SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — With the calendar turning to 2024 on Monday comes 320 new state laws for Illinois residents to navigate.
Some will have widespread effect, including a law banning semi-automatic rifles and another requiring paid time off.
But others will have no immediate or noticeable impact, including a law that allows county governments to consider a potential contractor’s participation in an approved apprenticeship program to determine the winning low bid for a project.
One law that went into effect in 2019 but still affects tens of thousands of workers is an increase in the minimum wage.
It increases to $14 an hour on Jan. 1 for non-tipped workers and will reach $15 within a year.
Here are some of the other major changes to Illinois state law effective New Year’s Day:
BAN ON SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
The Supreme Court has not taken up the case of Illinois’ ban on the sale, possession or manufacture of automatic weapons like those used in a mass shooting at a 2023 Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.
An Illinois law banning the sale, possession and manufacture of certain semi-automatic weapons will take effect in 2024. AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File
The law prohibits dozens of specific brands or types of rifles and handguns, including .50-caliber handguns, accessories and rapid-fire devices. No rifle will be allowed to hold more than 10 rounds, with a 15-round limit for handguns.
Those who have previously purchased such weapons must register them with the Illinois State Police by January 1.
BOOK BAN BAN
Libraries that ban books indiscriminately will not be able to receive state funds. They must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights which states that “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or opinions of those who contribute to their creation.”
Illinois libraries that ban books will not be eligible to receive state funds, according to a new law. AP Photo/Claire Savage, File
The library association reported that attempts to censor books reached a 20-year high in 2022, especially those with LGBTQ+ themes and those written by people of color.
PAID TIME OFF
Employers must offer paid vacation time for any reason.
Workers will accumulate one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to a total of 40 hours.
Employers can offer more than 40 hours and employees can take time off after working for 90 days.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at an event before signing the Paid Leave for All Workers Act into law on March 13, 2023 in Chicago. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File
ALLOWED AIR FRESHENERS
Police will no longer be able to stop a motorist solely because there is an object hanging from their rearview mirror.
The law was passed after Daunte Wright was arrested in Minnesota in 2021 for having a hanging air freshener.
He was shot when the officer, reaching for his stun gun, grabbed his weapon.
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NO VIDEO CONFERENCES ON THE ROAD
Video conferencing, streaming or accessing a social media website while driving will be prohibited.
There will be an exception for video on a hands-free or voice-activated device or an app that requires no more than one button press to activate or end.
DO NOT VAP INDOOR
Vaping or smoking a cigarette or e-cigarette will be prohibited in an indoor public space. The law adds electronic smoking devices to the list of items prohibited in indoor public places under the Smoke-Free Illinois Act of 2008, which prohibited the use of regular tobacco products indoors.
LICENSE LICENSE READER RESTRICTIONS
Interstate agreements between law enforcement agencies should specify that license plate reading technology not be used in cars driven by women coming to Illinois for abortions.
SURVEILLANCE DRONES
After the Highland Park parade shooting, lawmakers approved the use of drones by law enforcement to monitor “en route” or “special” events.
Drones may not be equipped with weapons or facial recognition technology.
Pritzker signs bill prohibiting libraries from banning books on June 12, 2023 in Chicago. State of Illinois via AP, File
FAVORITE PORN
Victims of digital deepfakes known as deepfake pornography can file civil lawsuits against anyone who shares or threatens to share an image that falsely depicts a person exposing their genitals or other private parts or engaging in a sexual act.
Identifying the image as materially altered is not a defense to liability.
BATHROOMS CAN BE MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY FOR ALL GENDER
Businesses have the option to install bathrooms that can be used by either gender simultaneously. Today’s bathrooms can be renovated to accommodate all genders.
Urinals may not be included and stalls must have floor-to-ceiling locking dividers.
VOTER REGISTRATION FOR TEENS
Teens can pre-register to vote at age 16 or 17 while obtaining a driver’s license or state ID card at a driver services office run by the Secretary of State.
When they turn 18, the legal voting age, they will already be registered to vote.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn