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CHICAGO — As a new year rolls in, new Illinois state laws will be going into effect, impacting everything from health care coverage to law enforcement.
As these updates address some of the biggest issues facing the city, many Chicagoans may feel their effects.
Here’s a look at some of the new laws for 2026:
UIC Studies How AI Can Reduce Car Crashes On Lake Shore Drive
The University of Illinois Chicago Urban Transportation Center will be required to conduct a study that includes analyzing the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-powered cameras in improving speed compliance and reducing crashes on North and South DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
The study will include an analysis into how effective psychological deterrence is in reducing habitual speeding as well as how fatalities can be reduced by AI-powered cameras.
Right To School Activities Regardless Of Real Or Assumed Immigration Status
Starting Jan. 1, schools cannot have procedures that exclude any child from school activities due to their real or assumed immigration status, such as requesting a Social Security number. Also, schools are restricted in what they can reveal about a child or a family’s immigration status.
Schools also must not allow immigration agents to enter a school site without valid identification, a written statement of purpose and a valid judicial warrant.
By July 1, schools must develop procedures on how to authorize requests from law enforcement to enter the school. There must also be a procedure for getting consent from an adult/emancipated student’s parents if the student is asked for by law enforcement for immigration purposes.
Sharing Sexual Images Officially Considered Bullying
Beginning in July, this bill amends the School Code and expands the definition of traditional bullying to include sharing or posting sexually explicit images of others. It also ensures that starting from the 2026-2027 school year, the definition of cyberbullying will include sharing or posting someone’s “digital replica,” which can include fake AI-generated images of someone’s likeness, without their consent and if the act causes effects similar to traditional bullying.
Protections For Early Childhood Centers And Universities
These bills create protections for students of day care centers, community colleges and public universities.
This year, Illinois passed the Safe Schools For All Act, which pushes public schools to adopt policies that outline how they should respond if immigration officers come to a school, according to Chalkbeat. It is set to go into effect Jan. 1.
Lawmakers also amended the Child Care Act of 1969 to require licensed day care centers not to share immigration or citizenship status information unless required by law. It also asks day care centers not to allow immigration agents into their facilities unless they provide a valid ID and a judicial warrant or subpoena order.
Nursing Mothers Get Break Time In Workplace
This bill amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace act and provides that employers must give 30 minutes of paid break time to employees who express the need to nurse up to one year after the child’s birth. Also, an employer must not require that the employee use their other paid leave during the allotted break time.
Police Officer Enhanced Background Checks
In response to the 2024 shooting of Springfield resident Sonya Massey by a sheriff’s deputy, state lawmakers passed a measure expanding background checks for new hires for a police department or sheriff’s office.
Effective Jan. 1, the measure requires that police departments and sheriff’s offices request employee personnel files from the applicant’s previous employers. The previous employer would have two weeks to send in the materials.
The provided information should be unredacted, except for financial information and Social Security numbers.
Health Care Coverage Expansions
Several bills, including Senate Bill 733 and House Bill 4180, will require health care plans and insurance companies to expand their coverage for certain procedures.
SB 733 provides that, starting in the new year, an insurance provider to more than 25 employees is required to cover an annual menopause health visit for women 45 and older.
HB 4180, passed in 2024, requires coverage for molecular breast imaging if determined “medically necessary.” The bill also requires coverage for certain mammograms for all patients at specified ages — usually starting at 35 — rather than just women.
New Care For Retired Police Dogs Program
Starting Jan. 1, the University of Illinois system will create the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program, providing funding for the veterinary care of retired police dogs.
The law also requires that a nonprofit must be the one to administer and manage the program.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
into a fully original NEWS ARTICLE for the News category on Newsy-Today.com.
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CHICAGO — As a new year rolls in, new Illinois state laws will be going into effect, impacting everything from health care coverage to law enforcement.
As these updates address some of the biggest issues facing the city, many Chicagoans may feel their effects.
Here’s a look at some of the new laws for 2026:
UIC Studies How AI Can Reduce Car Crashes On Lake Shore Drive
The University of Illinois Chicago Urban Transportation Center will be required to conduct a study that includes analyzing the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-powered cameras in improving speed compliance and reducing crashes on North and South DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
The study will include an analysis into how effective psychological deterrence is in reducing habitual speeding as well as how fatalities can be reduced by AI-powered cameras.
Right To School Activities Regardless Of Real Or Assumed Immigration Status
Starting Jan. 1, schools cannot have procedures that exclude any child from school activities due to their real or assumed immigration status, such as requesting a Social Security number. Also, schools are restricted in what they can reveal about a child or a family’s immigration status.
Schools also must not allow immigration agents to enter a school site without valid identification, a written statement of purpose and a valid judicial warrant.
By July 1, schools must develop procedures on how to authorize requests from law enforcement to enter the school. There must also be a procedure for getting consent from an adult/emancipated student’s parents if the student is asked for by law enforcement for immigration purposes.
Sharing Sexual Images Officially Considered Bullying
Beginning in July, this bill amends the School Code and expands the definition of traditional bullying to include sharing or posting sexually explicit images of others. It also ensures that starting from the 2026-2027 school year, the definition of cyberbullying will include sharing or posting someone’s “digital replica,” which can include fake AI-generated images of someone’s likeness, without their consent and if the act causes effects similar to traditional bullying.
Protections For Early Childhood Centers And Universities
These bills create protections for students of day care centers, community colleges and public universities.
This year, Illinois passed the Safe Schools For All Act, which pushes public schools to adopt policies that outline how they should respond if immigration officers come to a school, according to Chalkbeat. It is set to go into effect Jan. 1.
Lawmakers also amended the Child Care Act of 1969 to require licensed day care centers not to share immigration or citizenship status information unless required by law. It also asks day care centers not to allow immigration agents into their facilities unless they provide a valid ID and a judicial warrant or subpoena order.
Nursing Mothers Get Break Time In Workplace
This bill amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace act and provides that employers must give 30 minutes of paid break time to employees who express the need to nurse up to one year after the child’s birth. Also, an employer must not require that the employee use their other paid leave during the allotted break time.
Police Officer Enhanced Background Checks
In response to the 2024 shooting of Springfield resident Sonya Massey by a sheriff’s deputy, state lawmakers passed a measure expanding background checks for new hires for a police department or sheriff’s office.
Effective Jan. 1, the measure requires that police departments and sheriff’s offices request employee personnel files from the applicant’s previous employers. The previous employer would have two weeks to send in the materials.
The provided information should be unredacted, except for financial information and Social Security numbers.
Health Care Coverage Expansions
Several bills, including Senate Bill 733 and House Bill 4180, will require health care plans and insurance companies to expand their coverage for certain procedures.
SB 733 provides that, starting in the new year, an insurance provider to more than 25 employees is required to cover an annual menopause health visit for women 45 and older.
HB 4180, passed in 2024, requires coverage for molecular breast imaging if determined “medically necessary.” The bill also requires coverage for certain mammograms for all patients at specified ages — usually starting at 35 — rather than just women.
New Care For Retired Police Dogs Program
Starting Jan. 1, the University of Illinois system will create the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program, providing funding for the veterinary care of retired police dogs.
The law also requires that a nonprofit must be the one to administer and manage the program.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
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