plans are responsive to the needs of their region and also expands reimbursement eligibility, allowing designated transfer hospitals to be reimbursed for treatment and follow-up care if a survivor chooses not to transfer for a forensic exam.

To facilitate survivor-centered care, the law increases training opportunities for medical professionals, particularly those providing care to pediatric survivors. Informed consent will now be required before evidence collection, and specific guidance will clarify when and how pediatric evidence may be collected and tested.

New measure to strengthen collective bargaining process for CPS principals

There is now a collective bargaining process for Chicago Public Schools principals and the Chicago Board of Education when an agreement can't be reached.

House Bill 297 mandates that Chicago Public Schools principals and assistant principals now have a process to avail themselves to when a collective bargaining impasse occurs without permitting the educational supervisors to strike. The law stipulates that the existing terms of employment would remain in effect during the arbitration process, helping to avoid labor disruptions and uncertainty for CPS staff, families and students.

Alicia's Law strengthens protections against online child exploitation

The new law grants the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation broader jurisdiction to pursue online child exploitation cases and work alongside local task forces across the state. It will usher in improved response times, close jurisdictional gaps and strengthen coordination between agencies working to protect children from digital threats. The measure is modeled off of Alicia's Law, a national initiative that empowers specialized law enforcement units to track and prosecute predators who target children online.

In addition to expanding protections for children, the law includes several technical changes to update ISP's procedures related to task force liability coverage, the handling of commercial vehicle safety checks and the security of criminal justice systems, including the data these systems hold and the agencies that manage it.

Police hiring practices after Sonya Massey murder

A more comprehensive review of prospective law enforcement officers prior to hiring will be required.

Senate Bill 1953 requires law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer's past employment to ensure his or her fitness for duty as a police officer before making an offer of employment.

The law expands the creation of sheriff's merit boards and sheriff's merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.

Statute of limitations for child trafficking

A new law will allow individuals trafficked or exploited as minors more time to bring forth charges.

House Bill 2602 will extend the time limit for filing criminal charges in cases of forced labor, trafficking or related offenses by allowing charges to be brought at any time if the victim was under 18 years old when the crime occurred.

Response to human trafficking

This law will lead to earlier identification and strengthen support for survivors through better coordination, training and services.

It takes a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to addressing human trafficking. The law builds on recommendations from the Joint Human Trafficking Working Group - created in 2023 with input from over 60 stakeholders and state agencies - and lays out a statewide strategic plan to support trafficking survivors. This includes creating standards of care for medical and legal providers and building a network of accessible services.

Training will expand for staff in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services, Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Corrections to improve the ability to identify and support trafficking victims - particularly youth in state care. It also strengthens screening procedures for at-risk individuals within the justice system.

The law supports the creation of multidisciplinary task forces to help law enforcement coordinate across jurisdictions. It also eliminates the 25-year statute of limitations for trafficking survivors, allowing survivors who were trafficked as minors to seek justice at any point in their healing process.

Due process for FOID card holders

A new law will create an expedited review process for individuals challenging the revocation of their FOID card due to being deemed a "clear and present danger."

Road safety and DMV modernization

New multi-pronged legislation provides clarification on cheating on DMV exams, allows the office to administer written tests online and enhances bicycle safety.

The measure clarifies that any attempt to have someone else provide answers to an individual taking a DMV exam, including attempts to use a hidden microphone or cell phone, constitutes cheating.

It also enhances the office's Rules of the Road publication to include information about the laws and best practices for safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians. In addition, it requires that before passing a cyclist, a driver of a vehicle must make a lane change.

Enhancing library security

Amid an increase in threats of violence to libraries and librarians across Illinois, the secretary of state's office can now issue security grants for libraries throughout the state, ensuring their ability to provide a safe environment for patrons, employees and the community, the secretary of state's office said.

Under the new law, grant applicants have the ability to request funding to install equipment, including security cameras, silent alarms or security checkpoints.

Rogue towing

This legislation strengthens oversight of towing companies to protect Illinoisans from predatory practices.

The law empowers the secretary of state's office to suspend tow truck registrations for companies that fail to pay Illinois Commerce Commission fines or penalties. It also improves consumer protections during towing and vehicle impoundment, including clarified rules around personal property left in towed vehicles.

Enabling court of claims e-filing

A new law will modernize the way the Illinois Court of Claims operates, transforming it from a court currently reliant on paper filings and in-person sessions that can cause delays.

