SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As 2025 draws to a close, Illinois lawmakers are preparing for more than 250 new state laws set to take effect Jan. 1, addressing issues ranging from workplace protections and public safety to health care and consumer rights.
According to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, the new laws include measures that prohibit discriminatory use of artificial intelligence in employment decisions, strengthen gun storage requirements, and expand protections for missing persons and vulnerable populations.
Among the changes, Senate Bill 8 increases firearm storage safety standards and adds new reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns. Senate Bill 24 removes waiting periods for filing missing persons reports and requires law enforcement agencies to immediately enter report information into their data systems.
Several laws focus on health care and family protections. Senate Bill 212 requires employers to provide paid break time for nursing mothers to express breast milk. House Bill 2517 expands implicit bias training for health care workers, including education on maternal health risk factors tied to higher mortality rates.
Public safety and victim support are also addressed. Senate Bill 1274 allows hospital-issued sexual assault service vouchers to be used for taxi or rideshare transportation to a survivor’s home, shelter, or transfer hospital. Senate Bill 1548 establishes a Golden Search Awareness Program for missing persons with developmental disabilities.
Other measures affect consumer rights, education, and the environment. Senate Bill 314 requires fitness centers to notify customers at least 60 days before any membership cost increases or benefit reductions tied to automatic renewals. House Bill 3247 codifies a child’s right to a public education regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 710 expands youth deer hunting permits and authorizes nuisance permits for landowners experiencing property damage from deer.
House Bill 3773 makes it illegal for employers to use artificial intelligence systems that discriminate based on protected characteristics or rely on ZIP codes as a proxy for those traits in hiring, promotion, or job training decisions.
A complete list of laws taking effect Jan. 1 is available through the Illinois General Assembly.
