For downstate Illinois residents who want to break away from Chicago and the suburbs and form their own state, two Southern Illinois University Carbondale researchers have an emphatic caution:
Don't do it.
Jackson
In this Sunday, May 31, 2020, file photo, Northbound Lake Shore Drive sits empty of motorists traveling to downtown Chicago as police force traffic off at the 31st Street exit, as part of a security perimeter around the downtown area.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs legislation "that will help make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Illinois residents that rely on the state’s Medicaid system," according to the governor's office.
See the new Illinois laws that took effect July 1
665 bills
Updated
The Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly approved 665 bills this legislative session, with the vast majority awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker's signature.
But, Pritzker has signed 42 bills into law. A handful of those will take effect Jan. 1, 2022, but most went into effect immediately upon signing or will take effect this Thursday.
Here are some notable new laws in effect now or on Thursday that Illinoisans should know.
School funding
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The state's $42.3 billion budget allocates $9.2 billion for K-12 public schools. It includes an additional $350 million as called for under the state's evidence-based funding model. The increase was initially left out of Pritzker's budget, but better-than-expected revenues allowed lawmakers to maintain the increased investment. (Senate Bill 2800)
Election reform
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With pandemic-related delays to U.S. Census redistricting numbers, lawmakers moved back the state's 2022 primary election from March 15 to June 28. The legislation also makes Election Day a state holiday, requires every county to have at least one universal voting center and allow people to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list. (SB825)
Vote by mail
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Some pandemic-induced changes to voting for the 2020 general election, such as vote-by-mail and curbside drop-off, will now be permanent features of future elections. (House Bill 1871)
State legislative redistricting
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As they are tasked with doing every 10 years, lawmakers approved new district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate. The Democrat-drawn maps, which utilized the U.S. Census' American Community Survey instead of waiting for the decennial census numbers that will arrive later this year, have been challenged in court by Republicans and some other groups. (HB2777)
Illinois Supreme Court redistricting
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The nine-person Illinois Supreme Court's district boundaries were successfully redrawn for the first time since the 1960s. Again, the map is being challenged by Republicans. (SB642)
Police reform
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There was no more controversial bill that passed this year than House Bill 3653, also known as the SAFE-T Act, which passed during the lame duck session this January. The provisions ending cash bail and requiring all police to wear body cameras will not take effect until 2023 and 2025, respectively. But starting Thursday, police will be required to render aid to the injured, intervene when a fellow officer is using excessive force and and be limited in use of force. It also offers stricter guidelines for the decertification of officers and would allow people to file anonymous complaints of police misconduct. (HB3653)
Payday loans
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Lenders are now prohibited from charging more than 36% annual percentage rate on consumer loans. The average rate in Illinois was nearly 300% prior to the law's signing. (SB1792)
Vaccine lottery
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Tucked into the state's fiscal year 2022 budget is $10 million for a "vaccine lottery." All Illinois residents vaccinated by July 1 will be automatically entered into the contest. It includes $7 million in cash prizes to vaccinated adults, ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and $3 million in scholarship awards to vaccinated youth. (SB2800)
College athletes' compensation
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Starting July 1, Illinois college athletes will be allowed to financially benefit from their name, image and likeness, such as through product endorsements, the signing of autographs or having their names appear in video games. (SB2338)
COVID-19 emergency housing
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Created guidelines for distributing more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds for COVID-related housing relief. Also creates automatic sealing of evictions during the pandemic.
Pretrial interest
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Victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases will be allowed to collect interest from defendants from the time a lawsuit is filed. It is meant to incentivize settlement of these cases. It was supported by the trial lawyers and opposed by business groups. (SB72)
Casino labor
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All casino applicants in Illinois are now required to enter into a project-labor agreement when seeking a new or renewed license. (SB1360)
Crime victims compensation
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Provides that a victim's criminal history or felony status shall not automatically prevent compensation to that victim or the victim's family. Extends the applicant's period for submitting requested information to 45 days from 30 days and provides that a final award shall not exceed $45,000, up from $27,000, for a crime committed on or after August 7, 2022. (HB3295)
Electronic signature
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Provides that a contract, record, or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because it is in electronic form or an electronic record was used in its formation. Provides that if a law requires a record to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies the law. (SB2176)