The measure will save time and create new conveniences for Illinoisans by enabling the court to hold sessions remotely and allowing the public to file claims, provide evidence or testimony, and pay fees electronically.

Upgrading Chicago firetrucks, ambulances

A new law sets aside funding for the city of Chicago to modernize and purchase emergency service vehicles, like fire trucks and ambulances.

It sets aside 10% of funds collected from ambulance rides and places them in a dedicated fund for upgrades emergency service vehicles in the city of Chicago. The city collects around $200 million every year from private insurance companies for ambulance transportation. These collected funds are placed into the city's general revenue fund where they are being used for purposes unrelated to emergencies.

Hotel soaps phased out

The phase-out of small, single-use plastic bottles in Illinois hotel rooms continues.

Senate Bill 2960, passed and signed into law in 2024, bars hotels from providing toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and bath soap in less than six-ounce plastic containers unless specifically requested by the hotel guest.

The ban took effect in hotels with 50 or more rooms on July 1 and takes effect for all hotels starting in 2026. Hotels in violation will receive a written warning for the first offense and be subject to fines of up to $1,500 for each subsequent violation.

The legislation is intended to spur the state's hospitality industry to reduce its plastic footprint by shifting to either refillable toiletry containers or larger plastic bottles.

Similar laws have been enacted in states like California, New York and Washington.

Safer gear for firefighters

Illinois will take first steps towards requiring safer gear for firefighters.

Under House Bill 2409, manufacturers of firefighter turnout gear starting in 2026 must provide written notice if their products contain PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."

Numerous scientific studies have linked exposure to PFAS to an increased risk of developing various forms of cancer.

Manufacturers will be banned from selling turnout gear and personal protective equipment containing PFAS altogether starting on Jan. 1, 2027.

Lift-assist fees

House Bill 2336 allows municipalities or fire districts to charge assisted living facilities or nursing homes for calls to fire departments requesting help lifting a resident when it is not an emergency.

The bill was an initiative of the Illinois Municipal League, which argued the calls to fire departments for the nonemergency service are a burden on local governments and shift liabilities for injuries that happen during the process to fire departments rather than the facility.

Stadium funding

Senate Bill 2772 adds women's professional sports to the types of facilities the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority can oversee. Current law only allows the ISFA to oversee sports facilities for baseball, football and auto racing.

The bill is not designed to move any team's stadium proposals forward, though the Chicago Stars women's soccer team has previously been reported to be interested in building a new stadium with help from state funding.

The bill was the only one related to sports stadium funding that advanced in Springfield in 2025. The Chicago Bears committed earlier this year to building a stadium in Arlington Heights but are still waiting for approval from the village and struggling to find support in Springfield for funding.

Public official privacy

House Bill 576 allows state lawmakers, constitutional officers and state's attorneys, among others, to request that their personal information be redacted on public websites.

Public officials would be able to use their campaign funds to pay for personal security services and security upgrades to their home, including security systems, cameras, walls, fences and other physical improvements.

Rewilding

House Bill 2726 allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to implement rewilding as a conservation strategy for the state.

This could entail the restoration of land to its natural state and the reintroduction of native species, especially apex predators and keystone species like bison and beavers.

Illinois is believed to be the first state to codify the strategy into law.

Reservation app regulations

State lawmakers voted this year to crackdown on third-party restaurant reservation apps.

House Bill 2456 prohibits third-party reservation services from selling reservations without a restaurant's permission. Restaurants are still allowed to partner with the services.

Naloxone in libraries

House Bill 1910 requires that libraries maintain a supply of opioid overdose medication, like naloxone. This drug is often administered through a nasal spray like Narcan. The law also requires that at least one staff member be trained to identify overdoses and administer the drug.

AI in employment decisions

An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, House Bill 3773, prohibits use of AI in employment decisions such as recruitment, hiring and promotion if that use results in discrimination due to race, religion, sex and age.

The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, will require employers to disclose use of AI in employment decisions. The measure, however, could potentially run afoul of a recent order that limits how states can regulate AI.

Artificial Intelligence in college

The rapid deployment in recent years of new technologies like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemeni has raised a host of new questions for educators. Should students be allowed to use them in lieu of doing their own reading and writing? And should schools themselves be allowed to use them in lieu of human instructors to lead classes?

Illinois lawmakers addressed some of those questions.

House Bill 1859 requires community colleges to ensure that faculty members who teach courses must be actual people who meet the qualifications to hold their positions. It also provides that colleges may not, in lieu of a faculty member, use AI programs "as the sole source of instruction." It does, however, allow faculty members to use AI as a teaching tool in their classrooms.

"Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that can enhance both students' and teachers' capability to learn and teach, but it cannot replace an instructor," Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, the bill's lead House sponsor, said in a statement. "This legislation clarifies that college courses must be taught by real people, not AI."

AI at elementary and secondary schools

Lawmakers were less specific about how AI should be handled at the elementary and secondary education levels. Instead, they directed the Illinois State Board of Education to develop broad guidelines.

Senate Bill 1920 directs ISBE to develop statewide guidance for districts and educators on the use of AI in K-12 settings. That includes a basic explanation of what AI is and how it works as well as descriptions of how it can be used in the classroom "to inform teaching and learning practices while preserving the human relationships essential to effective teaching and learning."

The law also directs ISBE to include guidance on the impact AI systems and applications could have on student data privacy, on best practices for teaching students about responsible and ethical uses of AI, and the dangers of "unintentional and disparate biases against special populations inherent within artificial intelligence products."

The law directs ISBE to publish those guidelines by July 1.

Documenting domestic violence

House Bill 1278 prevents employers from disciplining employees for using work devices to document domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence or other forms of violence against them or a family member. Employers also have to grant employees access to such documentation and communications stored on the devices.

The law was inspired by a New York woman who used her work device to document domestic abuse committed by her husband. She was disciplined by her employer and later murdered by her husband.

Workplace transparency

House Bill 3638 amends the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act to broaden the definition of "unlawful employment practice" to include any act prohibited by the Illinois Human Rights Act, the federal Civil Rights Act and any other state or federal law covering employment issues.

Employment contracts can also no longer include terms that limit an employee's ability to engage in "concerted activity" like collective bargaining. And it prohibits contract stipulations that shorten the statute of limitations for employee claims, apply the law of another state to claims or require claims be resolved outside Illinois.

Paid leave for organ donors

House Bill 1616 extends paid leave requirements for organ donors to part-time employees.

Under the law, workers can use up to 10 days leave per year to serve as an organ donor. Part-time workers' pay for these days will be their average daily pay rate over the previous two months.

Military honors

Under Senate Bill 220, employers with more than 50 workers must offer up to eight hours of paid leave per month - capped at 40 hours per calendar year - for employees to participate in a military funeral honors detail. It is in addition to regular paid time off.

Unemployment benefits

House Bill 3200 allows for someone who voluntarily leaves their job for mental health reasons to be eligible for unemployment benefits. It is a three-year pilot program that sunsets Dec. 24, 2028.

Other new laws of note:

- HB3039 authorizes districts to award credits to seventh and eighth graders who enroll in high school classes as long as they pass both the course and the end-of-course examination demonstrating they have achieved high school-level proficiency.
- HB1366 requires districts to notify the parents or guardians of students with special needs that they have a right to bring a third-party advocate with them to meetings about their student's Individual Education Plan, or IEP meetings.
- HB2474 protects nursing home residents from retaliation should they file complaints, seek assistance, or participate in investigations, among other actions
- HB4439 designates the soybean as the official state bean of the state of Illinois
- SB0727 creates the Safe Public Drinking Water Act to set a timeline for adopting federal PFAS standards for drinking water and require sampling of certain community water supplies for 1,4-Dioxane
- SB8 increases gun storage safety requirements and reporting requirements for lost and stolen firearms.
- SB 212 requires employers to provide paid break time to nursing mothers so they may express or "pump" breast milk for their child.
- SB 314 requires a physical fitness center to clearly disclose any change in the cost of or reduction in benefits to a customer's gym membership at least 60 days before the automatic renewal of the membership.
- SB 710 allows the Department of Natural Resources to issue two free deer permits to individuals who qualify for the youth-only deer season, allows IDNR to issue nuisance permits to landowners whose property is being damaged by deer.
-SB 1548 establishes a Golden Search Awareness Program to raise awareness of missing persons with developmental disabilities.
- HB 2517 expands implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois to include training in potential maternal health risk factors associated with increased mortality rate.
- HB 3773 makes it illegal for employers to use AI that discriminates against workers based on protected characteristics or uses ZIP codes as a stand-in for those traits in areas like hiring, promotion, job training and more.

See more laws here.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.